Mystery
μυστήριονStrong’s G3466mustērion
Appears in 27 verses of the New Testament
In short
Mustērion is the Greek word usually translated “mystery” and “mysteries”. It appears in 27 verses of the New Testament.
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
Meaning
Usually translated “mystery” and “mysteries”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- mystery 19
- mysteries 4
- a mystery 3
- of the mysteries 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- 1 Corinthians 6
- Ephesians 6
- Colossians 4
- Revelation 4
- 1 Timothy 2
- Matthew 1
10 books in all.
Related words
Explore in Scripture
- 1 Timothy 3:9In contextHolding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
- 1 Timothy 3:16In contextAnd without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- Matthew 13:11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- Mark 4:11And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
- Luke 8:10And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
- Romans 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Greek dictionary
μυστήριον mustērion · mystery
μυστήρισν, -ου, τό (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 * ;] 1. that which is known to the μύστης (initiated), a mystery or secret doctrine, mostly in pl., τὰ μ. (Æsch., Hdt., al.). 2. In 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). …
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “mystery” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
MYS'TERY, noun
[Latin mysterium; Gr. a secret. This word in Greek is rendered also murium latibulum; but probably both senses are from that of hiding or shutting; Gr. to shut, to conceal.
- A profound secret; something wholly unknown or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder; such as the mystery of the man with the iron mask in France.
- In religion, any thing in the character or attributes of
- That which is beyond human comprehension until explained.“Great is the mystery of godliness” 1 Timothy 3:16“Having made known to us the mystery of his will” Ephesians 1:9“We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery” 1 Corinthians 2:7
- An enigma; any thing artfully made difficult.
All definitions
- A kind of ancient dramatic representation.
- A trade; a calling; any mechanical occupation which supposes skill or knowledge peculiar to those who carry it on, and therefore a secret to others.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.