Greek word · G3871

παρακαλύπτω

parakalyptō

to hide

To cover over, veil, screen something from view; figuratively, to conceal or obscure.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament.

What it means

παρα-καλύπτω

[in LXX: Isaiah 44:8 (פָּחַד), Ezekiel 22:26 (עָלַם hi.)* ;]

to cover by hanging something beside, to hide: metaphorically (as Plat., al.), Luke 9:45.†

(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 9:45

Range of meaning

To cover over, veil, screen something from view; figuratively, to conceal or obscure.

Against the English

'Hid' (KJV), 'concealed' (WEB, ESV, NASB), 'veiled' (BSB, YLT). 'Veiled' best keeps the picture of a covering laid over something that is still there and can later be lifted.

Used elsewhere in the period

A New Testament hapax (it occurs only here). In the Septuagint, Ezekiel 22:26 appears to use it of priests who 'hid their eyes' from God's sabbaths. Luke's own parallels: 18:34 (the saying 'was hidden', kekrymmenon, from them); 24:16 ('their eyes were held from recognising him'); 24:31 and 24:45 (eyes and minds 'opened', and he 'opened their minds to understand the Scriptures').

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 9:45 παρακεκαλυμμένον veiled

    But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

    Here: Perfect passive participle: the saying had been covered over and stayed covered. The passive does not name who veiled it. This is the only time the word appears in the New Testament.

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