λάθρα· G2977
Secretly, in private, without others' knowledge; done covertly to avoid public notice.
An adverb meaning 'secretly' or 'in private,' describing actions taken without the awareness of others. It appears in contexts ranging from compassionate discretion to cunning concealment. Joseph plans to divorce Mary λάθρᾳ to spare her public disgrace (Matt 1:19), while Herod summons the Magi λάθρᾳ for a covert interrogation (Matt 2:7). Martha calls her sister λάθρᾳ so the mourning crowd will not follow (John 11:28), and the Philippian magistrates try to release Paul and Silas λάθρᾳ to avoid scandal (Acts 16:37). Spanish en secreto, French en secret, and German heimlich all confirm a single, consistent sense of covert action.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Secretly, covertly, without public knowledge. Describes an action performed in private to avoid detection or public attention. The four NT uses span a range of motivations: Joseph's merciful discretion toward Mary (Matt 1:19), Herod's scheming secrecy with the Magi (Matt 2:7), Martha's quiet summons to Mary at Lazarus' tomb (John 11:28), and the magistrates' attempt to release Paul quietly after an illegal beating (Acts 16:37). Despite the differing moral contexts—from compassion to cowardice—the adverb consistently denotes concealment from bystanders. The uniform multilingual rendering (secretamente, en secret, heimlich) confirms a single lexical sense. 4×
AR["سِرًّا"]·ben["গোপনে"]·DE["heimlich", "λάθρᾳ"]·EN["secretly"]·FR["en-secret"]·heb["בַּסֵּתֶר"]·HI["चुपके", "चुपके-से", "छिपकर"]·ID["diam-diam"]·IT["lathra", "segretamente"]·jav["ndhelik", "ndhelik-ndhelik", "sacara-dhedhelikan,"]·KO["몰래", "비밀히"]·PT["secretamente"]·RU["тайно"]·ES["en-secreto", "secretamente"]·SW["kwa-siri"]·TR["gizlice"]·urd["چُپکے-سے", "چپکے-سے", "چھپ-کر"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
λάθρα· αἱ δίκαι (from Elean), Refs 5th c.AD+ λάθρα, λάθρᾳ, see at {λάθρῃ}.