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Truth

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.

GREEK · G225

ἀλήθεια

alētheia — truth

ἀλήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f.), אֱמוּנָה ;] truth (see DB, iv, 818f.). 1. Objectively, "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer, 86): Rom.9:1, al.; of religious truth, Rom.1:25, al.; esp. of Christian doctrine, Gal.2:5, al.; ἀ. θεοῦ, Rom.15:8. 2. Subjectively, truthfulness, truth, not merely verbal (cl.), but sincerity and integrity of character: Jhn.8:44, 3Jo.3. 3. In phrases (MM, VGT, see word): ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας, Mrk.12:14, al.; ἀ. λέγειν (εἰπεῖν, λαλεῖν), Rom.9:1, 2Co.12:6, Eph.4:25, al.; ἀ. ποιεῖν, Jhn.3:21, 1Jn.1:6 (cf. DB, iv, 818b, ff.). (AS)

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GREEK · G1063

γάρ

gar — for

γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. 3. Causal: Mat.1:21 2:2, 5, 6, 3:23, Mrk.1:22, 9:6, Luk.1:15, 18, Jhn.2:25, Act.2:25, Rom.1:9, 11, 1Co.11:5, Rev.1:3, al.; giving the reason for a command or prohibition, Mat.2:20 3:9, Rom.13:11, Col.3:3, 1Th.4:3, al.; where the cause is contained in an interrog. statement, Luk.22:27, Rom.3:3 4:3, 1Co.10:29; καὶ γάρ, for also, Mrk.10:45, Luk.6:32, 1Co.5:7, al. id. as in cl. = etenim, where the καί loses its connective force (Bl., §78, 6; Kühner 3, ii, 854f.), Mrk.14:70, Luk.1:66 22:37, 2Co.13:4. The proper place of γάρ is after the first word in a clause, but in poets it often comes third or fourth, and so in late prose: 2Co.1:19. Yet "not the number but the nature of the word after which it stands is the point to be noticed" (see Thayer, see word). (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6666

צְדָקָה

tse.da.qah — righteousness

1) justice, righteousness 1a) righteousness (in government) 1a1) of judge, ruler, king 1a2) of law 1a3) of Davidic king Messiah 1b) righteousness (of God's attribute) 1c) righteousness (in a case or cause) 1d) righteousness, truthfulness 1e) righteousness (as ethically right) 1f) righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation 1f1) of God 1f2) prosperity (of people) 1g) righteous acts Aramaic equivalent: tsid.qah (צִדְקָה "righteousness" H6665)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H571

אֱמֶת

e.met — truth: faithful

: faithful 1) firmness, faithfulness, truth 1a) sureness, reliability 1b) stability, continuance 1c) faithfulness, reliableness 1d) truth 1d1) as spoken 1d2) of testimony and judgment 1d3) of divine instruction 1d4) truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge 1d5) true doctrine adv 2) in truth, truly

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H8549

תָּמִים

ta.mim — unblemished

: unblemished/perfect 1) complete, whole, entire, sound 1a) complete, whole, entire 1b) whole, sound, healthful 1c) complete, entire (of time) 1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity 1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter adj/subst)

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GREEK · G5204

ὕδωρ

hudōr, hudatos — water

ὕδωρ genitive, ὕδατος, τό, [in LXX chiefly for מַיִם ;] water: Mat.3:16, Mrk.1:10, Luk.7:44, Jhn.4:7, Jas.3:12, Rev.8:10, al.; pl., Mat.14:28-29, Jhn.3:23, Rev.1:15, al.; βαπτίζειν (ἐν) ὕδατι, Mat.3:11, Mrk.1:8, Jhn.1:26, al.; τ. λυυτρὸν τοῦ ὕ., Eph.5:26; opposite to οἴνος, Jhn.2:9 4:46; αἷμα, Jhn.19:34, Heb.9:19, 1Jn.5:6 Jn 5:8 Mat.17:15 Mrk.9:22; πνεῦμα, Jhn.1:26, 31 1:33; πνεῦμα καὶ πῦρ, Mat.3:11, Luk.3:16;ἐξ ὕ. κ. πνεύματος γεννηθῆναι, Jhn.3:5; metaphorically, of divine truth and grace (τ.) ὕ. (τ.) ζῶν, Jhn.4:10-11 (cf. Jhn.4:13-15); τ. ὕ. τ. ζωῆς, of spiritual refresh­ment, Rev.21:6 22:1, 17 (AS)

