2931. kruphe
Lexical Summary
kruphe: Secret, hidden

Original Word: κρυφή
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: kruphe
Pronunciation: kroo-FAY
Phonetic Spelling: (kroo-fay')
KJV: in secret
Word Origin: [adverb from G2928 (κρύπτω - hidden)]

1. privately

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
in secret.

Adverb from krupto; privately -- in secret.

see GREEK krupto

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2931: κρυφῇ

κρυφῇ (L WH κρυφῇ; cf. εἰκῇ, at the beginning), adverb, (κρύπτω), secretly, in secret: Ephesians 5:12. (Pindar, Sophocles, Xenophon; the Sept..)

Topical Lexicon
Concept of Hiddenness in Scripture

Throughout the Bible, secrecy is often linked either to righteous discretion before God or to sinful concealment from Him. The same umbrella idea—something withdrawn from immediate sight—can signal reverent privacy (Matthew 6:4) or rebellious darkness (John 3:19-20). The single New Testament appearance of Strong’s 2931 underscores the latter, placing the term squarely in the context of deeds that flourish outside the light of Christ’s holiness.

Occurrence and Context in Ephesians 5:12

Ephesians 5 contrasts “fruitless deeds of darkness” with the illuminating presence of Christ. Verse 12 reads, “For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret”. Here secrecy is not neutral; it is tied to conduct so debased that verbal repetition alone defiles. Paul’s purpose is pastoral: believers must neither participate in nor publicize such deeds, but expose them by living as children of light (Ephesians 5:8-11).

Moral and Ethical Dimension

1. Sin thrives in concealment. Scripture presents darkness as a cover people seek when they wish to act without moral accountability (Job 24:15; Proverbs 7:9-10).
2. Shame accompanies secrecy. The apostle’s reluctance even to name hidden acts reveals an awareness that speech can normalize evil (cf. Psalm 16:4).
3. Exposure brings transformation. “Everything exposed by the light becomes visible” (Ephesians 5:13), echoing Jesus’ promise that hidden things will be revealed (Luke 8:17). Disclosure is not merely punitive; it is redemptive.

Light versus Darkness

Paul’s imagery springs from the Old Testament, where God’s first creative act separated light from darkness (Genesis 1:3-4). Prophets later used light to depict covenant faithfulness (Isaiah 60:1-3). The same contrast frames the Gospel message: “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). By embedding 2931 within this motif, Ephesians shows that secret sin contradicts a believer’s new identity as “light in the Lord.”

Historical and Cultural Background

First-century Ephesus was notorious for occult practices (Acts 19:18-19) and covert immoral rites tied to fertility cults. Such activities often took place at night or behind closed temple doors, away from public scrutiny. Paul’s wording likely evokes these hidden ceremonies, reminding converts that genuine Christianity can have no symbiotic relationship with the city’s clandestine vices.

Implications for Church Discipline

1. Protective Silence: Mentioning lurid details can tempt others or desensitize the community.
2. Necessary Exposure: When hidden sin threatens the flock, leaders must bring it to light (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).
3. Goal of Restoration: Exposure seeks repentance and reintegration, mirroring Christ’s healing light.

Spiritual Vigilance and Personal Holiness

Believers are urged to cultivate transparency before God. Practical steps include:
• Regular self-examination (Psalm 139:23-24).
• Confession within trustworthy fellowship (James 5:16).
• Walking “properly as in the daytime” (Romans 13:13), refusing the allure of anonymity that digital culture now magnifies.

Gospel Witness

A community that renounces secret sin validates its proclamation. Jesus described His followers as a “city on a hill” (Matthew 5:14). Hypocrisy hides the light; integrity amplifies it. When the church embodies openness, the world sees an alternative to the hidden shame it often carries.

Related Scriptures

Matthew 6:6 – “Pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Luke 12:2 – “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed.”

1 Thessalonians 5:5 – “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”

1 John 1:5-7 – “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.”

Summary

Strong’s 2931 appears only once, yet it crystallizes a profound biblical principle: whatever is hidden apart from God’s will is destined for exposure. The follower of Christ renounces shameful secrecy, lives transparently, and trusts that the divine light which once revealed sin now empowers holiness.

Forms and Transliterations
κρυφη κρυφή κρυφῇ κρύφια κρύφιε κρυφίος κρυφίων kruphe kruphē kryphe kryphē kryphêi kryphē̂i
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Englishman's Concordance
Ephesians 5:12 Adv
GRK: τὰ γὰρ κρυφῇ γινόμενα ὑπ'
NAS: of the things which are done by them in secret.
KJV: of them in secret.
INT: the things indeed in secret being done by

Strong's Greek 2931
1 Occurrence


κρυφῇ — 1 Occ.

2930
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