Concealment, in the biblical context, refers to the act of hiding or keeping something secret. This concept appears in various forms throughout Scripture, often highlighting the moral and spiritual implications of hiding actions, intentions, or truths.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, concealment is frequently associated with sin and wrongdoing. Proverbs 28:13 states, "He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy." This verse underscores the importance of confession and transparency before God, suggesting that concealment of sin leads to spiritual stagnation, while openness leads to mercy and forgiveness.

The account of Achan in Joshua 7 illustrates the consequences of concealment. Achan secretly took forbidden items from Jericho, hiding them in his tent. His actions brought disaster upon Israel, demonstrating that hidden sins can have communal repercussions. The narrative emphasizes that God sees all actions, and concealed sins will eventually be brought to light.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the issue of concealment in the context of hypocrisy and integrity. In Luke 12:2-3, He warns, "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs." This teaching highlights the futility of trying to hide one's true nature or intentions, as God will ultimately reveal all things.

The Apostle Paul also touches on the theme of concealment in 2 Corinthians 4:2, where he writes, "Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." Paul emphasizes the importance of transparency and honesty in ministry, rejecting any form of deceit or hidden agendas.

Spiritual Implications

Concealment in the Bible often carries a negative connotation, associated with sin, deceit, and hypocrisy. The Scriptures encourage believers to live in the light, embracing truth and integrity. Ephesians 5:11-13 advises, "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself."

The biblical narrative consistently calls for a life of openness before God and others, where concealment is replaced by confession, repentance, and the pursuit of righteousness. The believer is encouraged to trust in God's omniscience, knowing that nothing is hidden from His sight, and to live in a manner that reflects His truth and holiness.1. (n.) The act of concealing; the state of being concealed.

2. (n.) A place of hiding; a secret place; a retreat from observation.

3. (n.) A secret; out of the way knowledge.

4. (n.) Suppression of such facts and circumstances as in justice ought to be made known.

4780. sugkalupto -- to cover completely
... cover) " (Souter). 4780 () is (note the intensive prefix, ) -- expressing "
concealment" (, 1, 28.81). It is only used in Lk 12:2. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4780.htm - 7k

2990. lanthano -- to escape notice
... of person from whom concealment takes place; I do so and so unconsciously, unknown
to myself, I shut my eyes to so and so. Word Origin from a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2990.htm - 7k

4649. skopos -- a watchman, a mark (on which to fix the eye)
... From skeptomai (to peer about ("skeptic"); perhaps akin to skapto through the idea
of concealment; compare skepasma); a watch (sentry or scout), ie (by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4649.htm - 7k

2288. chagavim -- places of concealment, retreats
... 2287, 2288. chagavim. 2289 . places of concealment, retreats. Transliteration:
chagavim Phonetic Spelling: (khag-awv') Short Definition: clefts. ...
/hebrew/2288.htm - 6k

2253. chebyon -- a hiding, hiding place
... Word Origin from chabah Definition a hiding, hiding place NASB Word Usage hiding
(1). hiding. From chabah; a concealment -- hiding. see HEBREW chabah. ...
/hebrew/2253.htm - 6k

4366. Mikmethath -- a place in NE Ephraim
... Michmethath. Apparently from an unused root meaning to hide; concealment; Mikmethath,
a place in Palestine -- Michmethath. 4365b, 4366. Mikmethath. 4367 . ...
/hebrew/4366.htm - 6k

492. almoni -- someone, a certain (one)
... one, and such. From 'almon in the sense of concealment; some one (ie So and so,
without giving the name of the person or place) -- one, and such. ...
/hebrew/492.htm - 6k

4565. mistar -- a secret place, hiding place
... Word Origin from sathar Definition a secret place, hiding place NASB Word Usage
concealment (1), hiding place (1), hiding places (4), secret (2), secret places ...
/hebrew/4565.htm - 6k

4364. makmar -- a net, snare
... net Or mikmor {mik-more'}; from kamar in the sense of blackening by heat; a (hunter's)
net (as dark from concealment) -- net. see HEBREW kamar. 4363, 4364. ...
/hebrew/4364.htm - 5k

