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 Peter 2:4ἀλλὰ · but
    For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
  2. 2 Peter 2:5ἀλλὰ · but
    …if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;
  3. 2 Peter 3:9ἀλλὰ · but; ἀλλὰ · but
    The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
  4. 1 John 2:2ἀλλὰ · but
    He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
  5. 1 John 2:7ἀλλ’ · but
    Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.
  6. 1 John 2:16ἀλλὰ · but
    For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
  7. 1 John 2:19ἀλλ’ · but; ἀλλ’ · But
    They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.
  8. 1 John 2:21ἀλλ’ · but
    I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth.
  9. 1 John 2:27ἀλλ’ · But
    And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.
  10. 1 John 3:18ἀλλὰ · but
    Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
  11. 1 John 4:1ἀλλὰ · but
    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
  12. 1 John 4:10ἀλλ’ · but
    And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
  13. 1 John 4:18ἀλλ’ · but
    There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
  14. 1 John 5:6ἀλλ’ · but
    This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.
  15. 1 John 5:18ἀλλ’
    We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
  16. 2 John 1:1ἀλλὰ · but
    The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I alone, but also all who know the truth—
  17. 2 John 1:5ἀλλὰ · but
    And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
  18. 2 John 1:8ἀλλὰ · but [that]
    Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
  19. 2 John 1:12ἀλλὰ · Instead
    I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
  20. 3 John 1:9ἀλλ’ · but
    I have written to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not accept our instruction.
  21. 3 John 1:11ἀλλὰ · but
    Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
  22. 3 John 1:13ἀλλ’ · but
    I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
  23. Jude 1:6ἀλλὰ · but
    And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.
  24. Jude 1:9ἀλλὰ · but
    But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
  25. Revelation 2:4Ἀλλὰ · But
    But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love.
  26. Revelation 2:6Ἀλλὰ · But
    But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
  27. Revelation 2:9ἀλλὰ · though; ἀλλὰ · but [are in fact]
    I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
  28. Revelation 2:14Ἀλλ’ · But
    But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
  29. Revelation 2:20Ἀλλὰ · But
    But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
  30. Revelation 3:4Ἀλλὰ · But
    But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
  31. Revelation 3:9ἀλλὰ · instead
    As for those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you.
  32. Revelation 9:5ἀλλ’ · but only
    The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.
  33. Revelation 10:7ἀλλ’ · But
    But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he begins to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”
  34. Revelation 10:9ἀλλ’ · but
    And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
  35. Revelation 17:12ἀλλὰ · but
    The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.
  36. Revelation 20:6ἀλλ’ · but
    Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.