Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary

αλλος

• The conjunction αλλα (alla), which originated as the neuter plural of αλλος (allos) and which usually can be translated with "but". It occurs 639 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and serves to denote antithesis or reconsideration (John 5:18, Romans 3:27), objection (Romans 10:18), correction (Mark 14:36), even incitement (Matthew 9:18) or mere transition without antithesis (John 16:7). Frequently our word merely expresses continuation of some discourse, or a slight alteration in tone or topic (Mark 13:24, Galatians 2:14, Philippians 3:8). When our word is followed by a vowel, its final α (a) falls out (Matthew 4:4, Romans 1:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:9).
• The verb αλλασσω (allasso), also occurring as αλλαττω (allatto), meaning to "otherize", to either exchange one thing for another (Romans 1:23), to change the character but not the essence of something (a voice: Galatians 4:20; the interpretation of law: Acts 6:14), or to transform (1 Corinthians 15:51, Hebrews 1:10). Note the significance of the use of our root word in the latter regard: at the resurrection we will receive a second but essentially similar body (still, also see 1 Corinthians 15:44). This verb is used 6 times, see full concordance, and comes with its own derivatives:
  • Together with the preposition αντι (anti), meaning over or against: the noun ανταλλαγμα (antallagma), meaning "that what was given or taken in exchange" or "reciprocational item" (Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:37 only). This noun stems from the intermediate verb ανταλλασσω (antalasso), meaning to exchange something for something else, to trade. This verb is not used in the New Testament.
  • Together with the preposition απο (apo), meaning from: the verb απαλλασσω (apallasso) or απαλλαττω (apallatto), literally meaning to otherize out of, or away from; to break out of some specified situation or condition, like bondage, a prison or the imminence of being dragged off to prison (Luke 12:58, Acts 19:12 and Hebrews 2:15 only).
  • Together with the prefix δια (dia), meaning through or throughout: the beautiful verb διαλλασσομαι (dialassomai) or διαλλαττομαι (dialattomai), literally meaning to otherize through. It occurs only in Matthew 5:24 and is commonly translated with to reconcile. It denotes, however, a profound internal change, not merely a consolatory cessation of hostilities.
  • Together with the preposition κατα (kata), meaning down from, down upon: the equally magnificent verb καταλλασσω (katallasso) or καταλλαττω (katallatto), which does the same thing as the previous verb except that it describes an external change: a "de-otherization" toward someone else. It describes how God's people are "de-otherized" to him through Jesus (Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20), or, closely similar, how a wife is "de-otherized" to her husband to resume their "one-flesh" state of marital union (1 Corinthians 7:11). This verb is used 6 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn derive:
    • Again together with the preposition απο (apo), meaning from: the verb αποκαταλλασσω (apokatalasso) or αποκαταλλαττω (apokatalatto), meaning to "de-otherize" out of a specified condition or situation, or by specified means: to "out-de-otherize" or "via-de-otherize" (Ephesians 2:16, Colossians 1:20 and 1:21 only).
    • The noun καταλλαγη (katallage), meaning reconciliation; either the act of the verb or the result of it. This noun occurs 4 times; see full concordance.
  • Together with the preposition μετα (meta), meaning in the middle: the verb μεταλλασσω (metalasso) or μεταλλαττω (metalatto), meaning to change from one intimacy to another (Romans 1:25 and 1:26 only).
  • Together with the preposition παρα (para), meaning near or nearby: the verb παραλλασσω (paralasso), meaning to cause to alternate, to change, to deviate or change direction. This verb isn't used in the New Testament but from it comes:
    • The noun παραλλαγη (parallage), meaning a change of position, a movement or shift in appearance (James 1:17 only). This noun was also an astrological term, meaning "passing beyond". The related word παραλλαξις (parallaxis), or parallax, describes the difference in apparent position (or position relative to its background) of an object that is viewed from different lines of sight. This noun's parent verb, παραλλασσω (paralasso), also means to display a parallax.
