"speech; manner of speaking; peculiar language of a nation, dialect, vernacular idiom, Acts 1:19; 2:6, 8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14"
Definition and meaning
speech; manner of speaking; peculiar language of a nation, dialect, vernacular idiom, Acts 1:19; 2:6, 8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14
In the original Greek the word is written: διάλεκτος
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 dialektos (G1258) across the King James Bible.
And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
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Common questions
Strong's G1258 (dialektos) is a Greek word that means: speech; manner of speaking; peculiar language of a nation, dialect, vernacular idiom, Acts 1:19; 2:6, 8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14 It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word dialektos (G1258) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1258 is dialektos, a Greek word defined as: speech; manner of speaking; peculiar language of a nation, dialect, vernacular idiom, Acts 1:19; 2:6, 8; 21:40; 22:2; 26:14. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
dialektos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.