Lexical Summary lathra: Secretly, in secret, privately Original Word: λάθρα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance privily, secretly. Adverb from lanthano; privately -- privily, secretly. see GREEK lanthano NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom lanthanó Definition secretly NASB Translation secretly (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2977: λάθρᾳλάθρᾳ (so R G T Tr) (in Homer λάθρῃ, from λανθάνω, λαθεῖν), and L (WH K C (see the latter's Praef., p. 12: and under the word εἰκῇ)) λάθρᾳ (from λαθρος, λάθρᾳ, λαθρον, cf. Passow (especially Liddell and Scott), under the word; Winers Grammar, 47; Buttmann, 69 (61)), adverb secretly: Matthew 1:19; Matthew 2:7; John 11:28; Acts 16:37. (From Homer down; the Sept..) Topical Lexicon Biblical motif of secrecyThroughout Scripture private speech and hidden actions reveal the moral character of the actors involved. The adverb under study functions as a literary signal: it tells the reader that something is being done out of the public eye and therefore invites discernment. Sometimes the hiddenness protects, sometimes it manipulates; in every case it exposes the heart. Occurrences in the Gospel narratives Matthew 1:19—Compassionate discretion “But Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.” Here secrecy serves mercy. Joseph’s first instinct is neither vindictiveness nor self-protection but the preservation of Mary’s dignity. Private action, when motivated by covenant love, becomes a shield rather than a cloak for sin (cf. Proverbs 10:12). Matthew 2:7—Secret machinations of tyranny “Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.” Herod’s hidden counsel is calculated deception. The same veil that covered Joseph’s compassion now masks royal cruelty. Matthew’s juxtaposition warns that secrecy, stripped of righteous motive, becomes a tool of oppression (cf. Psalm 10:8-10). John 11:28—Quiet summons to faith “After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. ‘The Teacher is here,’ she said, ‘and is asking for you.’” Jesus approaches the grieving Mary through a whispered invitation, dignifying her sorrow. The intimacy fosters personal encounter without spectacle, illustrating that authentic ministry often begins in unobtrusive moments (Isaiah 42:2). Acts 16:37—Demanding public accountability “But Paul said to them, ‘They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and they threw us into prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.’” Paul turns secrecy back upon the magistrates, insisting that injustice committed openly must be rectified openly. In so doing he safeguards the witness of the church at Philippi and protects fledgling believers from civic scorn. Contrast between righteous and unrighteous secrecy 1. Protective secrecy: Joseph, Martha, and even the Lord Himself employ privacy to honor others, preserve dignity, or minister tenderly. Old Testament background The motif is anticipated in passages where godly wisdom counsels restraint (Proverbs 11:13) and in narratives where wicked plots ferment in secret (Genesis 37:18-20). The Septuagint often uses cognate vocabulary to translate Hebrew terms for stealth, reinforcing the inter-canonical theme. Christological significance Jesus Christ embodies perfect transparency (“in Him there is no darkness at all,” 1 John 1:5) yet practices holy reserve when circumstances require (Mark 1:38-44; John 2:24-25). His example legitimizes prudent confidentiality while condemning hypocrisy. Pastoral and ministry applications • Confidential counseling and church discipline should aim at restoration, mirroring Joseph’s impulse. Historical and cultural insights First-century Jewish and Greco-Roman honor cultures placed enormous weight on public reputation. Acting λάθρᾳ could either mitigate shame or facilitate conspiracy. Luke’s record in Acts leverages this cultural backdrop to highlight the counter-cultural transparency of apostolic ministry. Summary The four New Testament uses of the term trace a moral spectrum: compassionate concealment, sinister plotting, tender pastoral care, and courageous insistence on public justice. The thread that binds them is the conviction that God “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Followers of Christ therefore practice secrecy only in forms that honor truth, protect the vulnerable, and glorify the Lord. Forms and Transliterations λαθρα λάθρα λάθρᾳ λαθραίως λάθριος lathra láthrāiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 1:19 AdvGRK: δειγματίσαι ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι αὐτήν NAS: to send her away secretly. KJV: her away privily. INT: to expose publicly purposed secretly to send away her Matthew 2:7 Adv John 11:28 Adv Acts 16:37 Adv |
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