Greek · G225 · unreviewed

ἀλήθεια

Truth

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ἀλήθεια G225

Pronunciation alḗtheia

What does ἀλήθεια (alḗtheia) mean in the Bible?

ἀλήθεια (alḗtheia) is a Greek word meaning "truth". ἀλήθεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f. God’s truth stands firm even when humanity proves false. This term runs through the canonical themes of Kingdom, Messiah, Revelation.

Full entry for ἀλήθεια (G225) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

truth

Extended definition

Truth as the veritable essence of reality beneath appearances, not mere verbal accuracy but moral sincerity.

(ἀληθής), [in LXX chiefly for אֱמֶת (on which, see Cremer, 627f.), אֱמוּנָה ;] truth (see DB, iv, 818f.).

1Objectively, "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.

2Subjectively, truthfulness, truth, not merely verbal (cl.), but sincerity and integrity of character: Jhn.8:44, 3Jo.3.

3In 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.).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

God’s truth stands firm even when humanity proves false.

Full revelation of divine reality.

Central to Jesus' mission and identity.

Aligns worship with divine revelation.

Revealed reality centered in Christ's word.

Defines the mission and kingdom of Christ. John 18:28–40

Linked with the Spirit who guides believers into doctrinal fidelity. Romans 3:1-8

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine John 1:17 · John 8:32 · John 8:44 · John 14:6 · John 17:17 · John 18:38 · Rom 3:7 · 2 Cor 7:14 · 2 Cor 11:10 · Gal 2:5 · Eph 4:21 · 1 John 1:8 · 1 John 2:4 · 1 John 5:6 14×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Mark 12:14 · Mark 12:32 · Luke 4:25 · Luke 20:21 · Luke 22:59 · John 1:14 · John 14:17 · John 15:26 · John 16:13 · John 18:37 · Acts 4:27 · Acts 10:34 · Acts 26:25 · Rom 2:20 · Rom 15:8 · 1 Cor 5:8 43×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Matt 22:16 · John 4:23 · John 4:24 · John 5:33 · John 8:44 · John 16:13 · John 17:17 · John 17:19 · John 18:37 · Rom 2:8 · 1 Cor 13:6 · 2 Cor 7:14 · Gal 5:7 · Eph 5:9 · Eph 6:14 · Phil 1:18 30×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Mark 5:33 · John 3:21 · John 8:32 · John 8:40 · John 8:45 · John 8:46 · John 16:7 · Rom 1:18 · Rom 1:25 · Rom 2:2 · Rom 9:1 · 2 Cor 12:6 · Gal 2:14 · Eph 4:25 · 1 Tim 2:7 · 1 Tim 4:3 22×

Canonical Themes

Kingdom MessiahRevelation Spirit

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences

1-john Truth alḗtheia

that which corresponds to reality

John 14:1-14 Ἤλήθεια alḗtheia

truth, reality

John 18:28-40 Ἤλήθεια alḗtheia

truth, reality

John 4:1-26 Ἤλήθεια alḗtheia

truth

John 8:31-47 Ἤλήθεια alḗtheia

truth

New Testament Witnesses

John 18:28–40 ἀλήθεια alḗtheia Nominative · Singular · Feminine

truth

Romans 3:1-8 ἀλήθεια alḗtheia Nominative · Singular · Feminine

Truth, reliability.

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way of Love 1 Corinthians 5 — Purge the Evil, Keep the Feast, and Guard the Holiness of the Church Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Ephesians 6 — Household Faithfulness and Standing Firm in the Armor of God Galatians 2 — Justified by Faith: Gospel Unity, Apostolic Confrontation, and Life in Christ John 1 — The Word Made Flesh, Witnessed, and Followed John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Romans 1 — The Gospel Reveals the Righteousness of God and the Wrath of God Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 2 — God’s Righteous Judgment and the Exposure of Religious Presumption Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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