Greek · G3466 · unreviewed

μυστήριον

Mystery

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μυστήριον G3466

Pronunciation mystḗrion

What does μυστήριον (mystḗrion) mean in the Bible?

μυστήριον (mystḗrion) is a Greek word meaning "mystery". μυστήρισν, -ου, τό (μυέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Dan. Highlights God’s unfolding plan concerning Israel and the nations. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Kingdom, Messiah.

Full entry for μυστήριον (G3466) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

mystery

Extended definition

God's hidden counsel now revealed through Christ and the Gospel, not inherently unknowable.

(μυέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Dan.2:18 ff. (רָז), Tob.12:7, 11, Jdth.2:2, Wis.2:22 6:22 14:15, 23, Sir.3:18 22:22 27:16-17, 21, 2Ma.13:21 * ;]

1that which is known to the μύστης (initiated), a mystery or secret doctrine, mostly in pl., τὰ μ. (Æsch., Hdt., al.).

2In later writers (Menand., Incert., 168), that which may not be revealed (not, however, as in the modern sense, intrinsically difficult to understand), a secret or mystery of any kind (To, Jth, 2Mac, ll, with).

3In NT, of the counsels of God (cf. Th.: Job.15:8, Psa.25:14 for סוֹד), once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof;

aof the Christian revelation generally : Rom.16:25, 1Co.2:7, Col.1:26-27, Eph.3:3, 9; τ. βασιλείας τ. θεοῦ, Mrk.4:11; τ. θεοῦ, 1Co.2:1, Rev.10:7; τ. θ., Χριστοῦ, Col.2:2; τ. Χριστοῦ., Col.4:3, Eph.3:4; τ. θελήματος αὐτοῦ, Eph.1:9; τ. εὐαγγελίον, Eph.6:19; τ. πίστεως, 1Ti.3:9; τ. εὐσεβείας, 1Ti.3:16;

bof particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation : Rom.11:25, 1Co.15:51, Eph.5:32, 2Th.2:7, Rev.1:20 17:5, 7; pl., τὰ μ., 1Co.13:2 14:2; θεοῦ, 1Co.4:1; τ. βασιλείας τ. οὐρανῶν (θεοῦ), Mat.13:11, Luk.8:10 (cf. Westc., Eph., 180 ff.; AR, Eph., 234 ff.; Lft., Col., 165 f.; Hatch, Essays, 57 f.; DB, iii, 465 ff.; DCG, ii, 213 ff.).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Highlights God’s unfolding plan concerning Israel and the nations. 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Summarizes God’s redemptive plan now disclosed in Christ. 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Identifies the nature of New Covenant revelation. Colossians 1:24–29

Refers to revealed truths of the kingdom granted by God. Luke 8:4–15

Refers to redemptive truth previously hidden but now disclosed in Christ. Matthew 13:10–17

Godliness flows from revealed truth about Christ, not secret knowledge. Romans 11:25-32

Deacons must grasp and hold firmly to revealed gospel truth, not merely perform tasks. Romans 16:25-27

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Neuter Mark 4:11 · Eph 3:3 · Eph 5:32 · 2 Thess 2:7 · 1 Tim 3:16 · Rev 1:20 · Rev 10:7 · Rev 17:5 8×

Genitive · Singular · Neuter Eph 3:9 · Col 1:27 · Col 2:2 3×

Genitive · Plural · Neuter 1 Cor 4:1 1×

Dative · Singular · Neuter 1 Cor 2:7 · Eph 3:4 2×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter Rom 11:25 · 1 Cor 15:51 · Eph 1:9 · Eph 6:19 · Col 1:26 · Col 4:3 · 1 Tim 3:9 · Rev 17:7 8×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Matt 13:11 · Luke 8:10 · 1 Cor 13:2 · 1 Cor 14:2 4×

Canonical Themes

Covenant Kingdom MessiahRevelation

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 Timothy 3:14-16 mystery mystḗrion Nominative · Singular · Neuter

A divine truth once hidden but now revealed.

1 Timothy 3:8-13 mystery mystḗrion Accusative · Singular · Neuter

A divine truth once hidden but now revealed in the gospel.

Colossians 1:24–29 μυστήριον mystḗrion Genitive · Singular · Neuter

revealed mystery

Luke 8:4–15 μυστήρια mystḗrion Accusative · Plural · Neuter

mysteries

Matthew 13:10–17 μυστήριον mystḗrion Accusative · Plural · Neuter

revealed kingdom truth once hidden

Romans 11:25-32 μυστήριον mystḗrion Accusative · Singular · Neuter

Revealed divine secret.

Romans 16:25-27 μυστήριον mystḗrion

Revealed divine secret.

Additional Occurrences

Mark 4:1–20 μυστήριον mystḗrion

revealed secret of the kingdom

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way of Love 1 Corinthians 15 — Christ Is Risen, the Dead Will Be Raised, and Death Will Be Destroyed 1 Corinthians 2 — The Spirit Reveals What the Cross Conceals from the Natural Mind 1 Corinthians 4 — Stewards of Christ, Fools for Christ, and a Father’s Admonition Colossians 1 — The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation Colossians 2 — Fullness in Christ and Freedom from Christ-Plus Religion Colossians 4 — Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship Ephesians 1 — Blessed in Christ and Enlightened to Know His Power Ephesians 3 — The Mystery Revealed and the Church Strengthened in Christ’s Love Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel Romans 16 — Gospel Partnership, Holy Greeting, False-Teacher Warning, and Doxology to the God Who Establishes

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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