82. adélos

Lexical Summary

adélos: Uncertainly, indistinctly

Original Word: ἀδήλως
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: adélos
Pronunciation: ah-DAY-los
Phonetic Spelling: (ad'-ay-los)
KJV: appear not, uncertain
NASB: concealed, indistinct
Word Origin: [from G1 (α - Alpha) (as a negative particle) and G1212 (δῆλος - evident)]

1. hidden
2. (figuratively) indistinct

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

unseen, uncertain.

From a (as a negative particle) and delos; hidden, figuratively, indistinct -- appear not, uncertain.

see GREEK a

see GREEK delos

HELPS Word-studies

82 ádēlos (from 1 /A "not" and 1212 /dḗlos, "self-evident") – properly, unclear, indistinct, not immediately obvious (evident); (figuratively) indefinite, uncertain; not evident (perceived), unrecognized.

[This is also the meaning of this term when used by Sophocles and Polybius (Abbott-Smith).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and délos
Definition
unseen, not manifest
NASB Translation
concealed (1), indistinct (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 82: ἄδηλος

ἄδηλος, (δῆλος), not manifest: Luke 11:44; indistinct, uncertain, obscure: φωνή, 1 Corinthians 14:8. (In Greek authors from Hesiod down.) (Cf. δῆλος, at the end; Schmidt, chapter 130.)

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Nuance

Ἄδηλος describes something whose presence or character cannot be readily perceived. The idea is not that the thing is absent, but that it lies unnoticed, indistinct, or without a clear signal. In Scripture this quality is shown to be spiritually dangerous, because what is concealed or vague may lull the unsuspecting into complacency.

Biblical Occurrences

1. Luke 11:44 – “Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves that men walk over without even noticing.”
2. 1 Corinthians 14:8 – “Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?”

Contextual Insights

Luke 11:44
• Jesus addresses religious leaders who projected outward piety while hiding inward corruption.
• The image of “unmarked graves” points to hidden defilement; contact with a grave rendered an Israelite ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19:16). Pharisees, by masking their sin, endangered the purity of others.
• Ἄδηλος underscores the peril of silent contamination among God’s people when leaders lack transparency and integrity.

1 Corinthians 14:8
• Paul argues for intelligible speech in public worship. A “muffled” (ἄδηλον) trumpet fails to gather troops, and likewise indistinct tongues without interpretation fail to edify the church.
• Clarity in proclamation, not mere enthusiasm, is requisite for spiritual readiness and effective ministry.

Intertextual Connections

• Ezekiel 33:2–6 pictures a watchman sounding a clear warning; the indistinct signal of 1 Corinthians 14:8 contrasts with the faithful watchman’s trumpet.
• Matthew 23 parallels Luke 11, where Jesus similarly condemns hypocrisy that hides true spiritual condition.
• Hebrews 3:13 warns that sin can be “deceitful,” echoing the unseen peril depicted by ἄδηλος in Luke 11:44.

Historical Interpretation

• Early Christian writers such as Chrysostom seized on Luke 11:44 to caution clergy against living “double lives” that secretly damage the flock.
• The Reformers used 1 Corinthians 14 to defend vernacular preaching, insisting that the gospel trumpet must sound plainly.
• In hymnody and liturgy, the verse about the muffled trumpet informed calls to clear confession of faith against doctrinal ambiguity.

Doctrinal and Pastoral Significance

Purity of Life and Doctrine

 – Hidden sin among leaders invites corporate defilement; therefore, continual self-examination and open accountability are vital.

Clarity in Communication

 – The church’s mission demands an unmistakable message. Ambiguity in teaching, prophecy, or worship diminishes readiness for spiritual battle.

Readiness for Christ’s Return

 – A clear trumpet call gathers the saints for action; an indistinct one leaves the army unprepared. Believers are exhorted to watchfulness and discernment.

Practical Applications

• Preachers and teachers should labor for comprehensibility, avoiding jargon that muffles truth.
• Churches can cultivate transparency through shared confession, thereby guarding against “unmarked grave” scenarios.
• Disciples are encouraged to test every spiritual “signal” (1 John 4:1) so that vague or deceptive voices do not lead them astray.

Summary

Ἄδηλος, though used only twice in the New Testament, casts a spotlight on two perennial hazards: concealed corruption and unclear proclamation. Both threaten the vitality and holiness of God’s people. Scripture therefore calls believers to lives of evident integrity and to speech that sounds forth the gospel with unmistakable certainty.

Forms and Transliterations

αδηλα άδηλα ἄδηλα αδηλον άδηλον ἄδηλον adela adēla ádela ádēla adelon adēlon ádelon ádēlon

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 11:44 Adj-NNP
GRK: μνημεῖα τὰ ἄδηλα καὶ οἱ
NAS: to you! For you are like concealed tombs,
KJV: graves which appear not, and the men
INT: graves unmarked and the

1 Corinthians 14:8 Adj-AFS
GRK: γὰρ ἐὰν ἄδηλον σάλπιγξ φωνὴν
NAS: produces an indistinct sound,
KJV: give an uncertain sound,
INT: indeed if an uncertain a trumpet sound

Strong's Greek 82
2 Occurrences

ἄδηλα — 1 Occ.
ἄδηλον — 1 Occ.