◄ 217. halas and hala ►
Strong's Lexicon halas and hala: Salt Original Word: ἅλας Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: halas and hala Pronunciation: HA-las Phonetic Spelling: (hal'-as) Definition: salt. Meaning: Salt; a substance used for seasoning and preserving food, symbolizing purity, preservation, and covenant in biblical contexts. Word Origin: Derived from the root of ἅλς (hals), meaning "salt." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 4417 (מֶלַח, melach): The Hebrew term for salt, used in contexts similar to its Greek counterpart, including covenantal and purifying functions (e.g., Leviticus 2:13, "Season all your grain offerings with salt..."). • Strong's Hebrew 4414 (מָלַח, malach): A verb meaning "to salt" or "to season," reflecting the practical and symbolic uses of salt in Hebrew culture and religious practice. Usage: The term ἅλας is used in the New Testament to refer to literal salt as well as metaphorically to describe qualities of believers, such as purity, wisdom, and the covenantal relationship with God. Context: The Greek word ἅλας appears in several key passages in the New Testament, each highlighting different aspects of its symbolic significance. In the ancient world, salt was a valuable commodity, essential for preserving food and enhancing flavor. Its symbolic use in the Bible extends to notions of purity, loyalty, and covenant. • Matthew 5:13 (BSB): "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Here, Jesus uses salt to describe the role of His followers in the world. Just as salt preserves and flavors, believers are called to preserve the truth and add the flavor of godliness to the world. The warning about salt losing its savor underscores the importance of maintaining one's spiritual integrity and influence. • Mark 9:50 (BSB): "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another." This passage emphasizes the importance of maintaining the qualities that make believers distinct and effective in their witness. The exhortation to "have salt among yourselves" suggests fostering purity and peace within the community of faith. • Colossians 4:6 (BSB): "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Here, salt symbolizes wisdom and grace in communication. Believers are encouraged to speak in a way that is both truthful and edifying, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel. In the Old Testament, salt was also used in covenant-making, symbolizing the enduring and binding nature of agreements (e.g., Leviticus 2:13). This background enriches the New Testament metaphor, suggesting that believers, as "salt," are to embody the enduring and preserving qualities of God's covenant with humanity. HELPS Word-studies 217 hálas – salt; (figuratively) God preserving and seasoning a believer as they grow, i.e. in loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, strength and in all their relationships (cf. Mk 12:30,31). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from hals Definition salt NASB Translation salt (8). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 217: ἅλα [ἅλα, τό, read by Tdf. in Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34; see ἅλας.] STRONGS NT 217: ἅλας ἅλας, (ατος, τό (a later form, found in the Sept. and N. T. (Aristotle, de mirab, ause. § 138; Plutarch, qu. conv. 4:4, 3, 3), cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. i., p. 220; dative ἅλατι Colossians 4:6), and ἅλς, ἁλός, ὁ (the classic form (from Homer down); Sir. 22:15 (13); ; Wis. 10:7; 1 Macc. 10:29, etc. Mark 9:49 ἁλί dative (T WH Tr marginal reading omit; Tr text brackets), and in Mark 9:50 L T Tr WH ἅλα accusative (yet without the article) with the nominative τό ἅλας), finally, the nominative and the accusative ἅλα Tdf. in Mark 9:50 (also Matthew 5:13; Luke 14:34 (where see his note)) (similar to γάλα, genitive γάλατος, a form noted by certain grammarians, see (WH's Appendix, p. 158;) Kühner, 1:353f; but see what Fritzsche, Commentary on Sirach (Sir. 39:26), p. 226f, says in opposition); salt; 1. Salt with which food is seasoned and sacrifices are sprinkled: Mark 9:49 R G; cf. ἁλίζω. 2. ἅλας τῆς γῆς, those kinds of saline matter used to fertilize arable land, Matthew 5:13{a}; here salt as a condiment cannot be understood, since this renders land sterile (Deuteronomy 29:23; Zephaniah 2:9; Judges 9:45); cf. Grohmann in Kauffer's Biblical Studien, 1844, p. 82ff The meaning is, 'It is your prerogative to impart to mankind (likened to arable land) the influences required for a life of devotion to God.' In the statement immediately following, ἐάν δέ ἅλας κτλ., the comparison seems to be drawn from salt as a condiment, so that two figures are blended; (but it is better to adopt this latter meaning throughout the passage, and take γῆ to denote the mass of mankind, see under the word, 4 b. and cf. Tholuck and others at the passage). In Mark 9:50{a} and Luke 14:34 salt is a symbol of that health and vigor of soul which is essential to Christian virtue; (cf. Meyer on the former passage). 3. Salt is a symbol of lasting concord, Mark 9:50{c}, because it protects food from putrefaction and preserves it unchanged. Accordingly, in the solemn ratification of compacts, the Orientals were, and are to this day, accustomed to partake of salt together. Cf. Winers RWB under the word Salz; (BB. DD. under the word ); Knobel on Leviticus, p. 370. 4. Wisdom and grace exhibited in speech: Colossians 4:6 (where see Lightfoot). STRONGS NT 217a: Ἄλασσα Ἄλασσα: Acts 27:8; cf.Λασαία. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance salt. From hals; salt; figuratively, prudence -- salt. see GREEK hals Forms and Transliterations αλα άλα ἅλα αλας άλας ἅλας αλατι άλατι ἅλατι αλγείν αλγηδών άλγημα άλγημά αλγημάτων αλγηρά αλγηρόν αλγήσω άλγος αλγώ αλγών άλειμμα ήλγησαν χάριτι ala alas alati chariti hala hála halas hálas halati hálati Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:13 N-NNS GRK: ἐστὲ τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς NAS: You are the salt of the earth; but if KJV: Ye are the salt of the earth: but INT: are the salt of the earth Matthew 5:13 N-NNS GRK: δὲ τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ ἐν NAS: but if the salt has become tasteless, KJV: if the salt have lost his savour, INT: however the salt become tasteless with Mark 9:50 N-NNS GRK: Καλὸν τὸ ἅλας ἐὰν δὲ NAS: Salt is good; but if KJV: Salt [is] good: but INT: Good [is] the salt if however Mark 9:50 N-NNS GRK: δὲ τὸ ἅλας ἄναλον γένηται NAS: but if the salt becomes KJV: if the salt have lost INT: however the salt unsalty is become Mark 9:50 N-ANS GRK: ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἅλα καὶ εἰρηνεύετε NAS: [again]? Have salt in yourselves, KJV: it? Have salt in yourselves, INT: in yourselves salt and be at peace Luke 14:34 N-NNS GRK: οὖν τὸ ἅλας ἐὰν δὲ NAS: Therefore, salt is good; but if KJV: Salt [is] good: but INT: therefore the salt if however Luke 14:34 N-NNS GRK: καὶ τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ ἐν NAS: even salt has become tasteless, KJV: if the salt have lost his savour, INT: even the salt become tasteless with Colossians 4:6 N-DNS GRK: ἐν χάριτι ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος εἰδέναι NAS: [as though] seasoned with salt, so that you will know KJV: seasoned with salt, that ye may know INT: with grace with salt seasoned to know Strong's Greek 217 8 Occurrences ἅλα — 1 Occ. ἅλας — 6 Occ. ἅλατι — 1 Occ.