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GREEK · G5457

φῶς

phōs — light

φῶς (Att.. contr. from φάος; φάω), genitive, φωτός, τό, [in LXX chiefly for אוֹר ;] light (opposite to τὸ σκότος, ἡ σκοτία): Mat.17:2, 5, Jhn.11:9-10, 2Co.4:6; ἡλίου, Rev.22:5; of a lamp, Luk.8:16 11:33, Jhn.5:35, Rev.18:23; of a supernatural heavenly light, Act.9:3 12:7 22:6, 9 22:11 26:13; hence, ἄγγελος φωτός, 2Co.11:14; ὁ κλήρος τ. ἁγίων ἐν τ. φ., Col.1:12; of the divine glory, Rev.21:24; by meton., of that which gives light: of fire, Mrk.14:54, Luk.22:56 (cl.; 1Ma.12:29; cf. DCG, i, 595; pl., of a lamp or torch, Act.16:29; of heavenly bodies, Jas.1:17. Metaphorical, (a) of God: 1Jn.1:5 Jn 1:7; φῶς οἰκῶν ἀπρόσιτον, 1Ti.6:16; (b) of spiritual truth and its effects on the lives of men: Mat.4:16 5:16, Jhn.1:4-5 3:19-21, Act.26:18, 23, 2Co.6:14, Eph.5:13, 1Pe.2:9, 1Jn.2:8; τ. φ. τ. ζωῆς, Jhn.8:12; τ. ὅπλα τοῦ φ., Rom.13:12; καρπὸς τοῦ φ., Eph.5:9; έν τ. φ. περιπατεῖν (εἶναι, μένειν), 1Jn.1:7 Jn 2:9-10; υἱοὶ (τέκνα) τοῦ φ., Luk.16:8, Jhn.12:36, Eph.5:8, 1Th.5:5; by meton., of one from whom truth shines forth: Act.13:47 (LXX), Rom.2:19; esp. of Christ, Luk.2:32, Jhn.1:7-8 12:35-36, 46; τ. φ. τ. κόσμου, Jhn.8:12 9:5;τ. φ. τ. ἀληθινόν, Jhn.1:9; of Christians, Mat.5:14, Eph.5:8; (with) of the spiritual under­standing: τ. φ. τὸ ἐν σοί, Mat.6:23, Luk.11:35; (d) adverbially, of that which is open to view (opposite to ἐν τ. σκοτίᾳ): ἐν τ. φ., Mat.10:27, Luk.12:3.† SYN.: see: φέγγος (AS)

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GREEK · G1108

γνῶσις

gnōsis — knowledge

γνῶσις, -εως, ἡ (γιγνώσκω), [in LXX chiefly for דַּעַת ;] 1. a seeking to know, inquiry, investigation. 2. knowledge, in NT, specially of the kn. of spiritual truth: absol., Luk.11:52, Rom.2:20 15:14, 1Co.1:5 (Lft., Notes, 147) 8:1, 7, 10, 11, 13:2, 8 14:6, 2Co.6:6 8:7 11:6, Eph.3:19, Col.2:3, 1Pe.3:7, 2Pe.1:5, 6; with genitive obj., σωτηρίας, Luk.1:77; τ. δόξης τ. θεοῦ, 2Co.4:6; τ. θεοῦ, 2Co.2:14 10:5; Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, Php.3:8 (see Deiss., LAE, 383.8), 2Pe.3:18; with genitive subjc., θεοῦ, Rom.11:33; λόγος γνώσεως, 1Co.12:8; ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως, 1Ti.6:20. † SYN.: σοφία, φρόνησις (cf. ἐπί-γνωσις and see Lft. on Col.2:3; Cremer, 156). (AS)

