Topical Bible: Uncover

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "uncover" in the Bible often carries significant theological and moral implications, reflecting both physical and metaphorical meanings. It appears in various contexts, including laws, prophetic imagery, and moral teachings. The concept of uncovering is frequently associated with exposure, revelation, and sometimes shame or dishonor.

Old Testament Usage

1. Nakedness and Shame: In the Old Testament, uncovering often relates to the exposure of nakedness, which is associated with shame and dishonor. Leviticus 18 provides a detailed list of prohibitions against uncovering the nakedness of close relatives, emphasizing the sanctity of family relationships and the importance of sexual purity. For example, Leviticus 18:6 states, "None of you are to approach any close relative to uncover their nakedness. I am the LORD."

2. Prophetic Imagery: The prophets frequently use the imagery of uncovering to describe God's judgment and the exposure of sin. In Isaiah 47:3 , the prophet declares, "Your nakedness will be uncovered, and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one." Here, uncovering symbolizes the revelation of Babylon's sins and the subsequent divine judgment.

3. Ritual and Legal Contexts: The act of uncovering is also present in legal and ritual contexts. In Numbers 5:18 , during the ritual of the suspected adulteress, the priest is instructed to "have the woman stand before the LORD, and he shall uncover the woman's head and place in her hands the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy."

New Testament Usage

1. Revelation and Truth: In the New Testament, the concept of uncovering is often linked to the revelation of truth and the exposure of hidden things. Jesus speaks of this in Luke 12:2 , "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known." This reflects the idea that God's truth will ultimately be revealed, and all hidden deeds will be brought to light.

2. Spiritual Insight: The apostle Paul uses the concept of uncovering in a metaphorical sense to describe spiritual insight and understanding. In 1 Corinthians 2:10 , he writes, "But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." Here, uncovering is associated with the Spirit's role in revealing divine wisdom to believers.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The biblical concept of uncovering often carries moral and ethical implications, particularly concerning modesty, purity, and the consequences of sin. The uncovering of nakedness is consistently portrayed as a violation of God's commandments, underscoring the importance of maintaining personal and communal holiness. Additionally, the prophetic use of uncovering as a metaphor for judgment serves as a warning of the consequences of sin and the certainty of divine justice.

In summary, the term "uncover" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from the literal exposure of the body to the metaphorical revelation of truth and sin. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of living in accordance with God's commandments and the inevitability of His judgment and truth.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To take the cover from; to divest of covering; as, to uncover a box, bed, house, or the like; to uncover one's body.

2. (v. t.) To show openly; to disclose; to reveal.

3. (v. t.) To divest of the hat or cap; to bare the head of; as, to uncover one's head; to uncover one's self.

4. (v. i.) To take off the hat or cap; to bare the head in token of respect.

5. (v. i.) To remove the covers from dishes, or the like.

Greek

601. apokalupto -- to uncover, reveal
... to uncover, reveal. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apokalupto Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-ok-al-oop'-to) Short Definition: I uncover, bring to light, reveal ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/601.htm - 8k

648. apostegazo -- to unroof
... uncover. From apo and a derivative of stege; to unroof -- uncover. see GREEK apo.
see GREEK stege. (apestegasan) -- 1 Occurrence. 647, 648. apostegazo. 649 > ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/648.htm - 6k

343. anakalupto -- to unveil
... to unveil. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anakalupto Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ak-al-oop'-to) Short Definition: I unveil Definition: I unveil, uncover. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/343.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1540. galah -- to uncover, remove
... 1539, 1540. galah. 1541 . to uncover, remove. Transliteration: galah Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-law') Short Definition: uncover. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1540.htm - 7k

2834. chasaph -- to strip off, strip, make bare
... make bare, clean, discover, draw out, take, uncover. A primitive root;
to strip off, ie Generally to make naked (for exertion or ...
/hebrew/2834.htm - 6k

6168. arah -- to be naked or bare
... leave destitute, discover, empty, make naked, pour out, rase, spread self,
uncover. A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) bare ...
/hebrew/6168.htm - 6k

6544a. para -- let go, let alone
... away (1), get out of control (1), go loose (1), lack of restraint (1), let (1),
neglect (1), neglected (1), neglects (2), relent (1), uncover (2), uncovered (1 ...
/hebrew/6544a.htm - 5k

6544. para' -- let go, let alone
... by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin -- avenge, avoid,
bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, uncover. ...
/hebrew/6544.htm - 5k

Library

Epistle Lxiv. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli .
... But we have learnt by experience that progeny cannot ensue from such marriages.
And the sacred law forbids to uncover the nakedness of kindred. ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle lxiv to augustine bishop.htm

How St. Augustine, Being Made a Bishop, Sent to Acquaint Pope ...
... in matrimony; but we have found, by experience, that the offspring of such wedlock
cannot grow up; and the Divine law forbids a man to "uncover the nakedness ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxvii how st augustine.htm

Letter clx. To Diodorus.
... 3. It is written, he says, in Leviticus "Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister,
to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter clx to diodorus.htm

The Misery of those Who, Besides Losing the Saints' Rest, Lose the ...
... It was Satan's stratagem, that being blindfold, they might follow him the more boldly;
but then he will uncover their eyes, and they shall see where they are. ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter vi the misery of.htm

