Lexical Summary halizó: To salt, to season with salt Original Word: ἁλίζω 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 Originfrom hals Definition to salt NASB Translation made salty (1), salted (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 233: ἁλίζωἁλίζω: (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 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. Symbolic Dimensions 1. Preservation from corruption – the gospel restrains societal rot (Romans 1:18–32 contrast). 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. Exhortations for Contemporary Ministry 1. Guard doctrinal purity; mixture with error dulls savor. 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 halisthḗsetaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:13 V-FIP-3SGRK: 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 Mark 9:49 V-FIP-3S |