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GREEK · G3466

μυστήριον

mustērion — mystery

μυστήρισν, -ου, τό (μυέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Dan.2:18 ff. (רָז), Tob.12:7, 11, Jdth.2:2, Wis.2:22 6:22 14:15, 23, Sir.3:18 22:22 27:16-17, 21, 2Ma.13:21 * ;] 1. that which is known to the μύστης (initiated), a mystery or secret doctrine, mostly in pl., τὰ μ. (Æsch., Hdt., al.). 2. In later writers (Menand., Incert., 168), that which may not be revealed (not, however, as in the modern sense, intrinsically difficult to understand), a secret or mystery of any kind (To, Jth, 2Mac, ll, with). 3. In NT, of the counsels of God (cf. Th.: Job.15:8, Psa.25:14 for סוֹד), once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; (a) of the Christian revelation generally : Rom.16:25, 1Co.2:7, Col.1:26-27, Eph.3:3, 9; τ. βασιλείας τ. θεοῦ, Mrk.4:11; τ. θεοῦ, 1Co.2:1, Rev.10:7; τ. θ., Χριστοῦ, Col.2:2; τ. Χριστοῦ., Col.4:3, Eph.3:4; τ. θελήματος αὐτοῦ, Eph.1:9; τ. εὐαγγελίον, Eph.6:19; τ. πίστεως, 1Ti.3:9; τ. εὐσεβείας, 1Ti.3:16; (b) of particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation : Rom.11:25, 1Co.15:51, Eph.5:32, 2Th.2:7, Rev.1:20 17:5, 7; pl., τὰ μ., 1Co.13:2 14:2; θεοῦ, 1Co.4:1; τ. βασιλείας τ. οὐρανῶν (θεοῦ), Mat.13:11, Luk.8:10 (cf. Westc., Eph., 180 ff.; AR, Eph., 234 ff.; Lft., Col., 165 f.; Hatch, Essays, 57 f.; DB, iii, 465 ff.; DCG, ii, 213 ff.).† (AS)

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GREEK · G227

ἀληθής

alēthēs — true

ἀληθής, -ές (λήθω = λανθάνω, hence primarily, unconcealed, manifest; hence, actual, real), [in LXX for אֶמֶת, etc. ;] (a) of things, true, conforming to reality: Jhn.4:18 5:31-32 6:55 (= ἀληθινός, which see) Jhn.8:13-14, 17 10:41 19:35 21:24, Act.12:9, Php.4:8, Tit.1:13, 1Pe.5:12, 2Pe.2:22, 1Jn.2:6, 3Jn.12; (b) of persons, truthful: Mat.22:16, Mrk.12:14, Jhn.3:33 7:18 8:26, Rom.3:4, 2Co.6:8.† SYN.: ἀληθινός, real, genuine, ideal, as opposite to spurious or imperfect ἀληθής, true to fact, as opposite to false, lying, denotes the actuality of a thing: ἀληθινός, its relation to the corresponding con­ception. (Cf. Tr., Syn., § viii; Cremer, 84 f., 631 Abbott, JV, 234 f.; DB, iv, 818 f.; MM, VGT, s.vv.) (AS)

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GREEK · G602

ἀποκάλυψις

apokalupsis — revelation

ἀπο-κάλυψις, -εως, ἡ (ἀποκαλύπτω), [in LXX: 1Ki.20:30 (עֶרְוָה), Sir.11:27 22:22 42:1 * ;] an uncovering, laying bare (Plut.). Metaphorical, a reveal­ing, revelation: a disclosure of divine truth, or a manifestion from God: Luk.2:32 Rom.2:5 8:19 16:25, 1Co.1:7 14:6 14:26, 2Co.12:1 12:7, Gal.1:12 2:2, Eph.1:17 3:3 2Th.1:7 1Pe.1:7 1:13 4:13, Rev.1:1.† SYN.: ἐπιφάνεια, παρουσία, φανέρωσις (see Tr., Syn., xciv; Lft., Notes, 102, 178; Westc, Eph., 178 f.; M, Th., 145 ff.; Cremer, 343) (AS)