The Crown of Thorns.
... We rather incline to throw a veil over the ghastly details, or we uncover them only
so far as may be necessary in order to understand the condition of His mind ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter vii the crown of.htm

Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional.
... Upon which they all go out and uncover the roof, take up the sick man on
his bed, and the rest of the familiar story unfolds itself. ...
/.../chapter xi causes of corruption.htm

Chapter xxii
... The temptation does not aim to uncover the evil in a saint of God but rather to
make apparent what good God has wrought in this faithful believer. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxii.htm

Rules to be Observed in Singing of Psalms.
... 4. As you sing uncover your heads (1 Corinthians 11:4), and behave yourselves in
comely reverence as in the sight of God, singing to God in God's own words ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/rules to be observed in.htm

A Table of the Chief Things.
... Bonaventure, [354]351. Bow, to bow the knee; see Uncover the head. Bread, the Breaking
of bread among the Jews was no singular thing, [355]466, [356]471. ...
/.../a table of the chief.htm

Virginity a Plant from Heaven, Introduced Late; the Advancement of ...
... separated them, and by forbidding that which at first had seemed to be right, declared
it to be a sin, calling him cursed who should "uncover the nakedness" of ...
/.../chapter ii virginity a plant from.htm

Thesaurus

Uncover (35 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To take the cover from; to divest of covering;
as, to uncover a box, bed, house, or the like; to uncover one's body. ...
/u/uncover.htm - 18k

Dishonor (47 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:7 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness
of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness. ...
/d/dishonor.htm - 19k

Nakedness (50 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:6 "'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close relatives,
to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh. ... You shall not uncover her nakedness. ...
/n/nakedness.htm - 26k

Relations (92 Occurrences)
... unclean. (BBE). Leviticus 18:6 None of you unto any relation of his flesh doth
draw near to uncover nakedness; I 'am' Jehovah. (See NIV). ...
/r/relations.htm - 32k

Son's (34 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:10 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter, or
of your daughter's daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own ...
/s/son's.htm - 17k

Relative (33 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:6 "'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close relatives,
to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh. (Root in WEB NAS NIV). ...
/r/relative.htm - 16k

Sexual (59 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:9 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter
of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born ...
/s/sexual.htm - 23k

Discover (28 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To uncover. 2. (vt) To disclose; to lay
open to view; to make visible; to reveal; to make known ...
/d/discover.htm - 17k

Daughter's (6 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:10 "'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter, or
of your daughter's daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own ...
/d/daughter's.htm - 8k

Approach (56 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Leviticus 18:6 "'None of you shall approach anyone who are his
close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh. ...
/a/approach.htm - 24k

Resources

What does it mean to uncover nakedness in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Socratic Method, and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What are the definitions of some common theological terms? | GotQuestions.org

Uncover: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Uncover (35 Occurrences)

Leviticus 10:6
And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Leviticus 18:6
"'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:7
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:8
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife: it is your father's nakedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:9
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home, or born abroad.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:10
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter, or of your daughter's daughter, even their nakedness: for theirs is your own nakedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:11
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:12
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister: she is your father's near kinswoman.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:13
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister: for she is your mother's near kinswoman.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:14
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, you shall not approach his wife: she is your aunt.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:15
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:16
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:17
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:18
"'You shall not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is yet alive.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 18:19
"'You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 20:18
"'If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 20:19
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, nor of your father's sister; for he has made naked his close relative: they shall bear their iniquity.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 21:10
And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
(KJV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Numbers 5:18
And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 22:30
A man shall not take his father's wife, and shall not uncover his father's skirt.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Ruth 3:4
It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay down; then he will tell you what you shall do."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 20:2
And he saith to him, 'Far be it! thou dost not die; lo, my father doth not do anything great or small and doth not uncover mine ear; and wherefore doth my father hide from me this thing? this 'thing' is not.'
(YLT)

Job 41:13
Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?
(See JPS DBY YLT)

Psalms 119:18
Uncover mine eyes, and I behold wonders out of Thy law.
(YLT)

Isaiah 3:17
Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will uncover their secret parts.
(WBS)

Isaiah 47:2
Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove your veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 13:26
Therefore will I also uncover your skirts on your face, and your shame shall appear.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE WBS)

Jeremiah 49:10
But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 4:22
The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: He will visit your iniquity, daughter of Edom; he will uncover your sins.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE RSV)

Ezekiel 16:37
therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you have hated; I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE WBS RSV)

Ezekiel 22:10
In you have they uncovered their fathers' nakedness; in you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Hosea 2:10
Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will deliver her out of my hand.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Micah 1:6
Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE YLT RSV)

Nahum 3:5
Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face; and I will show the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
(See JPS ASV DBY)

Zephaniah 2:14
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; for he shall uncover the cedar work.
(KJV JPS WBS)

Subtopics

Uncover

Related Terms

Nakedness (50 Occurrences)

Dishonored (17 Occurrences)

Uncovers (5 Occurrences)

Beds (22 Occurrences)

Sleeps (20 Occurrences)

Exposed (39 Occurrences)

Lieth (135 Occurrences)

Uncover (35 Occurrences)

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)