Greek word · G613

ἀποκρύπτω

apokryptō

to conceal

To hide away, conceal, keep secret, put out of sight for safekeeping.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 23, 2026

What it means

ἀπο-κρύπτω

[in LXX chiefly for סָתַר ;]

to hide, conceal, keep secret: with accusative, Luke 10:21; pass., 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:26 (MM, see word).†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: To hide away, conceal, keep secret, put out of sight for safekeeping.
Against the English: BSB 'was kept hidden', KJV 'hath been hid', ESV 'hidden'. The perfect tense means 'it was hidden and remained hidden until now'. English versions get this across reasonably well.
Used elsewhere in the period: Used in the Greek Old Testament of hiding or storing things away (e.g., Isa 49:2, the servant 'hidden' in God's quiver). In the NT: 1 Cor 2:7 'God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden (apokekrymmenēn) wisdom which God predestined before the ages'; Col 1:26 'the mystery hidden from the ages and from the generations'. Jesus says the Father 'hid these things from the wise' (Matt 11:25).

Range of meaning: Apokryptō: to hide away, keep secret. Apokalyptō: to uncover, disclose, reveal. In Jewish apocalyptic thought (writing about God’s hidden plans being unveiled), God’s secrets stay hidden until he chooses to unveil them to those he picks.
Against the English: All the major English versions have “hidden … revealed”, which is accurate. What English loses is the sound-play: apekrypsas … apekalypsas, almost a rhyme.
Used elsewhere in the period: Daniel 2:19–23: God reveals mysteries to Daniel, who thanks him for giving wisdom (with ‘I thank and praise you’). Isaiah 29:14 LXX uses ‘I will hide’. Paul in 1 Cor 2:7–10 speaks of God’s hidden wisdom revealed by the Spirit.

Range of meaning: To hide away, conceal, keep out of sight or out of reach of knowledge.
Against the English: 'Hidden' is accurate. What the English cannot show is the perfect tense, which means 'has been and remained hidden,' and the implied agent, God himself.
Used elsewhere in the period: The same verb is used in the parallel passages. Eph 3:9 speaks of 'the mystery hidden for ages in God.' In 1 Cor 2:7 Paul speaks of 'God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom].' In the Gospels Jesus thanks the Father for having 'hidden these things from the wise' (Matt 11:25; Luke 10:21, the same root).

Luke · 1

Luke 10:21 ἀπέκρυψας You have hidden

At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

Here: “You hid away”: God is the active subject. The word is set up to rhyme with “you uncovered” (apekalypsas) a few words later.

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 2:7 ἀποκεκρυμμένην, hidden,

No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

Here: The Greek perfect tense marks a lasting state: it 'has been hidden' and stayed hidden through past ages. The passive implies God was the one who hid it. Even now it is still hidden from 'the rulers of this age' (v. 8).

Ephesians · 1

Ephesians 3:9 ἀποκεκρυμμένου hidden

and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Here: Perfect passive participle: it was hidden and stayed hidden, up to the 'now' of verses 5 and 10. The passive implies God did the hiding. The secret was not lost. It was kept back on purpose.

Colossians · 1

Colossians 1:26 ἀποκεκρυμμένον hidden

the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.

Here: The perfect tense describes a state that lasted: it was hidden and stayed hidden. The passive implies that God is the one who hid it (compare Eph 3:9, 'hidden in God'). Nobody lost the secret. God kept it back.

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