Lexical Summary cthar: To hide, conceal, cover Original Word: סְתַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance destroy, secret thing (Aramaic) corresponding to cathar; to conceal; figuratively, to demolish -- destroy, secret thing. see HEBREW cathar Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [סְתַר] verb destroy (Syriac  ; see Biblical Hebrew שׂתר); — Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular suffix סַתְרֵהּ Ezra 5:12 (accusative of temple). Topical Lexicon Overview The term appears twice in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament—once to describe the razing of Solomon’s temple (Ezra 5:12) and once to celebrate God’s disclosure of mysteries (Daniel 2:22). Both uses concern the Babylonian exile, linking concealment to destruction and showing that what is withheld or removed is always under God’s sovereign control. Scriptural Usage • Ezra 5:12 portrays the temple’s demolition: “He destroyed this house and carried the people away to Babylon.” The word conveys the complete unmaking of a structure formerly filled with God’s glory—judgment resulting from covenant unfaithfulness. Historical Setting Both texts stem from the exile era. In Ezra, Judah recounts why the temple lay in ruins; in Daniel, God grants insight while His people live under Gentile rule. The word thus frames the two principal experiences of the period: loss of sanctuary and reception of heavenly wisdom. Theological Themes 1. Sovereign Revelation and Judgment—God may withdraw protection (temple destroyed) or unveil secrets (dream interpreted) at will. Ministry Applications • Encourage confession; concealed sin eventually erodes what seems secure. Related References Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 139:11-12; 2 Kings 25:9; Amos 3:7; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; James 1:5. Forms and Transliterations וּמְסַתְּרָתָ֑א ומסתרתא סַתְרֵ֔הּ סתרה saṯ·rêh satReh saṯrêh ū·mə·sat·tə·rā·ṯā umesatteraTa ūməsattərāṯāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 5:12 HEB: וּבַיְתָ֤ה דְנָה֙ סַתְרֵ֔הּ וְעַמָּ֖ה הַגְלִ֥י NAS: the Chaldean, [who] destroyed this KJV: the Chaldean, who destroyed this INT: temple this destroyed the people and deported Daniel 2:22 2 Occurrences |
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