Keraia
Lexicon

ἀλλά

allabutHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentConjunction639 occurrences27 books604 verses

Definition

ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146),

adversative particle,

stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Romans 3:31);

1. opposing a previous negation, but: οὐ (μὴ) . . . ἀ., Matthew 5:15, 17, Mark 5:39, John 7:16, al.; rhetorically subordinating but not entirely negativing what precedes, οὐ . . . ἀ., not so much . . . as, Mark 9:37, Matthew 10:20, John 12:44, al.; with ellipse of the negation, Matthew 11:7-9, Acts 19:2, 1 Corinthians 3:6; 6:11; 7:7, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Galatians 2:3, al.; in opposition to a foregoing pos. sentence, ἀ. οὐ, Matthew 24:6, 1 Corinthians 10:23; οὐ μόνον . . . ἀ. καί, John 5:18, Romans 1:32, al.; elliptically, after a negation, ἀ. ἵνα, Mark 14:49, John 1:8; 9:3, al.; = εἰ μή (Bl., §77, 13; M, Pr., 241; but cf. WM, §iii, 10), Matthew 20:23, Mark 4:22.

2. Without previous negation, to express opposition, interruption, transition, etc., but: John 16:20; 12:27, Galatians 2:14; before commands or requests, Acts 10:20; 26:16, Matthew 9:18, Mark 9:22, al.; to introduce an accessory idea, 2 Corinthians 7:11; in the apodosis after a condition or concession with εἰ, ἐάν, εἴπερ, yet, still, at least, Mark 14:29, 1 Corinthians 9:2, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Colossians 2:5, al.; after μέν, Acts 4:17, Romans 14:20, 1 Corinthians 14:17; giving emphasis to the following clause, ἀλλ᾽ ἔρχεται ὥρα, yea, etc., John 16:2; so with neg., ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ, nay, nor yet, Luke 23:15.

3. Joined with other particles (a practice which increases in late writers; Simcox, LNT, 166), ἀ. γε, yet at least, Luke 24:21, 1 Corinthians 9:2; ἄ ἤ., save only, except, Luke 12:51, 2 Corinthians 1:13; ἀ. μὲν οὖν, Philippians 3:8 (on this usage, see MM, VGT, see word).

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as ἀλλά:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

639 total
  1. 2 Corinthians 11:17ἀλλ’ · but
    In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
  2. 2 Corinthians 12:14ἀλλὰ · but; ἀλλὰ · but
    See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
  3. 2 Corinthians 12:16ἀλλὰ · but
    Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
  4. 2 Corinthians 13:3ἀλλὰ · but
    …since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.
  5. 2 Corinthians 13:4ἀλλὰ · yet; ἀλλὰ · yet
    For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.
  6. 2 Corinthians 13:7ἀλλ’ · but
    Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.
  7. 2 Corinthians 13:8ἀλλὰ · but only
    For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
  8. Galatians 1:1ἀλλὰ · but
    Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—
  9. Galatians 1:8Ἀλλὰ · But
    But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
  10. Galatians 1:12ἀλλὰ · rather, [ I received it ]
    I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
  11. Galatians 1:17ἀλλὰ · but
    …nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
  12. Galatians 2:3ἀλλ’ · Yet
    Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
  13. Galatians 2:7ἀλλὰ
    On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
  14. Galatians 2:14Ἀλλ’
    When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
  15. Galatians 3:12ἀλλ’ · on the contrary
    The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
  16. Galatians 3:16ἀλλ’ · but
    The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
  17. Galatians 3:22ἀλλὰ · But
    But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
  18. Galatians 4:2ἀλλὰ
    He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
  19. Galatians 4:7ἀλλὰ · but
    So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
  20. Galatians 4:8Ἀλλὰ
    Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
  21. Galatians 4:14ἀλλὰ · Instead
    And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
  22. Galatians 4:17ἀλλὰ · Instead
    Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
  23. Galatians 4:23ἀλλ’
    His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
  24. Galatians 4:29ἀλλ’ · however
    At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
  25. Galatians 4:30Ἀλλὰ · But
    But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
  26. Galatians 4:31ἀλλὰ · but
    Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
  27. Galatians 5:6ἀλλὰ · What matters is
    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
  28. Galatians 5:13ἀλλὰ · Rather
    For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
  29. Galatians 6:13ἀλλὰ · yet
    For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
  30. Galatians 6:15ἀλλὰ · [What counts is]
    For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
  31. Ephesians 1:21ἀλλὰ · but
    …far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
  32. Ephesians 2:19ἀλλὰ · but
    Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
  33. Ephesians 4:29ἀλλὰ · but
    Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
  34. Ephesians 5:4ἀλλὰ · but
    Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
  35. Ephesians 5:15ἀλλ’ · but
    Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
  36. Ephesians 5:17ἀλλὰ · but
    Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
  37. Ephesians 5:18ἀλλὰ · Instead
    Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
  38. Ephesians 5:24ἀλλὰ · Now
    Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
  39. Ephesians 5:27ἀλλ’ · but
    …and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
  40. Ephesians 5:29ἀλλὰ · but
    Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.
  41. Ephesians 6:4ἀλλὰ · instead
    Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
  42. Ephesians 6:6ἀλλ’ · but
    And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
  43. Ephesians 6:12ἀλλὰ · but
    For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
  44. Philippians 1:18ἀλλὰ · Yes
    What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
  45. Philippians 1:20ἀλλ’ · but
    I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
  46. Philippians 1:29ἀλλὰ · but
    For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
  47. Philippians 2:3ἀλλὰ · but
    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
  48. Philippians 2:4ἀλλὰ · but
    Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.