[Greek] κρύπτω (kryptō), [Latin] abscondere, [Latin] absconditus, [Latin] metus, [Latin] occulare, [French] cacher, [French] dissimuler: to hide, to conceal, to keep secret, to keep things hidden; Mt.5:14. Mt.13:35,44, Mt.25:25, Lk.18:34, Lk.19:42, Jn.8:59, Jn.12:36. Jn.19:38. Col.3:3, 1Tim.5:25, Heb.11:23, Rev.2:17, Rev.6:15-16
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to hide, to retreat, to be an exile, to bury, to entomb, occult, to keep secret, and to cover.
Homer’s Odyssey 8.272: “When Hephaestus heard the grievous tale, he went away to his pondering evil in the deep of his heart.”
Sophocles’ Ajax 246: “The time has come for each of us to veil his head and steal away on foot.”
Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus 1546: “Allow me unaided to find the sacred tomb, where it is my fate to be buried in this land.”
Sophocles’ Antigone 774: “I will take her where the path is deserted, unvisited by men, and entomb her alive in a rocky vault.”
Hesiod’s Works and Days 386: “Forty nights and days they [the stars] are hidden and appear again as the year moves around.”
Aristophanes’ Thesmophriazusae 74: “Tell me, you must not conceal anything from your father-in-law.
Sophocles’ Philoctetes 588: “You must not hide from us any part of their plans that you have heard.”
Sophocles’ Electra 957: “There, I can have no more secrets from you any more.”
Old Testament: This term means to hide, to cover, and to bury. God, because of His nature, remains hidden from man. Man would otherwise perish from seeing God. Sinful man often hides from God who sees all. Nothing is hidden from God. Although hidden, God still provides protection, guidance, and wisdom. God restores man’s broken relationship with Him. He reveals Himself through the Messiah.
New Testament: This term means being hidden, hiding, being buried, being ignored, being misunderstood, and escaping. The disciples’ actions can only be seen if they are not hidden. He will announce what has laid hidden. The kingdom of heaven is like a valuable treasure that is buried. Jesus’ third prediction of the Passion remained hidden (not understood) to the disciples. The master scolded the servant for squandering (burying) a talent. Jesus’ words of peace remained hidden (were ignored), resulting in Jerusalem experiencing devastation. Jesus escaped and hid from being stoned. Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus, hid from the authorities. All actions, both good and bad, cannot remain hidden. The infant Moses was hidden by his parents.
Scripture:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.” Mt. 13:44
The kingdom of heaven is initially hidden waiting to be discovered. In the form of a simile, the kingdom is like a hidden treasure. Jesus presents the image in the simplest of terms.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot remain hidden.” Mt.5:14
A city on a mountain cannot escape attention. The disciples are to be visible and to influence the world for good.
“Similarly, good works are also public; even those are not cannot remain hidden.” 1Tim.5:25
Some people’s sins are public. Their character is already known, being liable to judgment.
Etymology: The Latin verb abscondere means to hide, to conceal, and to steal. A cache is a hiding place. The Latin verb occultare means to hide and to conceal. Something of the occult is hidden or concealed. The Latin noun metus means fear or dread. Meticulous, originally meaning fearful or timid, now means fussy about details.
Warning – Useless Word Alert –
Dissimulate: to make different and to be unlike
Conclusion:
Cryptic, Abscond, cache, simulate, simulation, mete, meticulous, occult
In Greek Hellenism, it was interesting to discover the more nuanced meanings of this term: to retreat and to be an exile.
In the Old Testament, God is more intentional in His hiddenness, as opposed to the Greek gods’ fickleness and capriciousness.
A useless or ineffective disciple (follower) is likened to useless salt. Jesus uses parables for those who have heard but had difficulty understanding His message. They did not understand Jesus’ third prediction of His Passion. By refusing to accept Jesus’ peaceful message, Jerusalem will be destroyed by the Romans. Those following Christ will be free or less influenced by worldly concerns.
There are others who actions may still will not yet be well known. These persons practice deception. Yet their sins and character will be eventually revealed, liable to judgment.
Update: The FBI and Dept. of Justice, after raiding Trump’s residence, eventually released a partially redacted affidavit.
The govt. investigation of Hunter Biden still remains hidden from the public, “slow-walking” this case.
Understanding crypto-currency still remains hidden from me. ☺☺
The Biden administration still hides from accountability when it comes to the security of the southern border.
Many politicians have a public record supporting abortion rights. They do not hide their support of their policy choices.
The mainstream media continue to hide and ignore news and events unfavorable to the Biden administration.
Liz Cheney, after losing her election, went away back to Washington to continue her vendetta against Trump.
The time has come for the government to be more accountable and transparent to the concerns of the American people.
The FBI and Dept. of Justice continually want to bury any mention (or evidence) of partisanship against Trump.
The January 6 commission has sought to learn if anyone is hiding something about Trump.
The mainstream media (and social media) are just not able to hide their disdain against those who do not trust the government.
It is no secret that many of us will often give excuses for not attending events. We do not want to be subject to others. We often do not want to conceal the notion that we should avoid harmful, foolish, and silly ideas. It is hard to keep secret that many of us will refuse or beg those who warn us to stop what we are doing. Yet there is no hiding the fact that God already knows about our actions.
Next post: making excuses and refusing