Hebrew noun (masculine) · H5643
סֵתֶר
sethersay'-ther
secrecy; shelter
36 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: çêther
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H5643is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 10 of 39Old Testament books
- 26spellings
- 2meanings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H5643
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)
The King James renders it: backbiting, covering, covert, [idiom] disguise(-th), hiding place, privily, protection, secret(-ly, place).
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
sether is rendered "secrecy; shelter". It stands 36 times in the Hebrew text, across ten books.
- Ten of the uses stand in Psalms, more than in any other book.
- The lexicon lists two meanings for it, beginning with "secrecy".
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Deuteronomy 13:6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,
- The Greek text spells it twenty-six different ways.
The first use
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,
Deuteronomy 13:6בַּסֵּ֣תֶר
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
Ten of the word's thirty-six uses are in Psalms.
What the word means
The word carries two meanings: secrecy, and shelter.
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
| Meaning | Tagged as | Where |
|---|---|---|
| secrecyStrong's entry A | Tagged aslisted under the table | WhereDeuteronomy 13:6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace… |
| shelterStrong's entry B | Tagged aslisted under the table | Wherein the ledger below |
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- in the secrecy13
- in hiding place of4
- a hiding place2
- a shelter2
- in shelter of2
- secrecy2
- and a shelter of1
- and covering of1
- and shelter1
- covering his1
- hiding place my1
- in a hiding place of1
and 5 more, 36 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
The words it stands beside
All 36, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
26 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- בְּסֵ֣תֶר4
- בַּסֵּ֣תֶר4
- בַּסָּ֑תֶר3
- סֵ֥תֶר3
- בְסֵ֖תֶר1
- בְּסֵ֥תֶר1
- בְּסֵ֖תֶר1
- בְּסֵ֙תֶר֙1
- בַסֵּ֑תֶר1
- בַסֵּ֖תֶר1
- בַסֵּ֣תֶר1
- בַסֵּ֨תֶר1
and 14 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular16HRd/Ncmsa
- preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)8HR/Ncmsc
- noun · masculine singular5HNcmsa
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)2HC/Ncmsc
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular1HC/Ncmsa
- noun · feminine singular1HNcfsa
- noun · masculine plural1HNcmpa
- noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singular1HNcmsc/Sp1bs
- noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular1HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Deuteronomy
five uses
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,
- בַּסֵּ֣תֶרbaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- בַּסָּ֑תֶרbasaterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
‘Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- בַּסָּ֑תֶרbasaterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates.
- בַּסָּ֑תֶרbasaterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
which ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let them give you shelter!
- סִתְרָֽה׃sitrahnoun · feminine singulartagged: a shelter
Judges
one use
But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” “Silence,” said the king, and all his attendants left him.
- סֵ֥תֶרseternoun · masculine singulartagged: secrecy
1 Samuel
two uses
so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there.
- בַסֵּ֖תֶרvaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the hiding place
As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them.
- בְּסֵ֣תֶרbeseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in cover of
2 Samuel
one use
You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”
- בַסָּ֑תֶרvasaterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secret
Job
five uses
Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
- בַּ֝סֵּ֗תֶרbaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
- סֵֽתֶר־seter-noun · masculine singulartagged: a hiding place
The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face.
- וְסֵ֖תֶרveseterconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and covering of
so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
- בַּסֵּ֣תֶרbaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
- בְּסֵ֖תֶרbeseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in a hiding place of
Psalms
ten uses
He made darkness His hiding place, and storm clouds a canopy around Him.
- סִתְר֗וֹsitronoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: covering his
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.
- בְּסֵ֣תֶרbeseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in hiding place of
You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
- בְּסֵ֥תֶרbeseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in hiding place of
You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
- סֵ֥תֶרseternoun · masculine singulartagged: a hiding place
Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
- בְסֵ֖תֶרveseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in shelter of
You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
- בְּסֵ֣תֶרbeseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in hiding place of
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- בְּסֵ֣תֶרbeseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in shelter of
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
- בַסֵּ֨תֶר׀vaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.
- סִתְרִ֣יsitrinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: hiding place my
My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
- בַסֵּ֑תֶרvaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secret place
Proverbs
three uses
“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
- סְתָרִ֣יםsetarimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: secret places
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
- בַּ֭סֵּתֶרbaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
- סָֽתֶר׃saternoun · masculine singulartagged: secrecy
Song of Solomon
one use
O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.
- בְּסֵ֙תֶר֙beseterpreposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: in hiding place of
Isaiah
five uses
Let my fugitives stay with you; be a refuge for Moab from the destroyer.” When the oppressor has gone, destruction has ceased, and the oppressors have vanished from the land,
- סֵ֥תֶרseternoun · masculine singulartagged: a shelter
I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.
- וְסֵ֥תֶרveseterconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and shelter
Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.
- וְסֵ֣תֶרveseterconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and a shelter of
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.
- בַסֵּ֣תֶרvaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
Come near to Me and listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it happened, I was there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit.
- בַּסֵּ֣תֶרbaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
Jeremiah
three uses
Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
- בַּסֵּ֔תֶרbaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.”
- בַּסֵּ֣תֶרbaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”
- בַסֵּ֨תֶרvaseterpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the secrecy
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.