Strong's Lexicon mustérion: Mystery Original Word: μυστήριον Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb μυέω (mueó), meaning "to initiate into the mysteries." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "mustérion," the concept of divine secrets or mysteries can be related to the Hebrew word סוֹד (sod, Strong's H5475), meaning "counsel" or "secret." Usage: In the New Testament, "mustérion" refers to a divine secret or truth that is hidden from human understanding but revealed by God through His Spirit. It often pertains to God's redemptive plan, which was once concealed but is now disclosed to believers. The term underscores the idea that certain aspects of God's will and purpose are beyond human comprehension until God chooses to reveal them. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, "mysteries" were religious rites and ceremonies known only to initiates. These were often associated with various mystery religions that promised deeper spiritual knowledge and experiences. In the New Testament context, however, "mustérion" is not about secretive rituals but about God's revelation of His salvation plan through Jesus Christ, which was previously hidden but is now made known to all who believe. HELPS Word-studies 3466 mystḗrion (the root of the English term, "mystery") – mystery. In the Bible, a "mystery" (3466 /mystḗrion) is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mustés (one initiated); from mueó Definition a mystery or secret doctrine NASB Translation mysteries (5), mystery (22). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3466: μυστήριονμυστήριον, μυστηρίου, τό (μύστης (one initiated; from μυέω, which see)), in classical Greek a hidden thing, secret, mystery: μυστήριον σου μή κατειπης τῷ φιλῶ, Menander; plural generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to be communicated by them to ordinary mortals; (cf. K. F. Hermann, Gottesdienstl. Alterthümer der Griechen, § 32). In the Scriptures: 1. a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding: 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Corinthians 14:2; (of the secret rites of the Gentiles, Wis. 14:15, 23). 2. a hidden purpose or counsel; secret will: of men, τοῦ βασιλέως, Tobit 12:7, 11; τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, Judith 2:2; of God: μυστήρια Θεοῦ, the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly, Wis. 2:22. In the N. T., God's plan of providing salvation for men through Christ, which was once hidden but now is revealed: Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7 (on this see ἐν, I. 5 f.); Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26f; with τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ added, Ephesians 1:9; τοῦ Θεοῦ, which God formed, Colossians 2:2; (1 Corinthians 2:1 WH text); τοῦ Χριστοῦ, respecting Christ, Colossians 4:3; τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, which is contained and announced in the gospel, Ephesians 6:19; ἐτελέσθη τό μυστήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ, said of the consummation of this purpose, to be looked for when Christ returns, Revelation 10:7; τά μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν or τοῦ Θεοῦ, the secret purposes relative to the kingdom of God, Matthew 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10; used of certain single events decreed by God having reference to his kingdom or the salvation of men, Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:51; of God's purpose to bless the Gentiles also with salvation through Christ (cf. Lightfoot on Colossians 1:26), Ephesians 3:3, cf. Ephesians 3:5; with τοῦ Χριστοῦ added, Ephesians 3:4; οἰκονόμοι μυστηρίων Θεοῦ, the stewards of God's mysteries, i. e. those intrusted with the announcement of God's secret purposes to men, 1 Corinthians 4:1; used generally, of Christian truth as hidden from ungodly men: with the addition of τῆς πίστεως, τῆς εὐσεβείας, which faith and godliness embrace and keep, 1 Timothy 3:9, 16; τό μυστήριον τῆς ἀνομίας the mystery of lawlessness, the secret purpose formed by lawlessness, seems to be a tacit antithesis to God's saving purpose, 2 Thessalonians 2:7. 3. Like רָזָא and סוד in rabbinic writers, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense: of an O. T. saying, Ephesians 5:32; of a name, Revelation 17:5; of an image or form seen in a vision, Revelation 1:20; Revelation 17:5; of a dream, (Theod.) Daniel 2:18f, 27-30, where the Sept. so renders רָז. (The Vulg. translates the wordsacramentum in Daniel 2:18; Daniel 4:6; Tobit 12:7; Wis. 2:22; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3, 9; Ephesians 5:32; 1 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:20.) (On the distinctive N. T. use of the word cf. Campbell, Dissertations on the Gospels. diss. ix. part i.; Kendrick in B. D. American edition under the word From a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) -- mystery. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 13:11 N-ANPGRK: γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας NAS: to know the mysteries of the kingdom KJV: to know the mysteries of the kingdom INT: to know the mysteries of the kingdom Mark 4:11 N-ANS Luke 8:10 N-ANP Romans 11:25 N-ANS Romans 16:25 N-GNS 1 Corinthians 2:1 N-ANS 1 Corinthians 2:7 N-DNS 1 Corinthians 4:1 N-GNP 1 Corinthians 13:2 N-ANP 1 Corinthians 14:2 N-ANP 1 Corinthians 15:51 N-ANS Ephesians 1:9 N-ANS Ephesians 3:3 N-ANS Ephesians 3:4 N-DNS Ephesians 3:9 N-GNS Ephesians 5:32 N-NNS Ephesians 6:19 N-ANS Colossians 1:26 N-ANS Colossians 1:27 N-GNS Colossians 2:2 N-GNS Colossians 4:3 N-ANS 2 Thessalonians 2:7 N-NNS 1 Timothy 3:9 N-ANS 1 Timothy 3:16 N-NNS Revelation 1:20 N-NNS Strong's Greek 3466 |
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