ἐγκρύπτω (egkruptō)
egkruptō
to mix
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb egkruptō describes the act of hiding something by mixing it into another substance. Its core meaning is to conceal a smaller element within a larger whole, rather than simply burying it in the ground or covering it with a cloth. The word combines a prefix suggesting "in" with a root related to covering or hiding, creating an image of integration where the hidden item remains present but obscured.
This specific nuance appears in Jesus’ parable of the yeast, where he speaks of a woman taking leaven and mixing it into three measures of flour (Matthew 13:33). The sources note that this usage aligns with Old Testament Greek translations that use similar terms for concealing or hiding within. The action implies that the hidden ingredient is not removed but dispersed throughout the mixture, affecting the whole while remaining unseen.
Translators often render this as "mixed in" or "hid," depending on context. The theological weight lies in the method of concealment: the truth or kingdom is not absent, but embedded within ordinary life. This distinguishes it from words that mean simply to cover up; egkruptō suggests a thorough mingling where the hidden reality becomes part of the fabric of the visible world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word egkruptō paints a quiet picture of integration rather than concealment. When Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven using this term, He shows how divine truth works within our daily routines. It is not hidden away in secret places but mixed into the ordinary materials of life, like yeast blended into flour.
This image offers comfort for those feeling unseen or insignificant. Just as the leaven transforms the entire batch from within, your small acts of faith and love contribute to a larger spiritual reality. The Kingdom grows through presence and permeation, affecting the whole while remaining subtle in its method.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hid2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐνέκρυψεν2×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:33
He spoke another parable to them. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened.”
This verse establishes the primary metaphor where the hidden leaven represents the pervasive, internal growth of the Kingdom within ordinary human activity.
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Luke 13:21
It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
Luke’s parallel account reinforces the domestic setting, emphasizing that this spiritual transformation occurs through intimate, everyday processes rather than public spectacle.