Behaving in a way designed to keep intentions or feelings hidden from others. In Scripture acting or speaking in secret is often linked with wrongdoing, although not in all cases. But nothing can be kept secret from God.
Secrecy as a cover for wrongdoing
Ephesians 5:11–12 See also Deuteronomy 13:6, Deuteronomy 27:15, Deuteronomy 27:24; 2 Samuel 15:10 Absalom's camp; 2 Kings 17:9 high places, centres of pagan Canaanite worship; Job 31:24–28; Psalm 10:8; Proverbs 9:17, Proverbs 17:23; Isaiah 65:4; Acts 6:11; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:72PE 2 Thessalonians 2:1; Jude 1:4
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Secrecy associated with Satan and the black arts
Revelation 2:24 See also Exodus 7:11, Exodus 7:22, Exodus 8:7, Exodus 8:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:7
But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you
Secrecy sometimes ensures safety
Joshua 2:1 See also Judges 3:15–26; 2 Samuel 21:12Esther 2:20 See also Jeremiah 13:17, Jeremiah 38:16; Mark 7:24; John 7:2–10, John 19:38
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
Esther still had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed. She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care.
Nothing can be kept secret from God
Jeremiah 23:24 See also 2 Samuel 12:7–12; Job 13:10; Psalm 44:20–21, Psalm 90:8, Psalm 101:5, Psalm 139:1–15
“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
God's truths are not made known in secret
Isaiah 45:19 See also Isaiah 48:16; John 18:20; Acts 26:26
I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.
Secrecy in worship
Matthew 6:16–18 See also Matthew 6:1–6
When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Secrets
Divine secrets
Deuteronomy 29:29 See also Job 11:5–6; Ezekiel 28:3; Matthew 13:10–11 parallel Mark 4:10–11; Luke 8:10; Isaiah 6:9; 1 Corinthians 2:7, 1 Corinthians 4:1
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.[’’]
Human secrets
Proverbs 11:13 See also Judges 16:5–17; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 14:24–25; Philippians 4:12
A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
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.