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the Third Week after Easter

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Bible Lexicons

Old & New Testament Greek Lexical DictionaryGreek Lexicon

Strong's #235 - ἀλλά

Transliteration

allá

Phonetics

al-lah'

Root Word (Etymology)

neuter plural of (G243)

Parts of Speech

Conjunction

TDNT

None

Definition

Thayer
Strong
Mounce

Thayer's

but
1. nevertheless, notwithstanding
2. an objection
3. an exception
4. a restriction
5. nay, rather, yea, moreover
6. forms a transition to the cardinal matter

Frequency Lists

Book
Word
Parsing

Verse Results

KJV (633)

Matthew 37

Mark 42

Luke 38

John 104

Acts 29

Romans 69

1 Corinthians 71

2 Corinthians 66

Galatians 23

Ephesians 13

Philippians 15

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 13

2 Thessalonians 5

1 Timothy 12

2 Timothy 12

Titus 4

Philemon 2

Hebrews 16

James 5

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 6

1 John 13

2 John 4

3 John 3

Jude 2

Revelation 11

NAS (54)

Mark 2

Luke 3

John 3

Acts 2

Romans 6

1 Corinthians 14

2 Corinthians 14

Galatians 2

Philippians 1

Colossians 1

1 Timothy 3

Hebrews 1

1 Peter 1

Revelation 1

HCS (588)

Matthew 36

Mark 40

Luke 26

John 94

Acts 28

Romans 68

1 Corinthians 68

2 Corinthians 55

Galatians 20

Ephesians 12

Philippians 14

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 13

2 Thessalonians 5

1 Timothy 12

2 Timothy 12

Titus 4

Philemon 2

Hebrews 15

James 5

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 6

1 John 13

2 John 4

3 John 3

Jude 2

Revelation 13

BSB (639)

Matthew 37

Mark 45

Luke 35

John 103

Acts 30

Romans 69

1 Corinthians 72

2 Corinthians 68

Galatians 23

Ephesians 13

Philippians 15

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 13

2 Thessalonians 5

1 Timothy 12

2 Timothy 12

Titus 4

Philemon 2

Hebrews 16

James 5

1 Peter 16

2 Peter 6

1 John 13

2 John 4

3 John 3

Jude 2

Revelation 13

ESV (570)

Matthew 28

Mark 40

Luke 27

John 94

Acts 27

Romans 63

1 Corinthians 68

2 Corinthians 63

Galatians 22

Ephesians 12

Philippians 13

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 13

2 Thessalonians 5

1 Timothy 11

2 Timothy 12

Titus 4

Hebrews 15

James 5

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 5

1 John 13

Revelation 12

WEB (629)

Matthew 35

Mark 41

Luke 38

John 103

Acts 29

Romans 69

1 Corinthians 75

2 Corinthians 62

Galatians 23

Ephesians 13

Philippians 15

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 13

2 Thessalonians 5

1 Timothy 12

2 Timothy 12

Titus 4

Philemon 2

Hebrews 16

James 5

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 6

1 John 13

2 John 4

3 John 3

Jude 2

Revelation 11

KJV (633)

And 1

But 95

Howbeit 6

Nay 4

Nevertheless 6

No 1

Notwithstanding 1

Therefore 2

Yea 4

Yet 1

also 1

and 2

but 470

have 1

howbeit 2

in 1

indeed 1

nevertheless 4

save 2

the 2

there 2

therefore 1

we 1

yea 11

yet 10

NAS (54)

However 7

Indeed 3

Nevertheless 3

No 1

Rather 1

Yes 1

Yet 3

besides 1

certainly 1

contrary 6

fact 2

however 2

indeed 1

nevertheless 2

rather 1

what 6

yet 13

HCS (588)

