Original Word: ἀλλά
Part of Speech: Conjunction
Transliteration: alla
Pronunciation: al-lah'
Phonetic Spelling: (al-lah')
Definition: but, rather, on the contrary
Meaning: but, except, however.

Word Origin: A primary particle

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "ἀλλά," the Hebrew conjunction "וְ" (vav) can sometimes serve a similar contrasting function, often translated as "but" or "and" depending on context.

Usage: The Greek conjunction "ἀλλά" (alla) is used to denote contrast or exception. It is often translated as "but," "rather," or "on the contrary" in English. This word serves to introduce a statement that contrasts with or opposes what has been previously mentioned. It is a critical conjunction in Greek for clarifying distinctions and emphasizing differences in thought or action.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the context of Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, conjunctions like "ἀλλά" were essential for constructing complex arguments and narratives. The use of "ἀλλά" reflects the Greek rhetorical style, which often involved presenting an idea and then contrasting it with another to highlight a point or to bring clarity. This style is evident in the writings of the New Testament authors, who frequently used "ἀλλά" to contrast the old covenant with the new, human wisdom with divine wisdom, or earthly values with heavenly ones.

235 allá (typically a strong adversative conjunction) – but (but instead), nevertheless, on the contrary. 235 (allá), the neuter plural of 243 /állos ("other"), literally means "otherwise" or "on the other hand" (Abbott-Smith).

Word Origin
adversative particle from allos
Definition
otherwise, on the other hand, but
NASB Translation
besides (1), certainly (1), contrary (6), fact (2), however (9), indeed (4), indeed* (1), least* (1), nevertheless (5), no (1), rather (2), what (6), yes (1), yet (16).

STRONGS NT 235: ἀλλά

ἀλλά, an adversative particle, derived from ἀλλά, neuter of the adjective ἄλλος, which was originally pronounced ἄλλος (cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii., p. 1f), hence properly, other things namely, than those just mentioned. It differs from δέ, as the Latinat andsed fromautem, (cf. Winer's Grammar, 441f (411)).

I. But. So related to the preceding words that it serves to introduce

1. an opposition to concessions; nevertheless, notwithstanding: Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:20; Mark 14:28; John 16:7, 20; Acts 4:17; Acts 7:48; Romans 5:14; Romans 10:16; 1 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 7:6; Philippians 2:27 (ἀλλ' ὁ Θεός etc.), etc.

2. an objection: John 7:27; Romans 10:18; 1 Corinthians 15:35; James 2:18.

3. an exception: Luke 22:53; Romans 4:2; 1 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 10:23.

4. a restriction: John 11:42; Galatians 4:8; Mark 14:36.

5. an ascensive transition or gradation, nay rather, yea moreover: John 16:2; 2 Corinthians 1:9; especially with καί added, Luke 12:7; Luke 16:21; Luke 24:22. ἀλλ' οὐδέ, but ... not even (German ja nicht einmal): Luke 23:15; Acts 19:2; 1 Corinthians 3:2 (Rec. οὔτε); cf. Fritzsche on Mark, p. 157.

6. or forms a transition to the cardinal matter, especially before imperatives: Matthew 9:18.; Mark 9:22; Mark 16:7; Luke 7:7; John 8:26; John 16:4; Acts 9:6 (not Rec.); .

7. it is put elliptically: ἀλλ' ἵνα, i. e. ἀλλά τοῦτο γέγονεν, Mark 14:49; John 13:18; John 15:25; 1 John 2:19.

8. after a conditional or concessive protasis it signifies, at the beginning of the apodosis, yet (cf. Winer's Grammar, 442 (411)): after καί εἰ, 2 Corinthians 13:4 (R G); Mark 14:29 R G L (2 Macc. 8:15); after εἰ καί, Mark 14:29 (T Tr WH); 2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 2 Corinthians 11:6; Colossians 2:5 (2 Macc. 6:26); after εἰ, 1 Corinthians 9:2; Romans 6:5 (1 Macc. 2:20); after ἐάν, 1 Corinthians 4:15; after εἴπερ, 1 Corinthians 8:6 (L Tr marginal reading WH brackets ἀλλ'; cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii., p. 93f; Kühner, ii., p. 827, § 535 Anm. 6.

9. after a preceding μέν: Mark 9:13 (T omits; Tr brackets μέν; Acts 4:16; Romans 14:20; 1 Corinthians 14:17.

