παρακαλύπτω

I hide, conceal, veil

Definition

The verb παρακαλύπτω means to hide, conceal, or veil something, often by placing a covering beside or over it. In its single New Testament occurrence, it describes the act of hiding knowledge or understanding from someone, as in Luke 9:45 where the meaning of Jesus's saying was 'concealed' from the disciples. This sense extends beyond physical covering to an intellectual or spiritual veiling. The related root verb καλύπτω (G2572) carries a broader range, including covering the head (as in 1 Corinthians 11:6-7) or covering sins (as in James 5:20 and 1 Peter 4:8), but παρακαλύπτω's specific prefix (παρά) can imply a covering that is alongside or near, intensifying the act of concealment.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 9:45. The context is following Jesus's prediction of his betrayal. The scripture states the meaning was 'hidden from them' (παρεκαλύπτετο ἀπ’ αὐτῶν), indicating a divine or providential concealment of understanding from the disciples at that moment. This singular usage shows it applied to the veiling of spiritual truth or prophetic meaning within a narrative of revelation and gradual comprehension.

Etymology

The word is a compound verb formed from the preposition παρά (G3844), meaning 'beside, alongside, or near,' and the verb καλύπτω (G2572), meaning 'to cover, hide, or veil.' The prefix παρά can add a sense of proximity or intensification, so παρακαλύπτω essentially means 'to cover over' or 'to hide by placing something beside/over it.' It is a more specific or strengthened form of the basic idea of covering found in καλύπτω.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it touches on the theme of divine revelation and human understanding. In Luke 9:45, the concealment is not accidental but part of God's timing in revealing Jesus's mission. It highlights that spiritual comprehension is sometimes withheld according to God's purpose, emphasizing human dependence on divine illumination. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by showing the intentional, sometimes mysterious, process by which God reveals truth.

In a Greco-Roman context, veiling or covering (from the root καλύπτω) had social and religious connotations, such as modesty, honor, or the concealment of sacred objects. The specific act of 'hiding' knowledge, as in Luke 9:45, aligns with ancient literary and prophetic motifs where understanding is deliberately obscured, only to be revealed later. This differs from a modern view of information being merely unclear; it implies an active, sometimes divine, agency in the concealment.

καλύπτω (kalyptō, G2572) — The root verb meaning 'to cover, veil, or hide' in a general sense, used for physical covering (e.g., of the head) and metaphorically for covering sins. κρύπτω (kryptō, G2928) — Means 'to hide or conceal,' often with a focus on secrecy or storing away, not necessarily involving a physical veil (e.g., Matthew 5:14-15).

Word Details

Scripture References