But 2

On the contrary 1

but 38

except 1

on the contrary 1

that among you. On the contrary 1

then 3

Besides 1

But 72

Even 1

However 10

In fact 1

Indeed 1

Instead 23

Nevertheless 3

No 2

No, but 1

On the contrary 24

Rather 1

Yes 1

Yet 3

against him but 1

and 1

but 335

but only 1

but rather 1

descent but 1

do, but 1

except 1

for it. In fact 1

for profit. On the contrary 1

good, but 1

however 1

in fact 1

instead 19

instead of 1

it, but 1

it? But 1

man, but 2

of clothing. Instead 1

on the contrary 2

one) but 1

people but 2

something but 1

than 1

that, but 2

the One. But 1

then 1

things. But 1

to do, but 1

to pass the test, but 1

to support, but 1

to you, but 1

we will certainly 1

what matters instead 1

would, but 1

yet 6

BSB (639)

* 51

All that matters is 1

Although 1

And even 1

But 85

But [just] 1

But [respond] 1

But [this is] 1

Furthermore 1

However 6

In fact 3

Indeed 7

Instead 45

More than that 1

Nevertheless 2

Now 2

On the contrary 7

Otherwise 2

Rather 4

Yes 1

Yet 2

[And even] 1

[And] 1

[It comes] 1

[So] 1

[These seats belong] 1

[Though] 1

[What counts is] 1

[and start] 1

[and unable] 1

[and] 5

[that] 1

[what] 6

and 1

but 328

but [He was called] 1

but [am] 1

but [are in fact] 1

but [born] 1

but [by] 1

but [for] 1

but [he stayed] 1

but [it is] 5

but [only] 1

but [that] 1

but [to do] 1

but in 1

but only 7

but only [those] 1

but rather 1

but that 2

except 1

however 4

in fact 1

instead 4

on the contrary 1

only 1

then 2

though 2

yet 6

ESV (570)

Be 1

But 94

He 2

However 1

Indeed 2

Let 1

Moreover 1

Nevertheless 4

No 3

Now 2

On 1

Rather 2

So 1

The 1

Why 1

Yes 2

Yet 5

also 1

and 1

anything 1

but 415

certainly 1

contrary 3

even 2

except 1

fact 1

indeed 1

is 2

not 1

rather 4

that 1

was 1

we 1

what 5

yet 4

WEB (629)

* 28

Also 1

But 92

Even 1

However 18

However that 1

Neither 1

Nevertheless 5

No 7

Yes 8

Yet 2

and 1

be 1

besides 1

but 438

but that 1

except 1

him 2

however 2

nbsp 1

since 1

than 1

to be unclothed 1

yet 14

RAH

C 385

ANT

CONJ 643

BEZ

CONJ 636

BGB

Conj 644

BMT

CONJ 639

BYZ

CONJ 638

ELZ

CONJ 636

NA26

A-NPM 1

CONJ 626

N-GSF 1

P-ASM 1

P-DSM 1

P-GSN 1

V-PAI-3P 1

SBL

C 638

SCV

CONJ 635

STV

CONJ 636

TIS

CONJ 636

CONJ 638

CONJ 653

Liddell-Scott-Jones Definitions

ἀλλά,

Conj., orig. neut. pl. of ἄλλος, otheruise: used adversatively to limit or oppose words, sentences, or clauses, stronger than δέ:

I in simple oppositions, but,

1. after neg. clauses, οὐ κακός, ἀλλ' ἀγαθός Thgn. 212; οὐδὲ μὲν Ἕκτωρ μίμνεν, ἀλλ'.. ἐφορμᾶται Il. 15.690, etc. after a simple neg., ἦ παραφρονεῖς; οὔκ, ἀλλ' ὕπνος μ' ἔχει Ar. V. 9, etc. freq. after οὐ μόνον, μὴ μόνον, with or without καί, οὐ μόνον ἅπαξ, ἀ. πολλάκις Pl. Phdr. 228a, cf. Th. 3.59, X. Mem. 1.4.13, etc.; without μόνον, οὐχ ἑσπέρας, ἀλλὰ καὶ μεσημβρίας E. Fr. 1006: also after οὐχ (or μὴ (ὅτι, οὐχ (or μὴ) ὅπως, either, not only.. but.., μὴ ὅτι ἰδιώτην τινά, ἀλλὰ τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα Pl. Ap. 40d; μὴ ὅτι κατὰ τὸ σῶμα, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τὴν ψυχήν Id. Smp. 207e; or, not only not.. but.., οὐχ ὅπως κωλυταὶ.. γενήσεσθε, ἀλλὰ καὶ.. περιόψεσθε Th. 1.35; οὐχ ὅτι ὠργίζοντο, ἀλλ' ἐζήλουν D. 19.265; the neg. form is ἀλλ' οὐδέ, μὴ ὅτι ὑπὲρ ἄλλου, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ δίκην εἴρηκα Isaiah 10:1, etc.

