"variant spellings of ἅλα and ἁλός, salt, Mt. 5:13; Mk. 9:50; met. the salt of wisdom and prudence, Col. 4:6"
Definition and meaning
variant spellings of ἅλα and ἁλός, salt, Mt. 5:13; Mk. 9:50; met. the salt of wisdom and prudence, Col. 4:6
In the original Greek the word is written: ἅλας
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 halas (G217) across the King James Bible.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
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Common questions
Strong's G217 (halas) is a Greek word that means: variant spellings of ἅλα and ἁλός, salt, Mt. 5:13; Mk. 9:50; met. the salt of wisdom and prudence, Col. 4:6 It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word halas (G217) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G217 is halas, a Greek word defined as: variant spellings of ἅλα and ἁλός, salt, Mt. 5:13; Mk. 9:50; met. the salt of wisdom and prudence, Col. 4:6. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
halas is a Greek word found in the New Testament.