Quick Definition
ἄρρητος, ον Adj not to be uttered, secret
Strong's Definition
unsaid, i.e. (by implication) inexpressible
Derivation: from G1 (Α) (as a negative particle) and the same as G4490 (ῥητῶς);
KJV Usage: unspeakable
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
adjc. | -ον | ῥῆμα
33.95 · Communication · Speak, Talk
what cannot be spoken pertaining to what cannot or must not be spoken
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἄρ-ρητος, -ον, (ῥητός, fr. ΡΕΩ); a. unsaid, unspoken: Hom. Od. 14, 466, and often in Attic. b. unspeakable (on account of its sacredness), (Hat. 5, 83, and often in other writ.): 2 Co. xii. 4, explained by what follows: ἁ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἄρρητος arrētos 1x
pr. not spoken; what ought not to be spoken, secret; which cannot be spoken or uttered, 2 Cor. 12:4*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** ἄρρητος, -ον
(< ἀ- neg., ῥητός, ῥέω), [in Sm.: Le 18:23*;]
unspoken (Hom., al.).
unspeakable (Hat., al.; freq. in Inscr.; MM, s.v.): II Co 12:4.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἄρρητος is common in sacred inscriptions, e. g. A/ichel 99271 (Mantinea, B.C. 61) ἐσκέπασεν kal εὐσχημόνισεν τὰ περὶ τὰν θεὸν ἄρρητα μυστήρια. The word is thus associated with the Mysteries, and in 2 Cor 124 (ἄρρητα ῥήματα) suggests words too sacred to be uttered. Vettius Valens p. 19! has περὶ τὰ ἄρρητα ποιητικαί. P Leid W*" 16, with κρυπτόν.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἄρρητος (arrētos) — inexpressible. ἄρρητος, ον, also η, ον [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— unspoken, ἔπος προέηκεν ὅ πέρ τ᾽ ἄρρητον ἄμεινον[Refs 8th c.BC+]; οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἀρρήτοις γε τοῖς ἐμοῖς λόγοις not without warning spoken by me, [Refs 5th c.BC+]. adverb -τως, σιγᾶν[Refs 4th c.BC+]
II. that cannot be spoken or expressed, ἀδιανόητον καὶ ἄ. καὶ ἄφθεγκτον καὶ ἄλογον[Refs 5th c.BC+]: hence, unspeakable, immense, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
III. not to be spoken: hence,
III.1. not to be divulged, ἱροργίαι, ἱρά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διδακτά τε ἄρρητά τ᾽, i.e.things profane and sacred, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄ. κόρη the maid whom none may name (i.e. Persephone), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀρρήτων θέσμια, i.e. of Demeter and Persephone, [Refs]
III.2. unutterable, horrible, δεῖπνα[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄρρητ᾽ ἀρρήτων 'deeds without a name', [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III.3. shameful to be spoken, ῥητόν τ᾽ ἄ. τ᾽ ἔπος[Refs]; ῥητὰ καὶ ἄ. ὀνομάζων 'dicenda tacenda locutus', [Refs 4th c.BC+]. adverb -τως[Refs 3rd c.AD+]
IV. of numbers, ἄρρητα, τά, irrationals, surds, opposed to ῥητά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]