ἐπικάλυμμα G1942
covering, veil, cloak (literal or figurative)
A noun meaning a cover, veil, or cloak that conceals. In 1 Peter 2:16, believers are warned not to use freedom as 'a covering (ἐπικάλυμμα) for evil,' but to live as God's servants. The metaphor suggests using liberty as a pretext or disguise for sin. Classical usage included physical coverings and, in Menander, the idea that wealth covers many evils. Peter warns against misusing Christian freedom as camouflage for wickedness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Peter addresses the potential abuse of freedom. The Spanish 'cobertura' and German 'Deckmantel' (cloak, pretext) capture both literal covering and metaphorical concealment. Christian liberty is not license to sin in disguise. The verse balances two truths: live as free people, yet as God's slaves. Freedom must not become a mask or excuse for malice; rather, it should manifest in righteous service. 1×
AR["غِطاءً"]·ben["আবরণ"]·DE["Deckmantel"]·EN["covering"]·FR["ἐπικάλυμμα"]·heb["מִכְסֶה"]·HI["आवरण"]·ID["selubung"]·IT["epikalumma"]·jav["tutup"]·KO["덮개로"]·PT["cobertura"]·RU["покрывало"]·ES["cobertura"]·SW["kifuniko"]·TR["örtü"]·urd["پردہ"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπικάλυμμα [κᾰ], ατος, τό, cover, veil, πλοῦτος πολλῶν ἐ. ἐστιν κακῶν 4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus 90. __II. in animals, covering of any orifice, of the gills of fish, Refs; of the opercula of crabs and other crustacea, Refs