233. halizó

Lexical Summary

halizó: To salt, to season with salt

Original Word: ἁλίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: halizó
Pronunciation: hah-LEE-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (hal-id'-zo)
KJV: salt
NASB: made salty, salted
Word Origin: [from G251 (ἅλς - Salt)]

1. to salt

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

salt.

From hals; to salt -- salt.

see GREEK hals

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 233 halízō – to apply salt (make salty). See 217 (halas).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from hals
Definition
to salt
NASB Translation
made salty (1), salted (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 233: ἁλίζω

ἁλίζω: (ἅλς, ἁλός, salt); to salt, season with salt, sprinkle with salt; only the future passive is found in the N. T.: ἐν τίνι ἁλισθήσεται; by what means can its saltness be restored? Matthew 5:13; θυσία ἁλί ἁλισθήσεται, the sacrifice is sprinkled with salt and thus rendered acceptable to God, Mark 9:49 (R G L Tr text brackets) (Leviticus 2:13; Ezekiel 43:24; Josephus, Antiquities 3, 9, 1; cf. Knobel on Lev., p. 369f; Winers RWB under the word Salz; (BB. DD. under the word )); πᾶς πυρί ἁλισθήσεται, every true Christian is rendered ripe for a holy and happy association with God in his kingdom by fire, i. e. by the pain of afflictions and trials, which if endured with constancy tend to purge and strengthen the soul, Mark 9:49. But this extremely difficult passage is explained differently by others; (cf. Meyer, who also briefly reviews the history of its exposition). (Used by the Sept., Aristotle (cf: Sophocles Lexicon); Ignatius ad Magnes. 10 [ET] (shorter form) ἁλίσθητε ἐν Χριστῷ, ἵνα μή διαφθαρῇ τίς ἐν ὑμῖν.) Compare: συναλίζω — but see the word.)

Topical Lexicon

Root Meaning and Old Testament Background

Salting in Scripture reaches back to the sacrificial system. Leviticus 2:13 commands, “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt… it is the salt of the covenant of your God” (cf. Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5). Salt testified to a binding, enduring relationship between the Lord and His people, symbolizing both preservation and fidelity. Because salt was also a purifier and antiseptic, it illustrated moral cleanness (Ezekiel 16:4) and the seriousness of covenant worship.

New Testament Usage

Matthew 5:13 and Mark 9:49 twice employ the future passive form ἁλισθήσεται, “will be salted,” intensifying the call of discipleship.
• Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again?”. Here salting denotes the distinctive, preserving influence of the kingdom community amid moral decay.
• Mark 9:49: “For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt”. Jesus fuses Levitical imagery with eschatological testing. Believers, like offerings, undergo purifying fire that both consecrates and proves authenticity.

Symbolic Dimensions

1. Preservation from corruption – the gospel restrains societal rot (Romans 1:18–32 contrast).
2. Purification – refining fire and salt are paired to depict holiness (Malachi 3:2–3; 1 Peter 1:7).
3. Flavor – disciples give savor to human life by manifesting Christ’s grace (Colossians 4:6).
4. Covenant fidelity – salt underscores the unbreakable pledge God makes and expects (Hebrews 10:16).
5. Judgment – where savor is forfeited, useless salt is “thrown out and trampled” (Matthew 5:13b; cf. Luke 14:34–35).

Discipleship and Mission Application

Jesus’ metaphor demands qualitative difference, not mere profession. Spiritual insipidity invites divine and societal rejection, whereas authentic disciples radiate preserving righteousness. Evangelism, ethical integrity, and compassionate works are the “salt” through which the earth experiences God’s goodness.

Intertestamental and Greco-Roman Context

Salt in the ancient Mediterranean world was indispensable for food preservation, medical treatment, and religious rites. Roman soldiers sometimes received salt allowances (salarium), underscoring economic and cultural importance. Listeners grasped immediately that a substance thought incorruptible could, under adulteration, become worthless—exactly Christ’s warning.

Liturgical and Pastoral Implications

• Baptismal catechesis historically invoked salt as a sign of cleansing from sin.
• Preachers may connect Mark 9:49 to trials that purify congregations, encouraging perseverance.
• Church discipline guards savor, ensuring the witness of the body remains potent.

Exhortations for Contemporary Ministry

1. Guard doctrinal purity; mixture with error dulls savor.
2. Engage society redemptively—neither retreating nor conforming.
3. Embrace sanctifying trials as God’s gracious “salting with fire.”
4. Foster speech that is “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6), combining grace and truth.
5. Remember the covenantal dimension: faithfulness sustains the church’s preserving influence.

Key Related Scriptures

Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5; Ezekiel 16:4; Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:49; Luke 14:34–35; Colossians 4:6; James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:7

Forms and Transliterations

άλιμα αλίμοις αλισγηθή αλισθησεται αλισθήσεται ἁλισθήσεται ηλισάμεθα ηλισγημένη ηλισγημένους ηλισγήσαμεν ηλίσθης alisthesetai alisthēsetai halisthesetai halisthēsetai halisthḗsetai

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 5:13 V-FIP-3S
GRK: ἐν τίνι ἁλισθήσεται εἰς οὐδὲν
NAS: how can it be made salty [again]? It is no
KJV: wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth
INT: with what will it be salted for nothing

Mark 9:49 V-FIP-3S
GRK: γὰρ πυρὶ ἁλισθήσεται καὶ πᾶσα
NAS: For everyone will be salted with fire.
KJV: every one shall be salted with fire,
INT: indeed with fire will be salted and every

Mark 9:49 V-FIP-3S
GRK: θυσία ἀλὶ ἁλισθήσεται
KJV: sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
INT: sacrifice with salt shall be salted

Strong's Greek 233
3 Occurrences

ἁλισθήσεται — 3 Occ.