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 2:17ἀλλ’ · On the contrary; ἀλλ’
    For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
  2. 2 Corinthians 3:3ἀλλὰ · but; ἀλλ’ · but
    It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
  3. 2 Corinthians 3:5ἀλλ’ · but
    Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
  4. 2 Corinthians 3:6ἀλλὰ · but
    And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
  5. 2 Corinthians 3:14Ἀλλὰ · But
    But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
  6. 2 Corinthians 3:15ἀλλ’ · And even
    And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
  7. 2 Corinthians 4:2ἀλλὰ · Instead; ἀλλὰ · On the contrary
    Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
  8. 2 Corinthians 4:5ἀλλὰ · but
    For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
  9. 2 Corinthians 4:8ἀλλ’ · but; ἀλλ’ · but
    We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
  10. 2 Corinthians 4:9ἀλλ’ · but; ἀλλ’ · but
    …persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
  11. 2 Corinthians 4:16ἀλλ’ · [Though]; ἀλλ’ · yet
    Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
  12. 2 Corinthians 4:18ἀλλὰ · but
    So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
  13. 2 Corinthians 5:4ἀλλ’ · but
    For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.
  14. 2 Corinthians 5:12ἀλλὰ · Instead
    We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.
  15. 2 Corinthians 5:15ἀλλὰ · but
    And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
  16. 2 Corinthians 5:16ἀλλὰ
    So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
  17. 2 Corinthians 6:4ἀλλ’ · Rather
    Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
  18. 2 Corinthians 7:5ἀλλ’ · but
    For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
  19. 2 Corinthians 7:6ἀλλ’ · But
    But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
  20. 2 Corinthians 7:7ἀλλὰ · but
    …and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
  21. 2 Corinthians 7:9ἀλλ’ · but
    …yet now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.
  22. 2 Corinthians 7:11ἀλλὰ · [what]; ἀλλὰ · [what]; ἀλλὰ · [what]; ἀλλὰ · [what]; ἀλλὰ · [what]; ἀλλὰ · [what]
    Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
  23. 2 Corinthians 7:12ἀλλ’ · but rather
    So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.
  24. 2 Corinthians 7:14ἀλλ’ · But
    Indeed, I was not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved to be true as well.
  25. 2 Corinthians 8:5ἀλλ’ · but
    And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.
  26. 2 Corinthians 8:7ἀλλ’ · But
    But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
  27. 2 Corinthians 8:8ἀλλὰ · but
    I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the earnestness of others.
  28. 2 Corinthians 8:10ἀλλὰ · but
    And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.
  29. 2 Corinthians 8:13ἀλλ’ · but
    It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.
  30. 2 Corinthians 8:19ἀλλὰ
    More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
  31. 2 Corinthians 8:21ἀλλὰ · but
    For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
  32. 2 Corinthians 9:12ἀλλὰ · but
    For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
  33. 2 Corinthians 10:4ἀλλὰ · Instead
    The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
  34. 2 Corinthians 10:12ἀλλὰ
    We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.
  35. 2 Corinthians 10:13ἀλλὰ · but only
    We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.
  36. 2 Corinthians 10:18ἀλλὰ · but
    For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
  37. 2 Corinthians 11:1ἀλλὰ · but
    I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but you are already doing that.
  38. 2 Corinthians 11:6ἀλλ’; ἀλλ’
    Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.