The deliberate hiding from view of a person, object or action. Those who sin against God often attempt to hide from him. The Bible teaches the need to confess sin and receive God's forgiveness. Nothing is concealed from him and all secrets will ultimately be revealed.
Attempted concealment of sin from God
Genesis 3:1–10 See also Numbers 32:23; Joshua 7:21; 2 Kings 17:9; Job 24:13–17; Ezekiel 8:12
Such attempts are foolish
Proverbs 28:13 See also Isaiah 29:15
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
No sin can be concealed from God
Hebrews 4:13 See also Job 13:9, Job 10:14; Psalm 44:20–21, Psalm 69:5; Jeremiah 16:17; Ezekiel 11:5–6
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Concealed sins will be exposed
Ecclesiastes 12:14 See also Job 20:27; Matthew 10:26 parallel Luke 12:2; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5
For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Sins should be confessed to God and not concealed
1 John 1:8–9 See also Psalm 32:5–6
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Believers should not conceal their light
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
God may conceal matters
Colossians 2:2–3, Colossians 3:3 Christ is the mystery of God, which has now been made known. Through faith, believers share in this mystery. See also Proverbs 25:2; Deuteronomy 29:29; Matthew 13:11, Matthew 13:35; Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7; Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:26
that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
The concealment of people
Of Moses
Hebrews 11:23 See also Exodus 2:2
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
Of Israelite spies
Joshua 6:25 See also Joshua 2:4–6, Joshua 6:17
And Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her father’s household and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent to spy out Jericho. So she has lived among the Israelites to this day.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.