The Greek word enkrýptō, represented by G1470, means to conceal in, i.e. incorporate with. Derived from ἐν and κρύπτω, this specific term appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. It describes the action of hiding something within a larger substance in a way that incorporates it fully.
Both occurrences of G1470 are found in parallel parables taught by Jesus. In Matthew 13:33, the kingdom of heaven is compared to leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the entire batch was leavened. Similarly, in Luke 13:21, Jesus uses the same imagery, stating that the kingdom is like leaven that a woman hid in meal. In both instances, the word emphasizes the subtle but deliberate introduction of an agent that will eventually influence the whole.
The concept of G1470 is directly linked to the leaven it is used to hide. Several related words clarify this picture:
- G2219 zýmē (ferment (as if boiling up):--leaven): This is the substance that is "hid" in the parables (Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:21). Leaven is also used metaphorically to represent corrupting influences, such as the "leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy" Luke 12:1.
- G2220 zymóō (to cause to ferment:--leaven): This verb describes the result of the action of hiding leaven. The meal is affected until the whole was leavened Matthew 13:33. The principle that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" is also stated using this word Galatians 5:9.
The theological weight of G1470 is contained within its illustrative use in the parables of the kingdom.
- Pervasive Kingdom Growth: The act of hiding leaven illustrates how the kingdom of heaven works. It starts small and seemingly hidden, but its influence is pervasive and unstoppable until it transforms everything it touches Matthew 13:33.
- The Principle of Internal Transformation: The word describes an incorporation, not just a covering. This points to the kingdom's influence as an internal, fundamental change rather than an external force.
- A Hidden Agent of Change: While the leaven itself is sometimes used negatively in scripture to represent sin or hypocrisy (1 Corinthians 5:8, Luke 12:1), its role in these parables is to show how a small, hidden element inevitably affects the whole lump Galatians 5:9.
In summary, G1470 is a focused verb that carries significant metaphorical weight. Though used only twice, it provides a key action within the Parable of the Leaven, illustrating the quiet, internal, and comprehensive growth of the kingdom of heaven. The word shows how a small, deliberately incorporated element can work unseen to produce a total and inevitable transformation.
TRV