"to slacken; to let down, lower, Mk. 2:4; Lk. 5:4, 5; Acts 9:25; 27:17, 30; 1 Cor. 11:33*"
Definition and meaning
to slacken; to let down, lower, Mk. 2:4; Lk. 5:4, 5; Acts 9:25; 27:17, 30; 1 Cor. 11:33*
In the original Greek the word is written: χαλάω
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of chalao (G5465) across the King James Bible.
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
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Common questions
Strong's G5465 (chalao) is a Greek word that means: to slacken; to let down, lower, Mk. 2:4; Lk. 5:4, 5; Acts 9:25; 27:17, 30; 1 Cor. 11:33* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word chalao (G5465) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5465 is chalao, a Greek word defined as: to slacken; to let down, lower, Mk. 2:4; Lk. 5:4, 5; Acts 9:25; 27:17, 30; 1 Cor. 11:33*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chalao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.