Greek word · G2926

κρύπτη

kryptē

cellar

A covered or underground space: a vault, cellar, crypt, or concealed passage. It is related to kryptō, "to hide."

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κρύπτη (WH, R; κρυπτή, LT, Tr.; -όν, Rec.), -ης, ἡ,

a crypt, cellar: Luke 11:33.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 11:33

Range of meaning

A covered or underground space: a vault, cellar, crypt, or concealed passage. It is related to kryptō, "to hide."

Against the English

BSB, WEB and ESV say "cellar." KJV and YLT say "secret place," following a different Greek reading (kryptón, "hidden place"). NIV gives the general sense, "a place where it will be hidden."

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in Hellenistic Greek for vaulted or underground passages and chambers. Latin borrowed it as crypta, the source of English "crypt." It occurs only here in the New Testament.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 11:33 κρύπτην a cellar

    No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

    Here: An underground or closed-off storage space. The English word "crypt" comes from it. This is the only place it appears in the New Testament. It names exactly the spot where a light does nobody any good.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.