5465. chalaó

Lexical Summary

chalaó: to let down, lower, slacken

Original Word: χαλάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chalaó
Pronunciation: khä-lä'-ō
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-ah'-o)
KJV: let down, strike
NASB: let down, let down let down
Word Origin: [from the base of G5490 (χάσμα - chasm)]

1. to lower (as into a void)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to slacken, let down

From the base of chasma; to lower (as into a void) -- let down, strike.

see GREEK chasma

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
to slacken
NASB Translation
let down (6), let down let down (1), lowering* (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5465: χαλάω

χαλάω, χάλω; future χαλάσω; 1 aorist ἐχάλασα; 1 aorist passive, ἐχαλάσθην; from Aeschylus and Pindar down;

a. to loosen, slacken, relax.

b. to let down from a higher place to a lower: τί or τινα, Mark 2:4; Luke 5:4; Acts 27:17, 30 (in these last two passages in a nautical sense, to lower); τινα ἐν συριδιδ, Acts 9:25; passive, 2 Corinthians 11:33.

Topical Lexicon

Overview of Biblical Usage

The verb translated “to lower, let down, slacken” appears seven times in the New Testament, always describing an intentional descent of people, objects, or equipment from a higher to a lower position. The contexts divide naturally between (1) Gospel accounts of ministry and miracle, and (2) Acts and Pauline testimony of escape and nautical maneuver. In every setting the act serves larger divine purposes—facilitating healing, provision, deliverance, or preservation in the advance of the gospel.

Gospel Scenes: Faith Expressed Through Obedience

1. Luke 5:4–5 records Jesus’ directive to Simon Peter: “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter’s reluctant yet obedient reply—“at Your word I will let down the nets”—results in an overwhelming haul that affirms Christ’s authority and Peter’s calling.
2. Mark 2:4 portrays four friends who, “after digging through [the roof], lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.” Their determined lowering embodies intercessory faith, leading Jesus to forgive sins and heal the man.

Both incidents underscore a principle: human willingness to “let go” or “let down” material security (nets, roof tiles) becomes the channel through which divine power is displayed.

Acts Narrative: Protection and Preservation of Gospel Witness

1. Acts 9:25 and 2 Corinthians 11:33 recount the identical event from Luke’s and Paul’s perspectives. Under threat in Damascus, “his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall” (Acts 9:25). The same verb frames Paul’s testimony: “I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall” (2 Corinthians 11:33). Human ingenuity cooperates with providence, preserving the apostle for future mission.
2. Acts 27:17 describes sailors in a storm who, fearing the Syrtis sandbars, “lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.” The nautical procedure reduces strain on the vessel—again, an act of deliberate slackening that God employs to spare lives.
3. Acts 27:30 depicts crewmen who “let down the ship’s lifeboat into the sea” while pretending to set anchors. Paul discerns the ruse, preventing desertion and securing the survival of all on board.

In each maritime occurrence, controlled lowering aids navigation through crisis, mirroring the wider theme of divine oversight amid chaos.

Theological Motifs Emerging from the Verb

• Divine Provision: The descent of nets (Luke 5) leads to abundance; the descent of a paralytic (Mark 2) leads to wholeness. God meets need as believers act.
• Deliverance: Paul’s basket episode illustrates God’s commitment to preserve His servant until work is finished (cf. Acts 23:11).
• Human Cooperation: Whether fishermen, roof-breakers, or sailors, the agents perform practical tasks that align with heaven’s design.
• Humility: Lowering implies a movement downward, symbolically paralleling the humility required of disciples who must “decrease” that Christ may increase.

Historical and Ministry Significance

Early Christian commentators saw in the Damascus lowering a pattern for missionary strategy—withdrawal at times being as Spirit-led as bold proclamation. The Mark 2 account became illustrative for diaconal care: creative obstacles removal for the vulnerable. Nautical uses informed sermons on pastoral leadership, urging patience in storms and refusal to abandon the flock.

Practical Applications for Contemporary Believers

1. Creative Compassion: Like the paralytic’s friends, ministries today must innovate to bring the needy to Christ, even if it means “opening the roof” of tradition.
2. Obedient Risk: Peter’s willingness to let down clean nets after a fruitless night challenges believers to trust Christ’s word over experience.
3. Strategic Retreat: Paul’s basket escape validates prudent withdrawal when necessary, distinguishing courage from presumption.
4. Crisis Management: The sailors’ controlled slackening of gear encourages thoughtful action rather than panic, coupled with reliance on divine promise (Acts 27:22–25).

Summary

Across its seven appearances, the verb translated “let down” traces a consistent trajectory: God’s purposes descend into human circumstances through acts of obedient lowering. Whether releasing nets, easing anchors, or lowering a basket, the motion signals trust that the Lord directs outcomes beneath. For modern disciples, the call remains to loosen our grasp where He commands, confident that what is lowered into His will is never lost but lifted into His glory.

Forms and Transliterations

εχάλασαν εχαλάσατε εχαλασθην εχαλάσθην ἐχαλάσθην χαλασαντες χαλάσαντες χαλασαντων χαλασάντων χαλασατε χαλάσατε χαλάσει χαλασω χαλάσω χαλάται χαλβάνην χαλωσι χαλώσι χαλῶσι chalasantes chalásantes chalasanton chalasantōn chalasánton chalasántōn chalasate chalásate chalaso chalasō chaláso chalásō chalosi chalôsi chalōsi chalō̂si echalasthen echalasthēn echalásthen echalásthēn

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 2:4 V-PIA-3P
GRK: καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον
NAS: Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet
KJV: when they had broken [it] up, they let down the bed
INT: and having broken up [it] they let down the pallet

Luke 5:4 V-AMA-2P
GRK: βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα
NAS: out into the deep water and let down your nets
KJV: the deep, and let down your nets
INT: deep and let down the nets

Luke 5:5 V-FIA-1S
GRK: ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὰ δίκτυα
NAS: but I will do as You say [and] let down the nets.
KJV: thy word I will let down the net.
INT: word of you I will let down the net

Acts 9:25 V-APA-NMP
GRK: καθῆκαν αὐτὸν χαλάσαντες ἐν σπυρίδι
INT: let down him having lowered [him] in a basket

Acts 27:17 V-APA-NMP
GRK: Σύρτιν ἐκπέσωσιν χαλάσαντες τὸ σκεῦος
NAS: on [the shallows] of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor
KJV: the quicksands, strake sail,
INT: sandbars of Syrtis they should fall having lowered the gear

Acts 27:30 V-APA-GMP
GRK: πλοίου καὶ χαλασάντων τὴν σκάφην
NAS: from the ship and had let down the [ship's] boat
KJV: when they had let down the boat
INT: ship moreover having let down the [life] boat

2 Corinthians 11:33 V-AIP-1S
GRK: ἐν σαργάνῃ ἐχαλάσθην διὰ τοῦ
NAS: and I was let down in a basket through
KJV: a basket was I let down by
INT: in a basket I was let down through the

Strong's Greek 5465
7 Occurrences

χαλάσαντες — 2 Occ.
χαλασάντων — 1 Occ.
χαλάσατε — 1 Occ.
χαλάσω — 1 Occ.
χαλῶσι — 1 Occ.
ἐχαλάσθην — 1 Occ.