Lexical Summary lalia: Speech, talk, dialect Original Word: λαλιά Strong's Exhaustive Concordance saying, speech. From laleo; talk -- saying, speech. see GREEK laleo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom laleó Definition talk NASB Translation said (1), way...talk (1), what...saying (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2981: λαλιάλαλιά, λαλιᾶς, ἡ (λάλος, cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Sprchl. § 119 Anm. 21), in secular authors (from Aristophanes down) loquacity, talkativeness, talk (German Gerede) (see λαλέω, at the beginning); in a good sense conversation; in the N. T. 1. speech, equivalent to story: John 4:42. 2. dialect, mode of speech, pronunciation (Winer's Grammar, 23): Mark 14:70 Rec.; Matthew 26:73; speech which discloses the speaker's native country: hence of the speech by which Christ may be recognized as having come from heaven, John 8:43 (where cf. Meyer). Strong’s 2981 appears four times, always in narrative passages that highlight the way speech uncovers a person’s origin or spiritual condition. 1. Matthew 26:73 and Mark 14:70 expose Peter’s Galilean identity through his “accent” or distinctive speech. Across these scenes the term points either to audible features (accent) or to spoken content (utterance), but in every case speech becomes a revealer of the heart. Accent and Identity in First-Century Judea Regional pronunciation differences were pronounced enough for Jerusalem servants to tag Peter instantly as a Galilean. The incident underlines the historical realism of the Gospel accounts: Galilee’s speech pattern was recognizable in the high-priestly courtyard during Passover week. In an era when Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek overlapped, vocal inflection served as a cultural fingerprint. Scripture thus authenticates itself through incidental details that fit what historians know of first-century Palestine. Speech as a Vehicle for Witness John 4:42 traces the progression from the woman’s preliminary testimony to personal encounter with Jesus. Her initial “talk” was neither formal preaching nor written argument, yet the Holy Spirit used common conversation to lead her neighbors to saving knowledge. The passage commends everyday speech as a strategic tool in evangelism: ordinary words, when centered on Christ, can open hearts. Speech as a Test of Spiritual Receptivity In John 8:43 Jesus uncovers hardened unbelief: their inability to “accept My message” exposes moral, not intellectual, blockage. Here the word highlights that comprehension of Christ’s teaching requires pliable hearts. The verse foreshadows the apostolic insistence that the natural person “cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God” without divine enabling (1 Corinthians 2:14). Verbal Denial and Restoration Peter’s accent betrayed him even while he denied his Lord. The same voice that thrice said, “I do not know the Man,” would later proclaim at Pentecost, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The transformation testifies that failure in speech can be redeemed; the tongue that once disowned Christ can, by grace, declare His glory. Theological Implications • Speech reveals inner realities (Matthew 12:34). Practical Application for Ministry 1. Cultivate speech that aligns with redeemed identity, remembering that words disclose the heart. Summary Strong’s 2981 consistently presents speech as a diagnostic and redemptive instrument. Whether identifying Peter, introducing Samaritans to the Savior, or exposing unbelief in Jerusalem, the term underscores that what and how we speak unveils who we are before God. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 26:73 N-NFSGRK: γὰρ ἡ λαλιά σου δῆλόν NAS: are [one] of them; for even the way you talk gives KJV: for thy speech bewrayeth thee. INT: indeed the speech of you away Mark 14:70 Noun-NFS John 4:42 N-AFS John 8:43 N-AFS Strong's Greek 2981 |
    |