Greek word · G2977

λάθρα

lathra

quietly

An adverb from the root lath-, 'to escape notice' (as in λανθάνω). Its range runs from 'secretly' and 'covertly' to simply 'privately, quietly, without others noticing.' Whether the secrecy is good or bad depends entirely on the context.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

λάθρᾳ (Att..; in Hom., -ρῃ, Rec. -ρα),

adv., [in LXX chiefly for ‎סֵתֶר ;]

secretly: Matthew 1:19 2:7, Mark 5:33 (WH, mg.), John 11:28, Acts 16:37.†

(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 John 11:28

Range of meaning

An adverb from the root lath-, 'to escape notice' (as in λανθάνω). Its range runs from 'secretly' and 'covertly' to simply 'privately, quietly, without others noticing.' Whether the secrecy is good or bad depends entirely on the context.

Against the English

KJV and WEB have 'secretly', YLT 'privately', BSB and NIV 'aside', ESV 'in private'. Modern English 'secretly' can suggest something underhand. 'Privately' or 'quietly' is closer to the tone here.

How it drifted

None in the Greek itself. The only risk is that English 'secretly' now leans toward the conspiratorial.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it is used for hidden enticement (Deut 13:6 [13:7 LXX]) and for Saul telling his servants to speak to David privately (1 Sam 18:22). In the New Testament it describes Joseph planning to divorce Mary quietly (Matt 1:19), Herod calling the magi secretly (Matt 2:7), and the Philippian magistrates wanting to release Paul and Silas quietly (Acts 16:37). The same range of meanings is found in ordinary Greek of the period.

From the study of Matthew 1:19

Range of meaning

'Secretly, privately, without others' knowledge or notice'.

Against the English

'Quietly' (BSB, ESV, NIV) fits the sense best. 'Secretly' (WEB, NASB) and 'privily' (KJV) can suggest something hidden or underhand.

How it drifted

'Secretly' can suggest something hidden or clandestine. The point here is the absence of public proceedings.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in Matt 2:7 (Herod 'secretly' summoned the magi) and John 11:28 (Martha speaking to Mary 'privately').

From the study of Matthew 2:7

Range of meaning

An adverb meaning 'secretly, covertly, privately, without others knowing'. It comes from the same root as λανθάνω, 'to escape notice'. It can be neutral ('quietly, discreetly') or sinister ('behind someone's back').

Against the English

'Secretly' (BSB, WEB), 'privily' (KJV), 'privately' (YLT) all fit. 'Privately' can sound like an ordinary private audience. 'Secretly' carries more of the hint of a plot, which suits the story better.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in classical and Koine Greek for anything done out of public view. In the New Testament: Matt 1:19 (Joseph planning to divorce Mary 'quietly'), John 11:28 (Martha calling Mary 'privately'), Acts 16:37 (the magistrates wanting to release Paul 'secretly').

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 1:19 λάθρᾳ secretly

    Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.

    Here: Without publicity. The opposite of 'expose publicly': no public charge, no trial, no announcement of the reason. It does not have to mean that nobody would know at all.

  2. Matthew 2:7 λάθρᾳ secretly

    Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.

    Here: Herod meets the magi in private, out of sight of a city already 'troubled' (v. 3) and of the religious leaders he has just consulted. In a story like this, secrecy marks him as plotting something.

John · 1

  1. John 11:28 λάθρᾳ secretly

    After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”

    Here: Out of other people's notice. Martha passes on the message so that the crowd of mourners from Jerusalem in the house will not hear it. It describes discretion, not deceit.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 16:37 λάθρᾳ secretly

    But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”

    Here: Quietly, out of sight. It is the deliberate opposite of 'publicly'.

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