A Brief Overview of ἀποκαλύπτω (G601): Apokalyptō

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apokalyptō

Root Words: Derived from the combination of ἀπό (apo), meaning “from” or “away from,” and καλύπτω (kalyptō), meaning “to cover” or “to hide.” Thus, ἀποκαλύπτω conveys the idea of “uncovering” or “revealing.”

Primary Meanings:

• To uncover or unveil something that was previously hidden.
• To reveal or disclose information or knowledge, especially that which is divine or previously unknown.
• In the context of Christian theology, it is often used to denote the revelation of divine truth or mysteries.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): In BDAG, ἀποκαλύπτω is defined as “to uncover,” “to unveil,” or “to reveal.” It emphasizes the act of making something previously hidden visible or known. BDAG highlights its usage in revealing divine mysteries or truths, especially in the New Testament context, where it is frequently associated with divine revelation.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon aligns with BDAG in describing ἀποκαλύπτω as to uncover or reveal. Thayer notes its use in the sense of revealing secrets or divine truths.

Vines: According to Vines’ Expository Dictionary, ἀποκαλύπτω denotes “to uncover” or “to reveal,” especially in the context of divine revelation. It is associated with the disclosure of things that were hidden or unknown before.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ concurs with the other lexicons, providing definitions such as “to reveal” or “to disclose.” It notes that in classical Greek, the term was used to describe the act of making something previously concealed evident.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀποκαλύπτω as “to reveal” or “to uncover,” with the emphasis on making known what was previously hidden.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

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Herodotus (Histories, 5th century BCE): Herodotus uses the term to describe the revealing of hidden or obscure historical facts, demonstrating its application in uncovering truths or secrets.

Sophocles (Oedipus Rex, 5th century BCE): In this tragedy, ἀποκαλύπτω is used to describe the revelation of hidden truths about Oedipus’s identity and fate, highlighting its role in dramatic disclosure.

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics, 4th century BCE): Aristotle employs the term in a philosophical context to discuss the revelation of underlying principles or truths, illustrating its use in theoretical and ethical discussions.

4. Summary:

The Greek word ἀποκαλύπτω (Apokalyptō) fundamentally means “to uncover” or “to reveal.” Rooted in the idea of removing a cover to disclose something hidden, it conveys the act of making known previously concealed information or divine mysteries. This term is consistently used in classical literature to denote the revelation of hidden truths, both in historical, dramatic, and philosophical contexts. Its significance is particularly noted in Christian theology where it relates to the revelation of divine truths and mysteries.