Greek word · G4032

περικρύπτω

perikryptō

to hide

'Hide all around, conceal completely, keep entirely out of sight.' The prefix περι- strengthens the simple verb κρύπτω ('hide'). The form here, περιέκρυβεν, comes from the later spoken-Greek stem κρύβω, which was replacing classical κρύπτω.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

περι-κρύπτω

to conceal entirely, keep hidden: late 2 aor., περιέκρυβσν (but see BL, § 17; Soph., Lex., see word περικρύβω), Luke 1:24.†

(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 1:24

Range of meaning

'Hide all around, conceal completely, keep entirely out of sight.' The prefix περι- strengthens the simple verb κρύπτω ('hide'). The form here, περιέκρυβεν, comes from the later spoken-Greek stem κρύβω, which was replacing classical κρύπτω.

Against the English

KJV/WEB/YLT 'hid herself' is literal. BSB/NIV 'remained in seclusion' and ESV 'kept herself hidden' bring out better that this was a lasting condition. 'Hid' can make modern readers think of hiding a secret or hiding out of shame. The Greek states only that she kept out of public view, and says nothing about why.

How it drifted

In modern English 'hid herself' easily suggests concealing something wrong or fearing discovery. The Greek describes withdrawal from public life and gives no motive.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is rare. It appears nowhere else in the New Testament or the Septuagint, and only sparingly in later Greek writers (BDAG s.v.). Grammars note that the form is a late one. BDF §73 classes it as an imperfect from κρύβω, which matches the supplied parsing.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 1:24 περιέκρυβεν was hiding

    After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,

    Here: This verb appears only here in the New Testament. The prefix περι- ('around') makes it stronger: she kept herself entirely out of public view. The past-continuous form describes a state that lasted for the whole five months, not a single act of hiding.

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