• Suffixed with the adverb of origin -θεν (-then), meaning "from a place" (comparable to the English "-ian"): the adverb αλλαχοθεν (allachothen), meaning from somewhere else (John 10:1 only). This word survives in English as allochthon, the opposite of autochthon or indigenous.
• Together with the verb αγορευω (agoreuo), meaning to speak publicly: the verb αλληγορεω (allegoreo), meaning to say the same thing in another way (Galatians 4:24 only). From this verb stems our English word "allegory".
• The reciprocal pronoun αλληλων (allelon), meaning "one another". This word occurs 99 times; see full concordance.
• Together with the noun γενος (genos), meaning offspring or familial stock: the adjective αλλογενης (allogenes), meaning from another family or race; a foreigner or stranger (Luke 17:18 only).
• The adjective αλλοτριος (allotrios), meaning belonging to another. This word may apply to other people's wares (Luke 16:12), other countries (Acts 7:6, Hebrews 11:9), or even describe something ominously undetermined, as Paul writes that the prophets made armies out of the support of "the things of others" (Hebrews 11:34). This adjective occurs 14 times see full concordance and from it in turn derives:
  • Together with the noun επισκοπος (episkopos), literally meaning watcher-over, a word used for public overseers: the comical noun αλλοτριοεπισκοπος (allotrioepiskopos): a watcher-over of someone else's things; someone meddlesome and occupied with affairs that are none of his business, who sticks his nose where it doesn't belong, a nosy parker (1 Peter 4:15 only).
• Together with the noun φυλη (phule), meaning race or tribe: the adjective αλλοφυλος (allophulos), meaning "other-tribely" (Acts 10:28 only).
• The adverb αλλως (allos), meaning otherwise or alternatively (1 Timothy 5:25 only). Note the important difference between this word and ετερως (heteros), which occurs only in Philippians 3:15 and denotes a wholly different essence. Out word describes being alternatively but similarly. Paul in 1 Timothy 5:25 does not speak of deeds that are other-than-good and thus evil, but deeds that are other good deeds. He continues the pattern set in the previous verse: some bad deeds are immediately obvious, whereas other bad deeds are eventually found out about via inquest. Likewise, some good deeds are immediately obvious, while other good deeds will not be evident until the books are opened (Revelation 20:12).
• Together with the preposition απο (apo), meaning from: the verb απαλλοτριοω (apallotrioo), meaning to otherize or alienate from a specified reference: a person, place, people, tradition, norm, and so on. In the classics, this verb was also used to separate or distinguish certain items from others, and was used as a surgical term ("removal"). In the New Testament, this verb is used in Ephesians 2:12, 4:18 and Colossians 1:21 only. This verb without the απο (apo) prefix, namely αλλοτριοω (allotrioo), occurs more frequently in the classics (albeit not at all in the New Testament) and describes the separation of equivalent parties: withdrawing from each other, or becoming hostile, estranged, prejudiced, and so on. This naked verb can also describe a strange or unnatural taste (of food) or unnatural or abnormal behavior (of people). Objects that fall into sleight hands are likewise deemed "alienated".

αλη

• The noun αλαζω (alazo), initially meaning vagrant or idle wanderer but later adopted in the sense of bragger or charlatan with a fast mouth and lose allegiances, particularly in an environment where his true nature is not (yet) known. Such a vagrant bragger is bound to be found out and sent on his way, which explains why he keeps showing up in places where nobody knows him. In Greek theatre, this word came to signify a comedic archetype: the Alazon, the arriving stranger who regards himself with great esteem and expects his audience to questionlessly adopt that view. Over the course of the play, the Alazon usually ends up humiliated by the Eiron, the opposite archetype, namely he who rather conceals his analytic powers and says less than he thinks (hence our English word "irony"). Our noun occurs in Romans 1:30 and 2 Timothy 3:2 only, and from it in turn comes:
  • The noun αλαζονεια (alazoneia), meaning vagrant braggery, the signature doings of an αλαζω (alazo), a stranger who arrives out of nowhere, entirely convinced that he is infinitely more interesting than anyone already there. This word is used in James 4:16 and 1 John 2:16 only.

αλαλαζω

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Associated Biblical names