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Alliance

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1285

בְּרִית

be.rit — covenant

1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8002

שֶׁ֫לֶם

she.lem — peace offering

1) peace offering, requital, sacrifice for alliance or friendship 1a) voluntary sacrifice of thanks

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2266

חָבַר

cha.var — to unite

1) to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with, be compact, be a charmer 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to unite, be joined 1a2) to tie magic charms, charm 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to unite with, make an ally of 1b2) to unite, join, ally 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be allied with, be united 1c2) to be joined together 1d) (Hiphil) to join together, pile up (words) 1e) (Hithpael) to join oneself to, make an alliance, league together

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1735

דּוֹדָוָהוּ

do.da.va.hu — Dodavahu

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 2Ch.20.37; father of: Eliezer (H0461L); also called in KJV: Dodavah; § Dodavah = "beloved of Jehovah" a man of Mareshah in Judah, the father of Eliezer, who denounced Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahaziah

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5683

עֶבְרֹן

ev.ron — Ebron

Hebron = "alliance" a city of Judah located in the mountains 20 (32 km) miles south of Jerusalem and 20 (32 km) miles north of Beersheba Another name of av.don (עַבְדּוֹן "Abdon" H5658G)

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GREEK · G9262

συμμαχέω

summacheō — to fight along with

to be an ally, to be in alliance , (Aeschulus Tragicus):—;generally, to help, aid, succour , τινί (Sophocles Tragicus), etc.:—;Pass. to be assisted , (Lucian) (ML)

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GREEK · G9263

συμμαχία

summachia — an alliance in war

1. an alliance offensive and defensive (opposite to an ἐπιμαχία, defensive) , (Herdotus Historicus), etc.: συμμαχίαν ποιεῖσθαι πρός τινα (Herdotus Historicus); τινί (Thucydides) 2. generally, the duty of an ally , (Aeschulus Tragicus) 3. = τὸ συμμαχικόν, the body of allies , (Herdotus Historicus): also, the country of one's allies , (Thucydides) 4. an allied or auxiliary force , (Thucydides) (ML)

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GREEK · G9268

σύμμιξις

summixis — an alliance

1. commixture , τινος πρός τι (Plato Philosophus) 2. intercourse , (Plutarch) (ML)

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GREEK · G9297

συνάπτω

sunaptō — to join together

1. to tie or bind together, to join together, unite , ς. χέρα, in sign of friendship, (Euripides); ἰδού, ξύναψον (i.e. τὴν χέρα); (Euripides); but, ς. χεῖρά τινος ἐν βρόχοις to bind it fast , (Euripides):—; ς. πόδα or ἴχνος τινί to meet him, (Euripides); ς. κῶλον τάφῳ to approach the grave, (Euripides); so, φόνος ς. τινὰ γᾷ (Euripides):—; ξ. βλέφαρα to close the eyes, (Euripides); ς. στόμα to kiss one, (Euripides):—; ς. κακὰ κακοῖς to link misery with misery, (Euripides); but, ς. κακόν τινι to link him with misery , (Euripides): ς. τινὶ δαῖτα to give one a meal, (Euripides): proverbial, ς. λίνον λίνῳ to join thread to thread, i. e. to compare things of the same sort, (Plato Philosophus) 2. to connect in thought, to combine , (Plato Philosophus): ς. μηχανήν to frame a plan, (Aeschulus Tragicus); ς. ὄναρ εἴς τινα to connect it with him, refer it to him, (Euripides); ξυνῆψε πάντας ἐς μίαν βλάβην involved them in one loss, (Euripides) 3. in hostile sense, ς. εἰς μάχην to bring into action, (Herdotus Historicus); ἐλπὶς πόλεις ξυνῆψε engaged them in conflict , (Euripides) 4. ς. μάχην to join battle, (Herdotus Historicus); τινί with one, (Aeschulus Tragicus); πρός τινα (Thucydides): also (without μάχην); to engage , (Herdotus Historicus):—;Pass., νεῖκος συνῆπταί τινι πρός τινα (Herdotus Historicus) 5. in friendly sense, to unite , (Xenophon Historicus): —;Pass., συνάπτεσθαί τινι to have intercourse with , [variant datesAnthology Palantina 6. with accusative rei, ς. μῦθον, ὅρκους (Euripides); ς.τινὶ γάμους, λέκτρα, κῆδος to form an alliance by marriage, (Euripides): ξυνάπτεσθαι κῆδος τῆς θυγατρός to get one's daughter married, (Thucydides) 7. intransitive: 8. in local sense, to border on, lie next to , (Herdotus Historicus); Τήνῳ συνάπτει Ἄνδρος (Aeschulus Tragicus) 9. of Time, to be nigh at hand , (Pindar); so of events, λύπη ς. τινί (Euripides) 10. metaphorically of thoughts, to meet together , (Aristotle Philosopher):—; to be connected with , πρός τι (Aristotle Philosopher) 11. of persons, ς. λόγοισι to enter into conversation, (Sophocles Tragicus); so, ἐς λόγους ξ. τινί (Euripides); also, ς. εἰς χορεύματα to join in the dance, (Euripides); ς. ἐς χεῖρα γῇ, i. e. to come close to land, (Euripides) 12. τύχα ποδὸς ξυνάπτει μοι, i. e. I have come in good time, (Euripides) 13. Mid. to be next to, connected with , τινι (Xenophon Historicus) 14. to take part with one, to assist , τινι (Euripides); absolute, (Aeschulus Tragicus) 15. to bring upon oneself , πληγάς (Demosthenes Orator) (ML)

