2926. krupté

Lexical Summary

krupté: Hidden place, secret chamber

Original Word: κρυπτή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: krupté
Pronunciation: kroop-TAY
Phonetic Spelling: (kroop-tay')
KJV: secret
NASB: cellar
Word Origin: [feminine of G2927 (κρυπτός - secret)]

1. a hidden place, i.e. cellar ("crypt")

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

a dark and hidden place, a cellar

Feminine of kruptos; a hidden place, i.e. Cellar ("crypt") -- secret.

see GREEK kruptos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
fem. from kruptos
Definition
a crypt
NASB Translation
cellar (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2926: κρύπτη

κρύπτη (so Relz G L T Tr K C) (but some prefer to write it κρύπτη (so WH, Meyer, Bleek, etc., Chandler § 183; cf. Tdf. on Luke as below)), κρυπτης, ἡ, a crypt, covered way, vault, cellar: εἰς κρύπτην, Luke 11:33 (Athen. 5 (4), 205 a. equivalent to κρυπτός περίπατος, p. 206; (Josephus, b. j. 5, 7, 4 at the end; Strabo 17, 1, 37); Sueton. Calig. 58; Juvenal 5, 106; Vitruv. 6, 8 (5); others). Cf. Meyer at the passage cited; Winer's Grammar, 238 (223).

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Concept

Strong’s Greek 2926 (κρυπτή, kryptē) denotes a concealed chamber or cellar—an interior space deliberately set apart from the open areas of a home. In the singular New Testament occurrence (Luke 11:33) it functions as a vivid contrast to the prominent lampstand.

First-Century Architectural Context

Palestinian homes of the Second Temple era often included a small underground or interior room without windows. Such cellars preserved valuables, wine, grain, or oil, benefiting from cooler temperatures and security. Because little natural light entered, a lamp placed there would be wasted, illuminating neither household activity nor guests. Jesus draws upon this familiar domestic feature to frame a spiritual principle of public witness.

Biblical Setting in Luke 11:33

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he puts it on a lampstand, so those who come in may see the light.” (Luke 11:33)

The statement concludes a discourse on spiritual perception (Luke 11:29-36). Here the cellar symbolizes deliberate concealment of divine illumination. Christ’s hearers are warned that the true light of His message is meant for proclamation, not private safekeeping.

Themes of Light and Witness

1. Revelation versus concealment: Light exists to reveal (John 1:9; Ephesians 5:13). A cellar suppresses that purpose.
2. Personal integrity: The placement of the lamp mirrors the disposition of the heart (Luke 11:34-35). If the inner “eye” is healthy, light reaches every corner, eliminating hidden darkness.
3. Missional responsibility: Believers function as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16). Storing the gospel in a crypt of silence contradicts its nature and Christ’s commission (Acts 1:8).

Relation to Parallel Lamp Passages

• Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16 all insist that a lit lamp belongs on a stand. The singular reference to a “cellar” in Luke 11:33 heightens the folly—placing a light not merely under, but away from influence altogether.
• 2 Corinthians 4:6 ties the creation-light of Genesis 1 to the knowledge of God in Christ, urging that the illumined heart becomes a beacon.
• Philippians 2:15 calls saints to “shine as lights in the world,” implying visible, public testimony.

Old Testament Background

God’s word is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Israel’s golden lampstand in the tabernacle was to burn continually before the Lord (Exodus 27:20-21), forecasting the perpetual witness of redeemed people.

Historical Church Interpretation

Early Christian writers—e.g., Tertullian, Chrysostom—cited Luke 11:33 against secret discipleship, urging open confession even under persecution. The Reformers employed the verse to defend vernacular preaching and Scripture translation, opposing the figurative “cellar” of inaccessible truth.

Ministerial Implications

• Preaching and teaching must avoid esoteric elitism; clarity places light “on a lampstand.”
• Discipleship models should encourage visible holiness, resisting tendencies to compartmentalize faith.
• Corporate worship, public good works, and missions all serve as lampstands amplifying the gospel’s reach.

Practical Application

1. Personal examination: Are there areas of life functionally sealed off from Christ’s light?
2. Family worship: Parents are primary lamp-bearers; hiding truth from children deprives them of guidance.
3. Cultural engagement: Faith expressed only within church walls resembles a lamp hidden in a cellar; believers are urged toward intentional presence in workplaces, schools, and civic forums.

Doctrinal Harmony

Luke 11:33 fits seamlessly with Scripture’s overarching revelation motif: what God makes manifest must not return to obscurity. The cellar image condemns hypocrisy and spiritual inertia, reinforcing the unity of faith and practice (James 2:14-17).

Related Concepts

Hiddenness (Psalm 32:3-5), stewardship of mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1-2), the city on a hill (Matthew 5:14), and walking in the light (1 John 1:7) all complement the exhortation implicit in kryptē.

Summary

Kryptē, though occurring only once, crystallizes a central biblical principle: light is for shining. The cellar illustrates the self-defeating result of concealing divine truth. Scripture calls every follower of Christ to remove the lamp from the crypt of secrecy, elevating it where all who enter may see and glorify the Father.

Forms and Transliterations

κρυπτην κρύπτην krupten kruptēn krypten kryptēn krýpten krýptēn

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 11:33 N-AFS
GRK: ἅψας εἰς κρύπτην τίθησιν οὐδὲ
NAS: puts it away in a cellar nor
KJV: [it] in a secret place, neither
INT: having lit in secret sets it nor

Strong's Greek 2926
1 Occurrence

κρύπτην — 1 Occ.