ἄδηλος
ádēlos
G82 restrictive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Not manifest, not clearly visible or discernible; hidden from sight or not obvious in meaning. In some contexts, also used to mean obscure, ambiguous, or uncertain (literal or figurative indistinctness).
Semantic Range
not visible, not plain, hidden, obscure, ambiguous, indistinct, uncertain, unapparent
Root / Etymology
From the prefix ἀ- (a-, 'not', negative particle) and δῆλος ('clear, manifest, evident'). Thus, the term means literally 'not clear' or 'not manifest.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἄδηλος only appears rarely in extant Greek literature but is well attested in Hellenistic and Koine sources. In the Septuagint and the New Testament, it most often describes something not made evident or something which is not overtly visible. The nuance may range from something physically covered or hidden to something conceptually ambiguous or uncertain. English translations sometimes render ἄδηλος as 'uncertain,' 'obscure,' or 'hidden,' but may fail to convey the sense of lack of clarity or manifestation present in the Greek. It contrasts with δῆλος, which signifies something that is unmistakably clear or revealed. The negative prefix a- (or an-) typically signifies absence or negation of the base term. ἄδηλος is sometimes used of unclear outcomes or identity (e.g., an 'uncertain' judgment or an 'unrevealed' path). No significant shift or narrowing of meaning is detected between the classical era and Koine usage; its rarity means typical meanings are preserved across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and δῆλος; hidden, figuratively, indistinct:--appear not, uncertain.
Root Family
δῆλ- (dēlóō) — to make clear, to reveal, to show plainly, to manifest
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1213 | δηλόω | makes clear |
| G1552 | ἔκδηλος | wholly evident |
| G4271 | πρόδηλος | clearly evident beforehand |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G82-01 |
ἄδηλα | adela | ADJ.R NOM N PL |
unseen | hidden things | hidden things | 1 |
G82-02 |
ἄδηλον | adelon | ADJ.S ACC F SG |
uncertain | hidden (feminine singular accusative) | uncertain | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G82-01 |
Luke 11:44 | ἄδηλα | adela | ADJ.R NOM N PL |
unseen | hidden things | hidden things |
G82-02 |
1 Corinthians 14:8 | ἄδηλον | adelon | ADJ.S ACC F SG |
uncertain | hidden (feminine singular accusative) | uncertain |