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GREEK · G9359

σύστασις

sustasis — a joint-conspiracy

1. a putting together, composition , (Aristotle Philosopher); ς. προσώπου a studied expression of countenance, of Pericles, (Plutarch) 2. a bringing together, introduction, recommendation , (Polybius Historicus) 3. συνίσταμαι); a standing together, meeting : in hostile sense, close combat, conflict , (Herdotus Historicus); metaphorically, ς. γνώμης a conflict of mind, intense anxiety, (Thucydides) 4. a meeting, a knot of men , (Euripides); κατὰ ξυστάσεις γιγνόμενοι forming into knots , (Thucydides): a political union , (Demosthenes Orator) 5. friendship or alliance , (Polybius Historicus): a conspiracy , (Plutarch) 6. construction, structure, constitution , (Plato Philosophus): absolute a political constitution , (Plato Philosophus) 7. metaphorically of the mind, ς. φρενῶν contraction, sternness, sullenness , (Euripides) (ML)

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Historical dictionary entry

A treaty between nations, or between individuals, for their mutual advantage. Abraham formed an alliance with some of the Canaanitish princes (Gen. 14:13), also with Abimelech (21:22-32). Joshua and the elders of Israel entered into an alliance with the Gibeonites (Josh. 9:3-27). When the Israelites entered Palestine they were forbidden to enter into alliances with the inhabitants of the country (Lev. 18:3, 4; 20:22, 23). Solomon formed a league with Hiram (1 Kings 5:12). This “brotherly covenant” is referred to 250 years afterwards (Amos 1:9). He also appears to have entered into an alliance with Pharaoh (1 Kings 10:28, 29). In the subsequent history of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel various alliances were formed between them and also with neighbouring nations at different times. From patriarchal times a covenant of alliance was sealed by the blood of some sacrificial victim. The animal sacrificed was cut in two (except birds), and between these two parts the persons contracting the alliance passed (Gen. 15:10). There are frequent allusions to this practice (Jer. 34:18). Such alliances were called “covenants of salt” (Num. 18:19; 2 Chr. 13:5), salt being the symbol of perpetuity. A pillar was set up as a memorial of the alliance between Laban and Jacob (Gen. 31:52). The Jews throughout their whole history attached great importance to fidelity to their engagements. Divine wrath fell upon the violators of them (Josh. 9:18; 2 Sam. 21:1, 2; Ezek. 17:16).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Alliance in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →