κρυφῆ
kryphē
G2931 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adverb meaning 'in a hidden manner,' 'secretly,' or 'out of sight,' with the sense of occurring without public knowledge or without being observed. Can denote action or state that is intentionally concealed, whether physically (hidden from view) or metaphorically (not openly acknowledged).
Semantic Range
in a hidden manner, secretly, privately, out of sight, without witnesses, without public knowledge
Root / Etymology
From the verb κρύπτω (to hide, conceal). κρυφῆ is the feminine dative singular of the adjective κρυφός, used adverbially in Koine Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
κρυφῆ functions adverbially to describe actions or circumstances that are not done openly or are purposefully kept from public attention. In classical Greek, the adjective κρυφός commonly means 'hidden' or 'secret.' The adverbial use (κρυφῆ) is attested in later Greek, including both literature and papyri, conveying the sense of doing something 'secretly' or without witnesses. In the New Testament and contemporary Koine sources, the term typically refers to activities undertaken discreetly or in secrecy, such as in Matthew 6:4, emphasizing non-public conduct. English Bible translations often render κρυφῆ as 'in secret,' which accurately conveys the sense of the term but can lack the layered distinction between physical, social, or intentional concealment that the Greek adverb carries. The term does not carry implications of wrongdoing—concealment may be positive, neutral, or negative depending on context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
adverb from κρύπτω; privately:--in secret.
Root Family
κρυφῆ (kryphē) — to hide, to conceal, to keep out of sight
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2931-01 |
κρυφῇ | kruphe | ADV |
in secret | in a hidden manner | in a hidden manner | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2931-01 |
Ephesians 5:12 | κρυφῇ | kruphe | ADV |
in secret | in a hidden manner | in a hidden manner |