1258. dialektos

Lexical Summary

dialektos: Language, dialect

Original Word: διάλεκτος
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: dialektos
Pronunciation: dee-al'-ek-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-al'-ek-tos)
KJV: language, tongue
NASB: dialect, language
Word Origin: [from G1256 (διαλέγομαι - reasoning)]

1. a (mode of) discourse, i.e. "dialect"

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

Definition and Scope

Strong’s Greek 1258 designates a spoken dialect or regional language. In Scripture the term highlights the precise wording and accent familiar to a given audience, underlining God’s concern that His message be heard “in the language of every people” (compare Acts 2:6).

Occurrences in Acts

1. Acts 1:19 – Jerusalem locals name Judas’ field “Akeldama” in their own dialect, demonstrating that even in tragedy the redemptive narrative is recorded in the tongue of the witnesses.
2. Acts 2:6, 8 – At Pentecost “each one heard them speaking in his own dialect”. The miracle validates the outpouring of the Spirit and inaugurates the worldwide mission of the Church.
3. Acts 21:40; 22:2 – Paul quiets an agitated crowd by addressing them “in the Hebrew dialect,” showing pastoral sensitivity and strategic evangelism.
4. Acts 26:14 – The risen Christ speaks to Paul “in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’” Divine initiative meets the hearer in the language of his heart.

Historical and Cultural Background

First-century Judea and the wider Roman Empire were linguistically layered. Koine Greek served as the trade language, Latin as the political tongue, and Hebrew-Aramaic as the vernacular of many Jews. Luke’s consistent notice of dialects confirms his reliability as a historian and illustrates the Spirit’s guidance in crossing linguistic barriers.

Theological Significance

Pentecost explicitly reverses the scattering judgment of Babel (Genesis 11). Rather than imposing a single holy language, God sanctifies every tongue, signaling that redemption is trans-cultural. The repeated mention of native speech underscores the personal nature of revelation: the gospel is not an abstract code but a living word addressed to real people.

Paul’s Ministry Strategy

Paul’s readiness to shift dialects models adaptive proclamation. Whether speaking Greek in the marketplace or Hebrew to a hostile mob, he removes unnecessary obstacles: “I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). His example authorizes modern translators and missionaries to render Scripture in the heart languages of every people group.

Divine Accommodation in Revelation

Acts 26:14 displays Christ Himself employing the hearer’s dialect. Inspiration therefore respects linguistic diversity without compromising truth. Scripture is infallible in the original writings yet also powerful in faithful translation, for its authority rests in the God who speaks, not in a single human idiom.

Implications for Ministry Today

• Bible translation and literacy efforts are essential kingdom work.
• Preachers should labor to know the linguistic and cultural “dialect” of their congregations.
• Multilingual worship reflects the eschatological vision of “every nation and tribe and people and language” praising the Lamb (Revelation 7:9).

Related Terms and Concepts

Tongue (glossa, Strong’s 1100) – often overlaps with dialect but can include supernatural speech.

Word (logos, Strong’s 3056) – stresses content, not form.

Preach (kerusso, Strong’s 2784) – proclamation that must be intelligible to its hearers.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1258 illuminates the faithfulness of God to meet humanity where it lives and speaks. From Pentecost to Paul’s testimony, the Spirit wields every dialect as an instrument of grace, compelling the Church to honor linguistic diversity while proclaiming one unchanging gospel.

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.