2. in the apodosis of hypothetical sentences, still, at least, εἴπερ γάρ τε.. ἀλλά τε Il. 1.82, etc.: in Prose, esp. ἀλλ' οὖν.. γε or ἀλλά.. γε, εἰ καὶ σμικρά, ἀ. οὖν ἴση γε ἡ χάρις Hdt. 3.140; εἰ μή (sc. ὁρῶ), ἀλλ' ἀκούω γε, Pl. Grg. 470d, cf. Isoc. 3.15,al.; εἰ μηδέν ἐστι τελευτήσαντι, ἀλλ' οὖν τοῦτόν γε τὸν χρόνον ἧττον ἀηδὴς ἔσομαι Pl. Phd. 91b (in later Gk. ἀλλά γε may be in juxtaposition, εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμί 1 Corinthians 9:2, and ἀ. γε δή is found with vv. Il. in Pl. Phdr. 262a); εἰ καὶ μετέχουσι.. ἀλλ' οὐ.. Arist. Pol. 1282a11: — less freq. after Conjunctions of Time, as ἐπεὶ δή Od. 14.151; ἐπεί S. OC 241. after Hom., ἀ. is used elliptically, esp. with Advbs. of Time, ὦ θεοὶ πατρῷοι, συγγένεσθέ γ' ἀ. νῦν (sc. εἰ μὴ πρότερον, ἀ. νῦν γε) S. El. 411, cf. Ant. 552, E. Heracl. 565; ἀ. τῷ χρόνῳ Id. Med. 912; ἐὰν οὖν ἀ. νῦν γ' ἔτι, i.e. ἐὰν οὖν [μὴἄλλοτε], ἀ. νῦν γε.. if then now at least ye still.., D. 3.33, cf. Lys. 10.15: — without an Adv. of Time, at least, ἡ δ' ἀ. πρός σε μικρὸν εἰπάτω μόνον Ar. Pax 660, cf. S. OC 1276, E. HF 331.

3. sts.= ἀλλ' ἤ (q.v.), except, but, οὔτι μοι αἴτιος ἄλλος, ἀ... τοκῆε no one else, but.., Od. 8.312; οὐδέ τις ἄλλη φαίνετο γαιάων, ἀ. οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα 12.404; ἔπαισεν οὔτις ἀ. ἐγώ S. OT 1331; ἡδέα.. οὐκ ἔστιν ἀ. τούτοις Arist. EN 1176a22, cf. 1152b30: cf. reverse process in our word but=be out, except: — sts. with force of ἤ after comparatives, τάφον, οὐκ ἐν ᾧ κεῖνται μᾶλλον, ἀ.ἐν ᾧ ἡ δόξα κτλ. not that in which they are lying, but far more.., Th. 2.43; οὐχ ὅπλων τὸ πλέον, ἀ. δαπάνης Id. 1.83.

4. with neg. after an affirmative word or clause, to be rendered simply by not, ἀγαθῶν, ἀ. οὐχὶ κακῶν αἴτιον Lys. 14.16; τῶν σπουδαίων, ἀ. μὴ τῶν φαύλων Isoc. 1.2; ἐκεῖθεν, ἀ. οὐκ ἐνθένδε ἡρπάσθη Pl. Phdr. 229d: — after a question, τί δεῖ ἐμβαλεῖν λόγον περὶ τούτου, ἀ. οὐχὶ προειπεῖν; X. Cyr. 2.2.19, cf. Isoc. 15.229, etc. without neg., μικρὸς μὲν ἔην δέμας, ἀ. μαχητής Il. 5.801.