10. it is joined to other particles; ἀλλά γέ (Griesbach ἀλλάγε) (twice in the N. T.): yet at least, 1 Corinthians 9:2; yet surely (aber freilich), Luke 24:21 (L T Tr WH add καί yea and etc.), cf. Bornemann at the passage. In the more elegant Greek writers these particles are not combined without the interposition of the most emphatic word between them; cf. Bornemann, the passage cited; Klotz ad Devar. ii., pp. 15f, 24f; Ast, Lex. Plato, i., p. 101; (Winer's Grammar, 444 (413)). ἀλλ' ἤ (arising from the blending of the two statements οὐδέν ἄλλο ἤ and οὐδέν ἄλλο, ἀλλά) save only, except: 1 Corinthians 3:5 (where ἀλλ' ἤ omitted by G L T Tr WH is spurious); Luke 12:51 (Sir. 37:12 Sir. 44:10); and after ἀλλά itself, 2 Corinthians 1:13 (here Lachmann brackets ἀλλ' before ἤ); cf. Klotz as above ii., 31ff; Kühner, ii., p. 824f § 535, 6; Winers Grammar, 442 (412); (Buttmann, 374 (320)). ἀλλ' οὐ but not, yet not: Hebrews 3:16 (if punctuated παρεπίκραναν; ἀλλ' οὐ) for 'But why do I ask? Did not all,' etc.; cf. Bleek at the passage (Winer's Grammar, 442 (411)). ἀλλ' οὐχί will he not rather? Luke 17:8.

II. preceded by a negation: but (Latinsed, German sondern);

1. οὐκ (μή) ... ἀλλά: Matthew 19:11; Mark 5:39; John 7:16; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 7:10, 19 (οὐδέν); 2 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Timothy 5:23 (μηκέτι), etc. By a rhetorical construction οὐκ ... ἀλλά sometimes is logically equivalent to not so much ... as: Mark 9:37 (οὐκ ἐμέ δέχεται, ἀλλά τόν ἀποστείλαντά με); Matthew 10:20; John 12:44; Acts 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; by this form of speech the emphasis is laid on the second member; cf. Fritzsche on Mark, p. 773ff; Winers Grammar, § 55, 8 b.; (Buttmann, 356 (306)). οὐ μόνος ... ἀλλά καί not only ... but also: John 5:18; John 11:52 (ἀλλ' ἵνα καί, Romans 1:32, and very often. When καί is omitted (as in the Latinnon solum ... sed), the gradation is strengthened: Acts 19:26 (Lachmann adds καί); 1 John 5:6; ἀλλά πολλῷ μᾶλλον, Philippians 2:12; cf. Fritzsche, the passage cited, p. 786ff; Winers Grammar, 498 (464); (Buttmann, 369f (317)).

2. The negation to which ἀλλά pertains is suppressed, but can easily be supplied upon reflection (Winer's Grammar, 442 (412)): Matthew 11:7-9; Luke 7:24-26 (in each passage, before ἀλλά supply 'you will say you did not go out into the wilderness for this purpose'); Acts 19:2 (we have not received the Holy Spirit, but ...); Galatians 2:3 (they said not one word in opposition to me, but ...); 2 Corinthians 7:11 (where before ἀλλά, repeated six times by anaphora, supply οὐ μόνον with the accusative of the preceding word). It is used in answers to questions having the force of a negation (Winer's Grammar, 442 (412)): John 7:49; Acts 15:11; 1 Corinthians 10:20. ἀλλά ἵνα (or ἀλλ' ἵνα, cf. Winers Grammar, 40; Buttmann, 10) elliptical after a negation (Winer's Grammar, 316f (297); 620 (576); Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 840f): John 1:8 (supply ἀλλά ἦλθεν, ἵνα); (ἀλλά τυφλός ἐγένετο (or ἐγεννήθη), ἵνα); Mark 4:22 (ἀλλά τοιοῦτο ἐγένετο, ἵνα). ( The best manuscripts seem to elide the final a before nouns, but not before verbs Scrivener, Plain Introduction, etc., p. 14; but see Dr. Gregory's full exhibition of the facts in Tdf Proleg., p. 93f, from which it appears that "elision is commonly or almost always omitted before (alpha) ἆ, almost always before (upsilon) u, often before (epsilon) e and (eta) ee, rarely before (omikron) o and (omega) oo, never before (iota) i; and it should be noticed that this coincides with the fact that the familiar words ἐν, ἵνα, ὅτι, οὐ, ὡς, prefer the form ἀλλ'; see also WHs Appendix, p. 146. Cf. Winers Grammar, § 5, 1 a.; Buttmann, p. 10.)

but, yet, except

Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) -- and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.

see GREEK allos

αλλ αλλ' ἀλλ' αλλα αλλά αλλ'ά ἀλλά ἀλλὰ άλλαγμα άλλαγμά αλλάγματα αλλάγματι all all' alla allá allàInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts