κατακαλύπτω
katakalýptō
G2619 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cover completely, to place a covering or veil over something or someone. The primary sense is to fully conceal by covering, especially the head or face, but also used more broadly for enclosing or enveloping, whether literally (with a garment, cloth, or other material) or metaphorically (to hide, obscure, or shield from view).
Semantic Range
to cover completely, to veil, to put a cloth or covering over, to hide or obscure from view, to enclose, to envelop, to shield
Root / Etymology
From the prepositional prefix κατά (down, entirely) and καλύπτω (to cover, conceal).
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb κατακαλύπτω is rare and appears in Koine Greek texts, including the New Testament (notably in 1 Corinthians 11:6-7). It builds upon καλύπτω, intensifying the sense of complete or thorough covering by the use of the prefix κατά ('down' or 'entirely'). In classical Greek, καλύπτω regularly means 'to cover' or 'to hide,' but κατακαλύπτω specifically conveys the idea of a total or enveloping cover. In the New Testament context, the term is applied in social contexts related to customary head coverings, particularly in gatherings or worship, but is not limited to religious settings. The LXX uses the verb infrequently, often in contexts involving physical or symbolic covering. Modern English translations render it as 'to cover' or 'to veil,' but these do not always express the full nuance of complete or intensive covering suggested by the prefix. The verb is not limited to human subjects; it can take any object, animate or inanimate, that can be fully covered. Distinct from simply καλύπτω in its intensified sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κατά and καλύπτω; to cover wholly, i.e. veil:--cover, hide.
Root Family
κατακαλύπτω (katakalýptō) — to cover completely, to veil, to conceal, to hide
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2619-02 |
κατακαλυπτέσθω | katakaluptestho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
let her be covered | let one veil oneself completely | let her veil herself completely | 1 |
G2619-03 |
κατακαλύπτεται | katakaluptetai | V PRS MID IND 3P SG |
is covered | is veiling oneself | is veiling herself | 1 |
G2619-01 |
κατακαλύπτεσθαι | katakaluptesthai | V PRS MID INF |
to cover | to fully veil oneself | to fully veil oneself | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2619-03 |
1 Corinthians 11:6 | κατακαλύπτεται | katakaluptetai | V PRS MID IND 3P SG |
is covered | is veiling oneself | is veiling herself |
G2619-02 |
1 Corinthians 11:6 | κατακαλυπτέσθω | katakaluptestho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
let her be covered | let one veil oneself completely | let her veil herself completely |
G2619-01 |
1 Corinthians 11:7 | κατακαλύπτεσθαι | katakaluptesthai | V PRS MID INF |
to cover | to fully veil oneself | to fully veil oneself |