Topical Encyclopedia
The term "privily" is an archaic English word that appears in several passages of the Bible, primarily in the King James Version (KJV) and other older translations. It is derived from the word "privy," meaning secret or private. In the context of Scripture, "privily" is used to describe actions that are done secretly or in a hidden manner, often with deceitful or malicious intent.
Biblical Usage:1.
Deceptive Actions: In the Bible, "privily" is often associated with deceit and treachery. For example, in the account of Joseph, his brothers conspired against him.
Genesis 37:18 states, "Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him." Although the Berean Standard Bible does not use the word "privily," the concept of secret plotting is evident.
2.
False Witnesses: The Psalms frequently mention the actions of the wicked who act "privily" against the righteous.
Psalm 64:2-4 describes such behavior: "Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear."
3.
Slander and Betrayal: Proverbs warns against those who act "privily" to harm others through slander or betrayal.
Proverbs 6:12-14 speaks of a "worthless person, a wicked man, who walks with a perverse mouth, winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart; he always stirs up dissension."
4.
New Testament References: In the New Testament, the concept of acting "privily" is seen in the actions of false teachers and hypocrites.
2 Peter 2:1 warns, "Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves."
5.
Jesus' Betrayal: The betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot is a prime example of an act done "privily." Although the term itself is not used in modern translations, the secretive nature of Judas's actions is clear.
Matthew 26:14-16 recounts, "Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?' And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus."
Theological Implications:The use of "privily" in Scripture underscores the moral and ethical teachings of the Bible regarding honesty, integrity, and transparency. It serves as a warning against deceitful behavior and highlights the importance of living a life that is open and above reproach. The Bible consistently condemns actions done in secret with malicious intent, emphasizing that God sees all and will bring every deed to judgment, whether hidden or visible.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In a privy manner; privately; secretly.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRIVY; PRIVILYpriv'-i, priv'-i-li: These words are obsolete in modern English and are replaced by "secret," "secretly," rather than by the cognates "private," "privately." the Revised Version (British and American) usually has not altered the King James Version's use of the word, but inPsalm 11:2 has substituted "in darkness" and inJudges 9:31 uses "craftily," margin "in Tormah" (see TORMAH). InEzekiel 21:14, the King James Version "entereth into their privy chambers," "privy" is a gloss, omitted in the Revised Version (British and American). "To be privy to a thing" (1 Kings 2:44Acts 5:2) is simply "to know" it; in The Wisdom of Solomon 8:4, the Revised Version (British and American) has changed the phrase into "be initiated into."
Greek
2977. lathra -- secretly... Word Origin from lanthano Definition secretly NASB Word Usage secretly (4).
privily,
secretly. Adverb from lanthano; privately --
privily, secretly.
...3922. pareiserchomai -- to come in beside
... come inprivily, enter. From para and eiserchomai; to come in alongside, ie Supervene
additionally or steathily -- come inprivily, enter. see GREEK para....
3919. pareisago -- to introduce, to bring in secretly
... introduce secretly. From para and eisago; to lead in aside, ie Introduce
surreptitiously --privily bring in. see GREEK para. see GREEK eisago....
Strong's Hebrew
2934. taman -- to hide, conceal... hide, lay
privily, in secret. A primitive root; to hide (by covering over) -- hide,
lay
privily, in secret. 2933, 2934. taman. 2935 . Strong's Numbers.
652. ophel -- darkness, gloom
... darkness, obscurity,privily. From the same as 'aphel; dusk -- darkness, obscurity,
privily. see HEBREW 'aphel. 651, 652. ophel. 653 . Strong's Numbers.
8649. tormah -- perhaps treachery
... deceitful,privily And tarmuwth {tar-mooth'}; or tarmiyth {tar-meeth'}; from ramah;
fraud -- deceit(-ful),privily. see HEBREW ramah. 8648, 8649....
5643. cether -- a covering, hiding place, secrecy
... a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense) -- backbiting, covering,
covert, X disguise(-th), hiding place,privily, protection, secret(-ly...
6845. tsaphan -- to hide, treasure up
... figuratively to deny; specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk --
esteem, hide(-den one, self), lay up, lurk (be set)privily, (keep) secret...
Library
Galatians Chapter ii.
... Ver.4. "And that because of the false brethren,privily brought in.". Here arises
a very important question, Who were these false brethren?...
Matt. Ii. 4, 5
... end. 3. "Then Herod, when he hadprivily called the wise men, inquired of
them diligently [313] what time the star appeared:" [314]....
Some There Be, that Although they be not Deceived with this Error
... be seen as they shall on the last day, should be seen full soon cumbered in great
and horrible sins of the world in their foul flesh,privily, without their...
That by virtue of this Work a Sinner Truly Turned and Called to...
... that life that is called contemplative, by the assent of his counsel and his conscience
for to profer a meek stirring of love to his God,privily pressing upon...
The Nativity
... Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her
a publick example, was minded to put her awayprivily.20....
A Young Man's Best Counsellor
... thou not.11. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let
us lurkprivily for the innocent without cause: 12. Let us...
Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and...
... "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let
us lay wait for blood, let us lurkprivily for the innocent without cause....
Of the Agreement of the Evangelists Matthew and Luke in the...
... Then Joseph her husband being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example,
was minded to put her awayprivily;" [1711] for because he knew that...
The History of David
... with Ishbosheth named Baanah and Rechab, which came on a day in to Ishbosheth where
he lay and slept, and there they slew him, and tookprivily his head and...
A Statement of the Manner in which Luke's Procedure is Proved to...
... to give us the following statement: Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man,
and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her awayprivily...
Thesaurus
Privily (15 Occurrences)... (adv.) In a privy manner; privately; secretly. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PRIVY;
PRIVILY.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Privily (15 Occurrences).
...Privy (3 Occurrences)
... The term, in its proper sense, is distinguished from party. 6. (n.) A necessary
house or place; a backhouse. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PRIVY;PRIVILY....
Jude (4 Occurrences)
... 1. Surreptitious Foes. "For there are certain men crept inprivily.... ungodly...
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept inprivily.... 2...
Knewest (11 Occurrences)
... Psalms 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path.
In the way wherein I walked have theyprivily laid a snare for me....
Nephthar
... twice): According to 2 Maccabees 1:19-36, at the time of the captivity the godly
priests took of the altar fire of the temple and concealed it "privily in the...
Nephthai
... twice): According to 2 Maccabees 1:19-36, at the time of the captivity the godly
priests took of the altar fire of the temple and concealed it "privily in the...
Unawares (14 Occurrences)
... Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in
privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might...
Lurking (4 Occurrences)
... Psalms 10:8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places
doth he murder the innocent: his eyes areprivily set against the poor....
Lurking-places (2 Occurrences)
... Psalms 10:8 He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In the secret places
doth he murder the innocent; His eyes areprivily set against the helpless....
Wise-men (4 Occurrences)
... ASV). Matthew 2:7 Then Herodprivily called the Wise-men, and learned of
them exactly what time the star appeared. (ASV). Matthew...
Resources
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