II to oppose whole sentences, but, yet:

1. freq. in transitions, as Il. 1.135, 140, etc.; ἀ. καὶ ὥς.. 1.116; ἀ. οὐδ' ὥς.. Od. 1.6: — after Hom. in answers and objections, nay but.., well but.., freq. with negs., esp. in making and answering objections, Ar. Ach. 402, 407; also in affirmative answers, Pl. Prt. 330b, Grg. 449a, etc.: — repeated in a succession of questions or objections, πότερον ᾔτουν σέ τι.. ; ἀ. ἀπῄτουν; ἀ. περὶ παιδικῶν μαχόμενος; ἀ. μεθύων ἐπαρῴνησα; X. An. 5.8.4, cf. Pl. Thg. 123e, Isoc. 17.47; ἀ. μήν.., answered by ἀ.., Arist. Pol. 1287a23: — in vehement answers Pl. often uses νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἀ..., μὰ Δἴ ἀ.., Grg. 481c, Phlb. 36a, cf. Alc. 1.110b, c: — at beginning of speech, to introduce a general objection, Od. 4.472, cf. X. Smp. 1, Men. Georg. 22.

2. with imper. or subj., to remonstrate, encourage, persuade, etc., freq. in Hom., ἀ. ἄγε, ἴθι, Il. 1.210, 11.611; ἀ. ἴομεν 6.526; ἀ. πίθεσθε 1.259; after voc., ὦ Φίντις, ἀ. ζεῦξον Pi. O. 6.22, cf. Tyrt. 10.15, etc.; answered by a second ἀ., ἀ. περιμένετε. ἀ. περιμενοῦμεν Pl. R. 327b; ἀλλ' ἕρπεθ' ὡς τάχιστα S. OC 1643, cf. Ant. 1029, etc.

3. to break off a subject abruptly, ἀ. τά γε Ζεὺς οἶδεν Od. 15.523; ἀ. ταῦτα μὲν τί δεῖλέγειν; S. Ph. 11, cf. Tr. 467, etc.

4. in resuming an address after parenthesis, Pi. O. 2.12, 4.7.

5. in elliptical phrases, οὐ μὴν ἀ., οὐ μέντοι ἀ... it is not [so], but.., ὁ ἵππος πίπτει καὶ μικροῦ αὐτὸν ἐξετραχήλισεν· οὐ μὴν [ἐξετ ραχήλισεν] ἀ. ἐπέμεινεν ὁ Κῦρος it did not however [throw him], but.., X. Cyr. 1.4.8; οὐ μέντοι ἀ. Pl. Smp. 173b; οὐ γὰρ ἀ. Ar. Ra. 58, 498: — after δέ, ὑμεῖς δέ μ' ἀ. παιδὶ συμφονεύσατε E. Hec. 391.

III when joined with other Particles, each retains proper force, as,

1. ἀλλ' ἄρα, used by Hom. in transitions, Il. 6.418, 12.320, etc.; later, to introduce an objection, Pl. Ap. 25a; in questions, ἀλλ' ἆρα..; Id. R. 381b.

2. ἀλλ' οὖν, concessive, at all events, Ar. Ra. 1298; τοὺς πρώτους χρόνους ἀ. οὖνπροσεποιοῦνθ' ὑμῖν εἶναι φίλοι Aeschin. 3.86; well then, Pl. Prt. 310a; but then, however, with γε following, Hdt. 3.140, S. Ant. 84, E. Cyc. 652, Isoc. 3.18, etc.; ἀλλ' οὖν γε in apodosi, v. supr. 1.2.

