Lexical Summary lat: Secret, secrecy, covertly Original Word: לָאט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance softly From la'at (or perhaps for active participle of luwt); properly, muffled, i.e. Silently -- softly. see HEBREW la'at see HEBREW luwt NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom a preposition prefix and at, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs לָאט Judges 4:21, etc., see לוּט. לָּט, לָאט noun [masculine] secrecy, mystery; — absolute לָט 1 Samuel 18:22 2t., לָאט Judges 4:21; plural suffix לָטֵיהֶם Exodus 7:22 2t.; לַהֲטֵיהֶם Exodus 7:11; — always with ׃בְּ 1 בַּלָּט = secretly 1 Samuel 18:22; 1 Samuel 24:5; Ruth 3:7; so בַּלָּאט Judges 4:21. 2 בְּלָטֵיהֶם with their mysteries = enchantments (i. e. of חַרְטֻמֵּי מִצְרַיִם) Exodus 7:22; Exodus 8:3; Exodus 8:14 = בְּלַהֲטֵיהֶם Exodus 7:11 (all P). Topical Lexicon Overview of the ConceptAlthough Strong’s Hebrew 3814 לָאט itself is unattested in the canonical Old Testament, the idea of operating “secretly” permeates the whole of Scripture. From the clandestine movements of men to the inscrutable workings of God, the theme of secrecy invites sober reflection on motives, accountability, and divine omniscience. Secrecy in Human Activity 1. Hidden Sin The first act of concealment occurs in the Garden: “The man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God” (Genesis 3:8). What began as a literal attempt to disappear from God’s sight quickly became a paradigm for secret sin throughout history (Job 24:13). 2. Intrigue and Plotting Saul’s conspiracy against David (1 Samuel 18–19), Jezebel’s covert machinations against Naboth (1 Kings 21), and the plotting of the princes against Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:4) demonstrate how secrecy often accompanies injustice. Scripture consistently unearths such hidden schemes and exposes them to judgment. 3. Private Mercy Not all secrecy is condemned. Joseph of Arimathea, “a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38), used discretion to honor Christ’s body. Rahab’s concealment of the spies (Joshua 2:4) models protective secrecy employed in faith. Divine Omniscience and Exposure 1. God Searches the Hidden “Would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?” (Psalm 44:21). No action carried out לָאט is beyond His scrutiny (Proverbs 15:3). 2. Prophetic Disclosure “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). The prophetic voice breaks human secrecy by divine revelation, ensuring that long-hidden motives are brought to light (2 Kings 6:12). 3. Eschatological Unveiling “Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be made known” (Matthew 10:26). The final judgment brings every secret deed into the open (Romans 2:16). Spiritual Formation and Secret Devotion 1. Secret Giving, Prayer, and Fasting Jesus instructs His disciples to practice righteousness away from human applause: “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:4, 6, 18). Here secrecy safeguards purity of motive rather than obscuring sin. 2. The Hidden Life With Christ Believers “have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). What is presently unseen will be manifested in glory (Colossians 3:4). Ministry Implications • Accountability Structures Because secrecy can nurture unconfessed sin, ministries should cultivate transparent fellowship (James 5:16) and wise oversight (1 Timothy 5:20). • Prayer and Intercession Pastors encourage congregants to develop unseen prayer lives, trusting the Father who rewards in His timing (Matthew 6:6). • Compassionate Confidentiality Counseling demands discretion that protects dignity while resisting any conspiratorial concealment of evil (Ephesians 5:11). Historical and Cultural Notes In ancient Near Eastern courts, royal intrigues were often advanced through whisper networks and guarded alliances. Biblical narratives mirror this milieu yet consistently affirm that God’s sovereignty overrides hidden agendas. Post-exilic Judaism, wary of idolatry and foreign oppression, emphasized the omnipresent eye of God, sharpening the ethical weight of secrecy. Early Christian communities, operating under intermittent persecution, balanced clandestine gatherings with fearless proclamation, echoing the tension between prudent discretion and gospel transparency. Christological Center The Messiah Himself experienced clandestine hostility (John 7:1) and secret plotting (Matthew 26:4), yet His mission unfolded precisely as foretold. At the cross the hidden counsels of God achieved redemption (Acts 2:23). Resurrection morning transformed the secrecy of the guarded tomb into world-wide proclamation (Matthew 28:11–15). Practical Summation Whether describing covert sin, private devotion, or divine mystery, the scriptural treatment of לָאט underscores two certainties: nothing escapes God’s notice, and faithful secrecy finds reward only when aligned with His righteousness. Wise believers therefore walk transparently before God and men while nurturing a hidden life of prayer that anticipates the day when “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance wat·tê·le — 1 Occ.wə·nil·’āh — 1 Occ. wə·nil·’ê·ṯî — 1 Occ. wə·nil·’ū — 1 Occ. lê·’āh — 28 Occ. lə·lê·’āh — 2 Occ. mil·lê·’āh — 1 Occ. ū·ḵə·lê·’āh — 1 Occ. ū·lə·lê·’āh — 1 Occ. wə·lê·’āh — 1 Occ. lā·’êl — 1 Occ. bal- — 1 Occ. lə·’ō·wm — 2 Occ. lə·’um·mîm — 18 Occ. mil·’ōm — 1 Occ. ū·lə·’ōm — 1 Occ. ū·lə·’ūm·mî — 1 Occ. ū·lə·’um·mîm — 8 Occ. ’um·mîm — 4 Occ. ū·lə·’um·mîm — 1 Occ. |
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