λανθάνω (G2990) — Greek Lexicon

λανθάνω

lanthánō

G2990 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To escape notice, to remain hidden (from someone), to go unnoticed or to be unknown to another. Primarily, λανθάνω means to not be perceived, recognized, or discovered by someone else. The verb can refer to both literal physical concealment and to figurative states such as an action or fact remaining unknown, unrecognized, or unnoticed by others. Depending on context, it can convey the sense of acting without another's awareness, or of something happening without conscious knowledge (e.g., 'unawares').

Semantic Range

to escape notice, to remain unknown, to be hidden (literally or figuratively), to happen without awareness, to go unrecognized, to do something unawares

Root / Etymology

Root is λανθ- (λανθάνω), with no certain further etymology. The verb appears in various principal parts as a regular verb in classical and Koine Greek, and is considered foundational in Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, λανθάνω commonly meant 'to escape notice' or 'to be hidden,' and frequently appeared with a participle, implying that someone does something without another's awareness ('he did X without Y's knowing' — 'he did X λανθάνων Y'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, the verb retains this basic force: it describes people or actions escaping the notice or knowledge of others, often paired with a dative of the person from whom something is hidden. In Koine usage, λανθάνω is regularly used in contexts where something is not recognized, such as sins 'happening unwittingly,' or facts remaining concealed. English Bible translations may render λανθάνω as 'be hid,' 'be unknown,' 'unawares,' or similar, but may not fully convey the dynamic of unintended ignorance or unnoticed action often present in the Greek. The term does not specify whether the hiding is deliberate or accidental, only that the subject remains outside the cognition or perception of another. Compared with ἀγνοέω ('to not know, to be ignorant'), λανθάνω emphasizes the unnoticed nature of an event or person more than the underlying cognitive state.

Translation Consistency

primary "escape" 4 occurrences

λανθάνω most often means ‘escape (notice)’ or ‘escape being known’—i.e., to go or remain unnoticed. “Escape” naturally covers both literal and figurative senses (escape notice, escape detection, escape being known) and matches attested P2 renderings, so it provides a consistent, natural English base verb.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"went unnoticed" (1x) "go unnoticed" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially, unwittingly:--be hid, be ignorant of, unawares.

Root Family

λανθάνω (lanthanō) — to be hidden, to escape notice, to go unnoticed

Root λανθ- to be hidden, to escape notice, to go unnoticed

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2990-02`	ἔλαθόν	elathon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	unawares	they went unnoticed	they went unnoticed	1
`G2990-03`	λανθάνει	lanthanei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	escapes notice	he/she/it escapes notice	it escapes notice	1
`G2990-01`	ἔλαθεν	elathen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	she was hidden	escaped notice	escaped notice	1
`G2990-06`	λαθεῖν	lathein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to be hidden	to escape notice	to escape notice	1
`G2990-05`	λανθανέτω	lanthaneto	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let escape	let it go unnoticed	let it go unnoticed	1
`G2990-04`	λανθάνειν	lanthanein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to escape notice	to escape notice	to escape notice	1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2990-06`	Mark 7:24	λαθεῖν	lathein	`V AOR ACT INF`	to be hidden	to escape notice	to escape notice
`G2990-01`	Luke 8:47	ἔλαθεν	elathen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	she was hidden	escaped notice	escaped notice
`G2990-04`	Acts 26:26	λανθάνειν	lanthanein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to escape notice	to escape notice	to escape notice
`G2990-02`	Hebrews 13:2	ἔλαθόν	elathon	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	unawares	they went unnoticed	they went unnoticed
`G2990-03`	2 Peter 3:5	λανθάνει	lanthanei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	escapes notice	he/she/it escapes notice	it escapes notice
`G2990-05`	2 Peter 3:8	λανθανέτω	lanthaneto	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let escape	let it go unnoticed	let it go unnoticed

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