3. ἀλλὰ γάρ, freq. with words between, but really, certainly, as ἀλλὰ γὰρ Κρέοντα λεύσσω.., παύσω γόους, but this is irreg. for ἀλλά, Κρέοντα γὰρ λεύσσω, παύσω γόους, E. Ph. 1308, cf. S. Ant. 148; for the reg. order cf. S. Ph. 81, E. Heracl. 480, Med. 1067; freq. elliptical, the Verb being understood, Hdt. 8.8, A. Pr. 941, S. Ant. 155: in Hom. only with negs., ἀλλ' οὐ γάρ Il. 7.242, Od. 14.355, al., cf. S. OT 1409; ἀ. γὰρ δή, ἀ. γάρ τοι, S. Aj. 167, Ph. 81.

4. ἀ. εἰ.. quid si.. ? Il. 16.559.

5. ἀ. ἦ in questions, chiefly of surprise or remonstrance, A. Ch. 220, S. El. 879, Ar. Ach. 1111; ἀλλ' ἦ, τὸ λεγόμενον, κατόπιν ἑορτῆς ἥκομεν; Pl. Grg. 447a, cf. Prt. 309c.

6. ἀ. followed by strengthening Particle, ἀλλ' ἤτοι μὲν ταῦτα θεῶν ἐν γούνασι κεῖται Il. 17.514; esp. c. imper., 1.211, al.; ἀλλά τοι Od. 15.518, A. Pers. 795, etc.; ἀ. μέντοι, with or without γε, Pl. Smp. 214e, Hp.Ma. 287d, al.; ἀ. μήν, v. μήν; ἀ. δή, mostly with words between, S. Aj. 1271, OC 586, Isoc. 4.109, etc.; without intervening words, Pl. Ap. 37c, al.; ἀ. δῆτα Id. Hp.Ma. 285c; ἀ. μὲν δὴ καὶ αὐτός Id. Tht. 143b, cf. S. El. 103. = et quidem, Olymp. in Mete. 1.13, al.

Thayer's Expanded Definition

ἀλλά, an adversative particle, derived from ἀλλά, neuter of the adjective ἄλλος, which was originally pronounced ἄλλος (cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii., p. 1f), hence properly, other things namely, than those just mentioned. It differs from δέ, as the Latinat andsed fromautem, (cf. Winer's Grammar, 441f (411)).

I. But. So related to the preceding words that it serves to introduce

1. an opposition to concessions; nevertheless, notwithstanding: Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:20; Mark 14:28; John 16:7, 20; Acts 4:17; Acts 7:48; Romans 5:14; Romans 10:16; 1 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 7:6; Philippians 2:27 (ἀλλ' ὁ Θεός etc.), etc.

2. an objection: John 7:27; Romans 10:18; 1 Corinthians 15:35; James 2:18.

3. an exception: Luke 22:53; Romans 4:2; 1 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 10:23.

4. a restriction: John 11:42; Galatians 4:8; Mark 14:36.

5. an ascensive transition or gradation, nay rather, yea moreover: John 16:2; 2 Corinthians 1:9; especially with καί added, Luke 12:7; Luke 16:21; Luke 24:22. ἀλλ' οὐδέ, but ... not even (German ja nicht einmal): Luke 23:15; Acts 19:2; 1 Corinthians 3:2 (Rec. οὔτε); cf. Fritzsche on Mark, p. 157.

6. or forms a transition to the cardinal matter, especially before imperatives: Matthew 9:18.; Mark 9:22; Mark 16:7; Luke 7:7; John 8:26; John 16:4; Acts 9:6 (not Rec.); .

7. it is put elliptically: ἀλλ' ἵνα, i. e. ἀλλά τοῦτο γέγονεν, Mark 14:49; John 13:18; John 15:25; 1 John 2:19.

8. after a conditional or concessive protasis it signifies, at the beginning of the apodosis, yet (cf. Winer's Grammar, 442 (411)): after καί εἰ, 2 Corinthians 13:4 (R G); Mark 14:29 R G L (2 Macc. 8:15); after εἰ καί, Mark 14:29 (T Tr WH); 2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 2 Corinthians 11:6; Colossians 2:5 (2 Macc. 6:26); after εἰ, 1 Corinthians 9:2; Romans 6:5 (1 Macc. 2:20); after ἐάν, 1 Corinthians 4:15; after εἴπερ, 1 Corinthians 8:6 (L Tr marginal reading WH brackets ἀλλ'; cf. Klotz ad Devar. ii., p. 93f; Kühner, ii., p. 827, § 535 Anm. 6.