653. aphelah -- darkness, gloominess, calamity
... dark, darkness, gloominess, thick. Feminine of 'aphel; duskiness, figuratively,
misfortune; concrete, concealment -- dark, darkness, gloominess, X thick. ...
/hebrew/653.htm - 6k

Concealment and Revelation.
... Homily VIII. Chapter VI."Concealment and Revelation. "For on this account
Jesus is concealed from the Jews, who have taken Moses ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter vi concealment and revelation.htm

The Divine Way of Wisdom, and Greatness, and Might God's Hiding of ...
... and Subsequent Revelation. To Marcion's God Such a Concealment and
Manifestation Impossible. God's Predestination. No Such Prior ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter vi the divine way of.htm

Introductory Tertullian Compares the Heresy to the Old Eleusinian ...
... Eleusinian Mysteries. Both Systems Alike in Preferring Concealment of Error
and Sin to Proclamation of Truth and Virtue. The Valentinians ...
/.../against the valentinians/chapter i introductory tertullian compares the.htm

Christ Thanks the Father for Revealing to Babes what He had ...
... Chapter XXV."Christ Thanks the Father for Revealing to Babes What He Had Concealed
from the Wise This Concealment Judiciously Effected by the Creator. ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxv christ thanks the father.htm

The Council of Tyre.
... Arsenius was a bishop of the Meletian faction. The men of his party put him in a
place of concealment, and charged him to remain there as long as possible. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxviii the council of tyre.htm

John Chapter vii. 13-Jan
... For it would happen, as I have said, that some believer in Him would retreat into
concealment, lest he should be found by the persecutors; and lest the ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxviii john chapter vii.htm

The Final Unmasking.
... then, any more than now, be intelligible to those beneath him, but all things will
be working toward revelation, nothing toward concealment or misunderstanding ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the final unmasking.htm

Whether a Man is Bound to Give Evidence?
... Reply to Objection 1: Augustine is speaking of concealment of the truth in a case
when a man is not compelled by his superior's authority to declare the truth ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man is bound 4.htm

Anointed for Burial.
... they would be carried out at that very time. Nor was there any concealment
about his coming. As we learn from the other Gospels, he ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/anointed for burial.htm

Councils of Sicily and of Tyana. The Synod which was Expected to ...
... The Persecution at that Time. Athanasius the Great flees again, and is in Concealment;
by the Letter of Valens he reappears, and governs the Churches in Egypt. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xii councils of sicily and.htm

Concealment (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Concealment (1 Occurrence). Psalms 64:4 to shoot innocent
men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly. (See NAS). ...
/c/concealment.htm - 7k

Out (29154 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc.,
actual of figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into ...
/o/out.htm - 9k

Peep (1 Occurrence)
... to chirp; to cheep. 2. (vi) To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment;
to make the first appearance. 3. (vi) To look cautiously ...
/p/peep.htm - 8k

Moses (9295 Occurrences)
... But when the task of concealment became difficult, Jochebed contrived to bring her
child under the notice of the daughter of the king by constructing for him ...
/m/moses.htm - 53k

Night (3322 Occurrences)
... starlight, or artificial light. 2. (n.) Darkness; obscurity; concealment. 3.
(n.) Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance. 4. (n.) A ...
/n/night.htm - 15k

Up (25836 Occurrences)
... as, from a recumbent or sitting position; from the mouth, toward the source, of
a river; from a dependent or inferior condition; from concealment; from younger ...
/u/up.htm - 9k

Lier (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who lies down; one who rests or remains, as
in concealment. Multi-Version Concordance Lier (1 Occurrence). ...
/l/lier.htm - 6k

Forth (1639 Occurrences)
... 2. (adv.) Out, as from a state of concealment, retirement, confinement, nondevelopment,
or the like; out into notice or view; as, the plants in spring put ...
/f/forth.htm - 36k

Tormentor (1 Occurrence)
... But, apparently, in extreme cases (where concealment of assets was suspected?) the
defaulter was sent to prison until restitution should be made. ...
/t/tormentor.htm - 7k

Exposure (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) The act of laying open, setting forth, laying bare of protection, depriving
of care or concealment, or setting out to reprobation or contempt. ...
/e/exposure.htm - 7k

What does the Bible say about snitching / being a snitch? | GotQuestions.org

Concealment: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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