Lexical Summary halas and hala: Salt Original Word: ἅλας Strong's Exhaustive Concordance salt. From hals; salt; figuratively, prudence -- salt. see GREEK hals HELPS Word-studies 217 hálas – salt; (figuratively) God preserving and seasoning a believer as they grow, i.e. in loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, strength and in all their relationships (cf. Mk 12:30,31). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hals Definition salt NASB Translation salt (8). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 217: ἅλα[ἅλα, τό, read by Tdf. in Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34; see ἅλας.] STRONGS NT 217: ἅλαςἅλας, (ατος, τό (a later form, found in the Sept. and N. T. (Aristotle, de mirab, ause. § 138; Plutarch, qu. conv. 4:4, 3, 3), cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. i., p. 220; dative ἅλατι Colossians 4:6), and ἅλς, ἁλός, ὁ (the classic form (from Homer down); Sir. 22:15 (13); 1. Salt with which food is seasoned and sacrifices are sprinkled: Mark 9:49 R G; cf. ἁλίζω. 2. ἅλας τῆς γῆς, those kinds of saline matter used to fertilize arable land, Matthew 5:13{a}; here salt as a condiment cannot be understood, since this renders land sterile (Deuteronomy 29:23; Zephaniah 2:9; Judges 9:45); cf. Grohmann in Kauffer's Biblical Studien, 1844, p. 82ff The meaning is, 'It is your prerogative to impart to mankind (likened to arable land) the influences required for a life of devotion to God.' In the statement immediately following, ἐάν δέ ἅλας κτλ., the comparison seems to be drawn from salt as a condiment, so that two figures are blended; (but it is better to adopt this latter meaning throughout the passage, and take γῆ to denote the mass of mankind, see under the word, 4 b. and cf. Tholuck and others at the passage). In Mark 9:50{a} and Luke 14:34 salt is a symbol of that health and vigor of soul which is essential to Christian virtue; (cf. Meyer on the former passage). 3. Salt is a symbol of lasting concord, Mark 9:50{c}, because it protects food from putrefaction and preserves it unchanged. Accordingly, in the solemn ratification of compacts, the Orientals were, and are to this day, accustomed to partake of salt together. Cf. Winers RWB under the word Salz; (BB. DD. under the word STRONGS NT 217a: ἌλασσαἌλασσα: Acts 27:8; cf.Λασαία. Salt was indispensable in the first-century Mediterranean world. It preserved meat and fish in the absence of refrigeration, mitigated corruption in stored food, enhanced flavor, and was traded as a valued commodity. Roman soldiers sometimes received part of their wages in salt, giving rise to the term “salary.” In Israel, salt was mined from the cliffs of the Dead Sea and gathered from salt pans along its shores. Because salt was both abundant and precious, it provided a ready illustration for moral teaching. Old Testament covenantal backdrop Every grain offering had to be presented “with salt” (Leviticus 2:13), and both the Aaronic priesthood and the Davidic dynasty were said to be given by “a covenant of salt” (Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5). Salt thus signified permanence, loyalty, and incorruptibility. When Jesus and Paul draw upon the image, they assume this covenantal resonance: what cannot decay has enduring worth before God. Jesus’ call to preserving influence (Matthew 5:13) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Salt here represents the disciple community’s preserving power amid moral decay. Their distinctiveness is not optional; if it disappears, their testimony is rendered useless. The warning echoes the loss of covenant blessings described in Deuteronomy 28:45–68: unfaithfulness leads to public disgrace. Discipleship, fire, and peace (Mark 9:49-50) “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.” Fire refines, salt preserves; together they picture God’s purifying work in His people. Authentic discipleship embraces divine purification, after which believers exercise a stabilizing influence that promotes peace within the body of Christ. Cost of non-distinctiveness (Luke 14:34-35) “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; it is thrown out.” Jesus situates the warning immediately after demanding wholehearted allegiance (Luke 14:26-33). Half-hearted followers cannot serve even the most menial kingdom purpose; they are “thrown out,” evoking Jeremiah’s image of rejected pottery (Jeremiah 19:1-11). Speech seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6) “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer everyone.” Unlike the synoptic passages that emphasize the disciple’s being, Paul stresses communication. Salted speech is tasteful, winsome, and preserves truth from corruption. Evangelism and pastoral counsel alike require this blend of grace and sharpness (Proverbs 15:23; 2 Timothy 2:24-26). Ministry applications • Personal holiness sustains the church’s preserving role; compromise dulls spiritual potency. Eschatological note Revelation 21:8 portrays the “second death” as final corruption; conversely, believers remain “preserved blameless” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The metaphor of salt anticipates this ultimate preservation: those kept by God’s covenant of salt will stand incorruptible in the new creation. Summary Salt in Scripture signifies preservation, purity, permanence, and flavorful influence. The eight New Testament occurrences exhort believers to live distinct, peaceable, and truth-preserving lives so that the world may taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:13 N-NNSGRK: ἐστὲ τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς NAS: You are the salt of the earth; but if KJV: Ye are the salt of the earth: but INT: are the salt of the earth Matthew 5:13 N-NNS Mark 9:50 N-NNS Mark 9:50 N-NNS Mark 9:50 N-ANS Luke 14:34 N-NNS Luke 14:34 N-NNS Colossians 4:6 N-DNS Strong's Greek 217 |
    |