9. after a preceding μέν: Mark 9:13 (T omits; Tr brackets μέν; Acts 4:16; Romans 14:20; 1 Corinthians 14:17.

10. it is joined to other particles; ἀλλά γέ (Griesbach ἀλλάγε) (twice in the N. T.): yet at least, 1 Corinthians 9:2; yet surely (aber freilich), Luke 24:21 (L T Tr WH add καί yea and etc.), cf. Bornemann at the passage. In the more elegant Greek writers these particles are not combined without the interposition of the most emphatic word between them; cf. Bornemann, the passage cited; Klotz ad Devar. ii., pp. 15f, 24f; Ast, Lex. Plato, i., p. 101; (Winer's Grammar, 444 (413)). ἀλλ' ἤ (arising from the blending of the two statements οὐδέν ἄλλο ἤ and οὐδέν ἄλλο, ἀλλά) save only, except: 1 Corinthians 3:5 (where ἀλλ' ἤ omitted by G L T Tr WH is spurious); Luke 12:51 (Sir. 37:12 Sir. 44:10); and after ἀλλά itself, 2 Corinthians 1:13 (here Lachmann brackets ἀλλ' before ἤ); cf. Klotz as above ii., 31ff; Kühner, ii., p. 824f § 535, 6; Winers Grammar, 442 (412); (Buttmann, 374 (320)). ἀλλ' οὐ but not, yet not: Hebrews 3:16 (if punctuated παρεπίκραναν; ἀλλ' οὐ) for 'But why do I ask? Did not all,' etc.; cf. Bleek at the passage (Winer's Grammar, 442 (411)). ἀλλ' οὐχί will he not rather? Luke 17:8.

II. preceded by a negation: but (Latinsed, German sondern);

1. οὐκ (μή) ... ἀλλά: Matthew 19:11; Mark 5:39; John 7:16; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 7:10, 19 (οὐδέν); 2 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Timothy 5:23 (μηκέτι), etc. By a rhetorical construction οὐκ ... ἀλλά sometimes is logically equivalent to not so much ... as: Mark 9:37 (οὐκ ἐμέ δέχεται, ἀλλά τόν ἀποστείλαντά με); Matthew 10:20; John 12:44; Acts 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; by this form of speech the emphasis is laid on the second member; cf. Fritzsche on Mark, p. 773ff; Winers Grammar, § 55, 8 b.; (Buttmann, 356 (306)). οὐ μόνος ... ἀλλά καί not only ... but also: John 5:18; John 11:52 (ἀλλ' ἵνα καί, Romans 1:32, and very often. When καί is omitted (as in the Latinnon solum ... sed), the gradation is strengthened: Acts 19:26 (Lachmann adds καί); 1 John 5:6; ἀλλά πολλῷ μᾶλλον, Philippians 2:12; cf. Fritzsche, the passage cited, p. 786ff; Winers Grammar, 498 (464); (Buttmann, 369f (317)).

2. The negation to which ἀλλά pertains is suppressed, but can easily be supplied upon reflection (Winer's Grammar, 442 (412)): Matthew 11:7-9; Luke 7:24-26 (in each passage, before ἀλλά supply 'you will say you did not go out into the wilderness for this purpose'); Acts 19:2 (we have not received the Holy Spirit, but ...); Galatians 2:3 (they said not one word in opposition to me, but ...); 2 Corinthians 7:11 (where before ἀλλά, repeated six times by anaphora, supply οὐ μόνον with the accusative of the preceding word). It is used in answers to questions having the force of a negation (Winer's Grammar, 442 (412)): John 7:49; Acts 15:11; 1 Corinthians 10:20. ἀλλά ἵνα (or ἀλλ' ἵνα, cf. Winers Grammar, 40; Buttmann, 10) elliptical after a negation (Winer's Grammar, 316f (297); 620 (576); Fritzsche on Matthew, p. 840f): John 1:8 (supply ἀλλά ἦλθεν, ἵνα); (ἀλλά τυφλός ἐγένετο (or ἐγεννήθη), ἵνα); Mark 4:22 (ἀλλά τοιοῦτο ἐγένετο, ἵνα). ( The best manuscripts seem to elide the final a before nouns, but not before verbs Scrivener, Plain Introduction, etc., p. 14; but see Dr. Gregory's full exhibition of the facts in Tdf Proleg., p. 93f, from which it appears that "elision is commonly or almost always omitted before (alpha) ἆ, almost always before (upsilon) u, often before (epsilon) e and (eta) ee, rarely before (omikron) o and (omega) oo, never before (iota) i; and it should be noticed that this coincides with the fact that the familiar words ἐν, ἵνα, ὅτι, οὐ, ὡς, prefer the form ἀλλ'; see also WHs Appendix, p. 146. Cf. Winers Grammar, § 5, 1 a.; Buttmann, p. 10.)

