1258. dialektos

Lexicon

dialektos: Language, dialect

Original Word: διάλεκτος
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: dialektos
Pronunciation: dee-al'-ek-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-al'-ek-tos)
Definition: Language, dialect
Meaning: language, speech, conversation, manner of speaking.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

language, tongue.

From dialegomai; a (mode of) discourse, i.e. "dialect" -- language, tongue.

see GREEK dialegomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from dialegomai
Definition
speech, language
NASB Translation
dialect (3), language (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1258: διάλεκτος

διάλεκτος, διαλεκτου, ἡ (διαλέγω);

1. "conversation, speech, discourse, language (Plato, Demosthenes, others).

2. from Polybius (cf. Aristotle, probl. 10, 38 τοῦ ἀνθρώπου μία φωνή, ἀλλά διαλεκτοι πολλαί) down, the tongue or language peculiar to any people: Acts 1:19; Acts 2:6, 8; Acts 21:40; Acts 22:2; Acts 26:14. (Polybius 1, 80, 6; 3, 22, 3; 40, 6, 3f; μεθερμηνεύειν εἰς τήν Ἑλλήνων διάλεκτον, Diodorus 1, 37; πᾶσα μέν διάλεκτος, ἡ δ' Ἑλληνικῇ διαφερόντως ὀνομαατων πλουτει, Philo, vit. Moys. ii. § 7; (cf. Muller on Josephus, contra Apion 1, 22, 4 at the end).)

STRONGS NT 1258a: διαλιμπάνω [διαλιμπάνω (or διαλυμπάνω): imperfect διελιμπανον; to intermit, cease: κλαίων οὐ διελίμπανεν, Acts 8:24 WH (rejected) marginal reading; cf. Winers Grammar, 345f (323f); Buttmann, 300 (257). (Tobit 10:7; Galen in Hipp. Epid. 1, 3; cf. Bornem. on Acts, the passage cited; Veitch, under the word λιμπάνω.)]

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb διαλέγομαι (dialegomai), meaning "to converse" or "to speak."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While διάλεκτος is a Greek term, its Hebrew equivalent in concept would relate to words like לָשׁוֹן (lashon • Strong's Hebrew 3956), meaning "tongue" or "language," which similarly denotes speech or language in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: The word διάλεκτος is used in the New Testament to denote a specific language or dialect spoken by a group of people. It appears in contexts where the distinctiveness of a language is emphasized, often highlighting the diversity of languages present in a given setting.

Context: The term διάλεκτος is found in the New Testament primarily in the Book of Acts. It is used to describe the various languages spoken by the people present during significant events, such as the Day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:6, the multitude is bewildered because each one hears the apostles speaking in his own διάλεκτος. This miraculous event underscores the universality of the Gospel message and the breaking down of language barriers through the power of the Holy Spirit. The use of διάλεκτος in this context highlights the inclusivity of the early Christian message, reaching people of diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Another notable occurrence is in Acts 21:40 and Acts 22:2, where Paul addresses the crowd in the Hebrew διάλεκτος, demonstrating his cultural and linguistic connection to his audience. This strategic use of language by Paul serves to establish rapport and credibility with his listeners, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in ministry.

The concept of διάλεκτος in the New Testament reflects the broader biblical theme of God's desire for all nations and peoples to hear and understand His message. It illustrates the early church's mission to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.

Forms and Transliterations

διαλεκτω διαλέκτω διαλέκτῳ διάλευκα διάλευκοι διάλευκον διαλεύκους dialekto dialektō dialéktoi dialéktōi

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 1:19 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ αὐτῶν Ἁκελδαμάχ
NAS: that in their own language that field
KJV: proper tongue, Aceldama,
INT: in the own language of them Akeldama

Acts 2:6 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ λαλούντων αὐτῶν
NAS: them speak in his own language.
KJV: speak in his own language.
INT: the own language speaking them

Acts 2:8 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ ἡμῶν ἐν
NAS: [them] in our own language to which
KJV: own tongue, wherein
INT: the own language of us in

Acts 21:40 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ Ἐβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ λέγων
NAS: to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying,
KJV: unto [them] in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
INT: with the Hebrew language saying

Acts 22:2 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ Ἐβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ προσεφώνει αὐτοῖς
NAS: them in the Hebrew dialect, they became
KJV: in the Hebrew tongue to them,
INT: in the Hebrew language he spoke to them

Acts 26:14 N-DFS
GRK: τῇ Ἐβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ Σαούλ Σαούλ
NAS: to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul,
KJV: in the Hebrew tongue, Saul,
INT: in the Hebrew language Saul Saul

Strong's Greek 1258
6 Occurrences

διαλέκτῳ — 6 Occ.