(Aramaic) corresponding to סָתַר; to conceal; figuratively, to demolish; destroy, secret thing.
Transliteration:çᵉthar
Pronunciation:seth-ar'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic lemma H5642 (סְתַר, *çᵉthar*) primarily conveys the sense of "to conceal" or "to hide." As an Aramaic cognate to the Hebrew H5641 (סָתַר, *sāthar*), its semantic range extends to encompass both the act of putting something out of sight and the state of being hidden. Figuratively, the term can also denote "to demolish" or "to destroy," implying the act of causing something to cease to exist or to be seen, thus making it "hidden" in a more permanent or forceful way. The definition also notes a related noun form meaning "secret thing," referring to that which is concealed or kept private.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of H5642 in the biblical Aramaic corpus are limited but significant, primarily appearing in the book of Daniel. Its most prominent usage is found in:
* **[[Daniel 2:22]]**: "He reveals deep and hidden things (וּמְסַתְּרָתָא, *ūməsatrātāʾ*); He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him." Here, H5642 appears as the Pa'el participle plural feminine of the verb, meaning "hidden things" or "secrets." The context is Daniel's prayer of praise to God, acknowledging His omniscience and His unique ability to disclose truths that are otherwise inaccessible to human understanding. The word stands in clear antithesis to H1540 (גָּלָה, *gālāh*), "to reveal," emphasizing God's role as the divine revealer of what is inherently concealed. This usage underscores the primary meaning of "to hide" or "to be hidden."
While the base definition includes "to demolish" or "to destroy," this specific sense of H5642 is not explicitly attested in the biblical Aramaic texts. This broader semantic range is more fully realized in its Hebrew cognate, H5641, which indeed carries these meanings in various contexts of judgment and divine action. Thus, within the biblical Aramaic, H5642 is almost exclusively associated with the concept of concealment and revelation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of H5642 is greatly enriched by examining its relationship to other terms:
* **H5641 (סָתַר, *sāthar*)**: This is the direct Hebrew cognate, sharing the same core meaning of "to hide" or "to conceal." However, H5641 also frequently carries the sense of "to destroy" or "to demolish" (e.g., [[Lamentations 2:2]], [[Psalm 89:40]]), and "to withdraw" or "to be hidden from view" (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 32:20]], [[Psalm 10:11]]). The Aramaic H5642 thus draws from this broader semantic field, even if its biblical occurrences are more narrowly focused on "hiddenness."
* **H7328 (רָז, *raz*)**: An Aramaic noun meaning "mystery" or "secret." This term frequently appears in Daniel (e.g., [[Daniel 2:28]], [[Daniel 4:9]]) and refers to something hidden that requires divine revelation, aligning conceptually with "hidden things" (H5642).
* **H1540 (גָּלָה, *gālāh*)**: Both a Hebrew and Aramaic verb meaning "to uncover," "to reveal," or "to disclose." This word functions as a crucial antonym to H5642, particularly in [[Daniel 2:22]], where God is portrayed as the one who "reveals" what is "hidden."
* **H5643 (סְתָר, *sĕthār*)**: An Aramaic noun derived from H5642, meaning "a secret place" or "a hiding place." This further reinforces the core concept of concealment.
These related terms highlight a theological tension between divine hiddenness and divine revelation, a central theme in wisdom literature and prophetic texts.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H5642 primarily revolves around the attributes of God and the nature of divine knowledge and revelation.
1. **Divine Omniscience and Sovereignty**: The use of H5642 in [[Daniel 2:22]] underscores God's absolute knowledge. He is not merely aware of what is manifest, but He knows "deep and hidden things" (*mastĕrātāʾ*). This highlights His comprehensive understanding that transcends all human limitations and secrecy. It affirms His sovereignty over all knowledge and events, even those concealed from human perception.
2. **The Nature of Revelation**: The contrast between H5642 (hidden) and H1540 (revealed) is fundamental. God is uniquely portrayed as the one who can unveil what is otherwise incomprehensible or inaccessible. This establishes a theological framework where true understanding and wisdom originate with God, who chooses to disclose His purposes and mysteries to those He wills. The "hidden things" are not inherently unknowable but are hidden *from human capacity* until God actively reveals them.
3. **Divine Judgment (Implicit)**: While not directly expressed by H5642 in the Aramaic biblical texts, the figurative meaning of "demolish" or "destroy" in its cognate H5641 points to a broader theological concept. God's power to "hide" or "destroy" can be seen as an aspect of His judgment, where He can bring about hidden ruin or make His presence felt in ways that are not immediately apparent, only to be revealed in due time.
### Summary
H5642 (סְתַר, *çᵉthar*) is an Aramaic verb primarily meaning "to conceal" or "to hide," closely corresponding to the Hebrew H5641 (*sāthar*). Its most significant biblical occurrence is in [[Daniel 2:22]], where it describes "hidden things" that God alone knows and reveals. This usage powerfully affirms God's omniscience and His role as the ultimate source of revelation, contrasting His ability to uncover what is concealed with human inability to discern such mysteries. While its broader semantic range includes "to demolish" or "to destroy" (as seen in its Hebrew cognate), the Aramaic biblical text focuses on the concept of divine knowledge and the unveiling of secrets. The word thus serves as a theological marker for the profound distinction between what is hidden from human sight and what God sovereignly chooses to make known.
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