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GREEK · G5579

ψεῦδος

pseudos — lie

ψεῦδος, -εος (-ους), τό [in LXX chiefly for שֶׁקֶר, also for כַּחַשׁ, כָּזָב ;] a falsehood, untruth, lie: Rev.14:15; opposite to ἡ ἀλήθεια, Jhn.8:44, Rom.1:25, Eph.4:25, 2Th.2:11, 1Jn.2:21; to τὸ ἀληθές, 1Jn.2:27; ποιεῖν ψ., Rev.21:27 22:15; ἐν πάσῃ δυνάμει κ. σημείοις κ. τέρασιν ψεύδους (genitive qual., see M, Th., 104; and on the meaning and construction, see also ICC, in l), 2Th.2:9.† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3330

יַצִּיב

yats.tsiv — certain

n 1) the truth adv 2) surely, reliably, truly adj 3) reliable, true, certain, sure

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GREEK · G226

ἀληθεύω

alētheuō — be truthful

ἀληθεύω (ἀληθής), [in LXX: Gen.20:16 (יָכַח) Gen.42:16 (אֶמֶת), Pro.21:3 (מִשְׁפָּט), Isa.44:26 (שָׁלַם), Sir.34:4 * ;] to speak the truth (R, mg., deal truly; Field, Notes, 192): Gal.4:16, Eph.4:15.† (AS)

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GREEK · G3337

μεταλλάσσω

metallassō — to exchange

μετ-αλλάσσω [in LXX: Est.2:7 (מוּת), Est.2:20, 1Es.1:31 Est.1:2 Mac.9 * ;] 1. to exchange: τ. ἀλήθειαν . . . ἐν τ. ψεύδει, the truth for a lie (see Bl., § 36, 8), Rom_1:25. 2. to change: with accusative before εἰς, Rom_1:26 (ἀλλάσσω).† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H573

אֲמִתַּי

a.mit.tay — Amittai

A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.14.25; father of: Jonah (H3124) § Amittai = "my truth" the father of Jonah the prophet

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GREEK · G2273

ἤτοι

ētoi — whether

1. = ἦ τοι, now surely, truly, verily , (Iliad by Homer); after ἀλλ᾽ εἰ . ., nevertheless , (Iliad by Homer) 2. = ἤτοι, either in truth , followed by ἤ, or , (Herdotus Historicus), etc. (ML)

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GREEK · G5385

φιλοσοφία

philosophia — philosophy

Φιλο-σοφία, -ας, ἡ (φιλόσοφος), [in LXX: 4Ma.1:1 4Mac 5:10 4Mac 5:22 4Mac 7:9 4Mac 7:21 * ;] the love and pursuit of wisdom; hence, philosophy, investi­gation of truth and nature: of the so-called philosophy of false teachers, Col.2:8 (see Lft., ICC, in l).† (AS)

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GREEK · G893

ἀψευδής

apseudēs — not a liar

ἀ-ψευδής, -ές (ψεῦδος), [in LXX: Wis.7:17 * ;] free from false-hood, truthful: Tit.1:2.† (AS)

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3321

יְצַב

ye.tsav — to know

(Pael) to make stand, make certain, gain certainty, know the truth, be certain Aramaic of ya.tsav (יָצַב "to stand" H3320)

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GREEK · G6506

ἀποτυγχάνω

apotugchanō — to miss

1. to fail in hitting or gaining, to miss, lose , with genitive, (Xenophon Historicus), etc. 2. Pass., τὰ ἀποτετευγμένα things not come to pass , (Lucian) 3. absolute to miss one's object, to be unlucky, fail , (Xenophon Historicus): to miss the truth, err , (Xenophon Historicus):—;with infinitive to fail to do, (Xenophon Historicus) (ML)

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GREEK · G9207

στρουθός

strouthos — an ostrich

1. the sparrow , (Iliad by Homer), etc. 2. ὁ μέγας στρ. the large bird , i. e. the ostrich, Struthio , (Xenophon Historicus): also called στρουθὸς κατάγαιος (i. e. the bird that runs on the ground , does not fly), (Herdotus Historicus); also simply στρουθός, like στρουθοκάμηλος, (Aristophanes Comicus) (ML)

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Historical dictionary entry

Used in various senses in Scripture. In Prov. 12:17, 19, it denotes that which is opposed to falsehood. In Isa. 59:14, 15, Jer. 7:28, it means fidelity or truthfulness. The doctrine of Christ is called “the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:5), “the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7; 4:4). Our Lord says of himself, “I am the way, and the truth” (John 14:6).

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 Truth in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →