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. Matthew 4:4Ἀλλ’ · but
    But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
  2. Matthew 5:15ἀλλ’ · Instead
    Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
  3. Matthew 5:17ἀλλὰ · but
    Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
  4. Matthew 5:39ἀλλ’
    But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
  5. Matthew 6:13Ἀλλὰ · but
    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
  6. Matthew 6:18ἀλλὰ · but only
    …so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
  7. Matthew 7:21ἀλλ’ · but only
    Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
  8. Matthew 8:4ἀλλὰ · But
    Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
  9. Matthew 8:8ἀλλὰ · But
    The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
  10. Matthew 9:12ἀλλ’ · but
    On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
  11. Matthew 9:13ἀλλὰ · but
    But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
  12. Matthew 9:17ἀλλὰ · Instead
    Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
  13. Matthew 9:18ἀλλὰ · But
    While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
  14. Matthew 9:24ἀλλὰ · but
    “Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.
  15. Matthew 10:20ἀλλὰ · but
    For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
  16. Matthew 10:34ἀλλὰ · but
    Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
  17. Matthew 11:8ἀλλὰ · Otherwise
    Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces.
  18. Matthew 11:9ἀλλὰ · then
    What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
  19. Matthew 13:21ἀλλὰ · But
    But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
  20. Matthew 15:11ἀλλὰ · but
    A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”
  21. Matthew 16:12ἀλλὰ · but
    Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
  22. Matthew 16:17ἀλλ’ · but [by]
    Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
  23. Matthew 16:23ἀλλὰ · but
    But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
  24. Matthew 17:12ἀλλὰ · but
    But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”
  25. Matthew 18:22ἀλλὰ · but
    Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
  26. Matthew 18:30ἀλλὰ · Instead
    But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
  27. Matthew 19:6ἀλλὰ · but
    So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
  28. Matthew 19:11ἀλλ’ · but only [those]
    “Not everyone can accept this word,” He replied, “but only those to whom it has been given.
  29. Matthew 20:23ἀλλ’ · [These seats belong]
    “You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”
  30. Matthew 20:26ἀλλ’ · Instead
    It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
  31. Matthew 20:28ἀλλὰ · but
    …just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
  32. Matthew 21:21ἀλλὰ · but
    “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
  33. Matthew 22:30ἀλλ’ · Instead
    In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
  34. Matthew 22:32ἀλλὰ · but
    ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
  35. Matthew 24:6ἀλλ’ · but
    You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
  36. Matthew 26:39ἀλλ’ · but
    Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
  37. Matthew 27:24ἀλλὰ · but that
    When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
  38. Mark 1:44ἀλλὰ · But
    “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
  39. Mark 1:45ἀλλ’ · but
    But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
  40. Mark 2:17ἀλλ’ · but; ἀλλὰ · but
    On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
  41. Mark 2:22ἀλλὰ · Instead
    And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”
  42. Mark 3:26ἀλλὰ
    And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.
  43. Mark 3:27ἀλλ’ · Indeed
    Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
  44. Mark 3:29ἀλλὰ
    But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
  45. Mark 4:17ἀλλὰ · [and]
    But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
  46. Mark 4:22ἀλλ’
    For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.
  47. Mark 5:19ἀλλὰ
    But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”
  48. Mark 5:26ἀλλὰ
    She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.
  49. Mark 5:39ἀλλὰ · but
    He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”