English · KJV
H5642

סְתַר

çᵉthar /seth-ar'/ Ask about this word
Root(Aramaic) corresponding to סָתַר
Meaningto conceal; figuratively, to demolish
KJV usagedestroy, secret thing.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çᵉthar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word çᵉthar, represented by H5642, carries a dual meaning of concealment and destruction. Based on the definition "to conceal; figuratively, to demolish; destroy, secret thing," this word appears 2 times in 2 unique verses. Its usage highlights two distinct aspects of divine power: God's ability to know what is hidden and His authority to bring about destruction.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two biblical occurrences of H5642 showcase its different applications. In Daniel, it refers to knowledge that is hidden from man. God is described as the one who "revealeth the deep and secret things" Daniel 2:22, placing the word in the context of divine revelation. In contrast, in Ezra, the word signifies physical destruction. It describes the consequence of provoking God, stating that Nebuchadnezzar " destroyed this house" after the fathers had provoked God to wrath Ezra 5:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide a fuller context for the meanings of H5642:

  • H1541 gᵉlâh (reveal, carry away): This word appears in both verses where H5642 is found. It acts as a direct counterpart in Daniel 2:22, where God can "reveal" what is secret. In Ezra 5:12, it describes the consequence alongside the destruction, where the people were "carried away" into Babylon.
  • H5994 ʻămîyq (deep): Used in direct partnership with H5642 in Daniel 2:22 to describe "the deep and secret things" that God reveals. It emphasizes the profound and unsearchable nature of the secrets that are hidden.
  • H7265 rᵉgaz (to provoke unto wrath): This term supplies the reason for the destruction mentioned in Ezra 5:12. The house was destroyed because the fathers had "provoked the God of heaven unto wrath," directly linking the action of H5642 to divine judgment.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5642 is seen in its contrasting applications, highlighting God's sovereignty over both knowledge and judgment.

  • Divine Omniscience: In its first sense, the word points to matters that are secret and hidden from human understanding. God alone knows these "secret things" Daniel 2:22, distinguishing His knowledge from mortal limits. He reveals what is in the "darkness" H2816 because "light" H5094 dwells with Him.
  • Divine Judgment: In its second sense, the word is used for destruction as a direct result of disobedience. The demolition of the temple was not a random act but a consequence after the people "provoked" H7265 God, who then "gave" H3052 them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar Ezra 5:12.

Summary

In summary, H5642 is a potent word that, despite its infrequent use, encapsulates two significant themes. It demonstrates a sharp contrast between what is concealed from humanity and what is enacted by divine authority. Whether referring to the secret things only God can reveal or the decisive act to destroy as a form of judgment, çᵉthar underscores a God who is sovereign over both the unseen and the seen.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מְסַתְּרָתָ
  • סַתְרֵ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1541 גְּלָה (Aramaic) or גְּלָא; (Aramaic), corresponding to גָּלָה; {to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, H5994 עֲמִיק (Aramaic) corresponding to עָמֵק; profound, i.e. unsearchable; deep. H7265 רְגַז (Aramaic) corresponding to רָגַז; {to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)}; provoke unto wrath. H2816 חֲשׁוֹךְ (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to חָשַׁךְ; the dark; darkness. H5094 נְהִיר (Aramaic) or נְהִירוּ; (Aramaic), from the same as נְהָרָה; illumination, i.e. (figuratively) wisdom; light. H3052 יְהַב (Aramaic) corresponding to יָהַב; {to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; imperatively (reflexive)

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezra and Daniel (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Ezra
1
Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.