λάθρα (lathra)
lathra
quietly
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb lathra means to do something secretly or in private. It appears only four times in the New Testament, describing actions taken away from public view. In Matthew 1:19, Joseph plans to divorce Mary quietly to avoid shaming her. In Mark 5:33, a woman who had been healed approaches Jesus privately, having felt safe to do so without the crowd’s attention.
The word carries a sense of concealment, not necessarily with evil intent, but simply by keeping an action hidden from general knowledge. John 11:28 uses it when Mary calls her brother Lazarus out of the house secretly before Jesus arrives. Acts 16:37 records Paul stating he was beaten publicly and now demands a public release, contrasting his current situation with the secret nature of lathra.
This term highlights moments where discretion or hiddenness plays a role in the narrative. It reminds readers that not all significant events happen under bright lights; some unfold quietly, known only to those involved. The word’s rarity underscores how unusual these concealed actions are within the broader story of Scripture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word lathra describes actions taken quietly, away from public view. In Matthew 1:19, Joseph chooses to handle his marital crisis privately to protect Mary from shame. This shows that discretion can be an act of kindness. Sometimes we face situations where keeping things private is the most respectful path.
We often assume that significance requires a loud audience. Yet Scripture records moments where important decisions happen in the shadows. The healed woman in Mark 5:33 approaches Jesus privately, finding safety in that quiet space. Your own struggles may not need a spotlight to be real or valid.
God sees what happens behind closed doors. He values the integrity of your private choices as much as your public witness. You do not need to perform for others to be known by Him. There is peace in knowing that your quiet faithfulness is seen and held by God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- secretly4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λάθρᾳ4×
Key Verses
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Matthew 1:19
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
Joseph uses this term to describe his plan to divorce Mary privately, highlighting how discretion can protect another person from public shame.
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John 11:28
When she had said this, she went away and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, “The Teacher is here and is calling you.”
Mary calls her sister secretly, showing that urgent news sometimes requires a quiet approach before the full scene unfolds.
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Acts 16:37
But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly without a trial, men who are Romans, and have cast us into prison! Do they now release us secretly? No, most certainly, but let them come themselves and bring us out!”
Paul contrasts his public beating with the idea of secret release, using the word to emphasize the injustice of handling Roman citizens without proper legal transparency.