Abbott-Smith Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament

ἀλλά

(ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ , often bef. ε and η , rarely bef. ο and ω , never bef. ι ; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ ; prop, neuter pl. of ἄλλος , used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop, otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Romans 3:31);

1. opposing a previous negation, but: οὐ (μή ) . . . ἀ ., Matthew 5:15; Matthew 5:17, Mark 5:39 John 7:16, al.; rhetorically subordinating but not entirely negativing what precedes, οὐ . . . ἀ ., not so much . . . as, Mark 9:37, Matthew 10:20, John 12:44, al.; with ellipse of the negation, Matthew 11:7-9, Acts 19:2, 1 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 7:7, 2 Corinthians 7:11, Galatians 2:3, al.; in opposition to a foregoing pos. sentence, ἀ .. οὐ , Matthew 24:6, 1 Corinthians 10:23; οὐ μόνον ... ἀ . καί , John 5:18, Romans 1:32, al.; elliptically, after a negation, ἀ , ἵνα , Mark 14:49, John 1:8; John 9:3, al.; = εἰ υή (B1., § 77, 13; M, Pr., 241; but cf. WM, § iii, 10), Matthew 20:23, Mark 4:22,

2. Without previous negation, to express opposition, interruption, transition, etc., but: John 16:20; John 12:27, Galatians 2:14; before commands or requests, Acts 10:20; Acts 26:16, Matthew 9:18, Mark 9:22, al.; to introduce an accessory idea, 2 Corinthians 7:11; in the apodosis after a condition or concession with εἰ , ἐάν , εἵπερ , yet, still, at least, Mark 14:29, 1 Corinthians 9:2, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Colossians 2:5, al.; after μέν , Acts 4:17, Romans 14:20, 1 Corinthians 14:17; giving emphasis to the following clause, ἀλλ᾽ ἔρχεται ὥρα , yea, etc., John 16:2; so with neg., ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ , nay, nor yet, Luke 23:15.

3. Joined with other particles (a practice which increases in late writers; Simcox, LNT, 166), ἀ . γε , yet at least, Luke 24:21, 1 Corinthians 9:2; ἀ . ἤ , save only, except, Luke 12:51, 2 Corinthians 1:13; ἀ . μὲν οὖν , Philippians 3:8 (on this usage, v. MM, VGT, s.v.).

Abbott-Smith Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
Copyright © 1922 by G. Abbott-Smith, D.D., D.C.L.. T & T Clarke, London.

Vocabulary of the Greek NT

The closeness of ἀλλά to πλήν appears in more uses than one. Armitage Robinson, Ephesians, p. 205, has a note on a quasi-resumptive use of ἀλλά in Ephesians 5:24 which is closely paralleled by that of πλήν in ver. 33. Then there are instances of ἀλλά = ";except."; This is clear where we have ἀλλ᾽ ἤ (as in 2 Corinthians 1:13) : thus P Petr II. 9 (3)9 (B.C. 241–39) ὥστε μηθένα εἶναι ἐνταῦθα ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἡμᾶς , ";There is no one left here except ourselves"; (Ed.), ib. 46 (a)5 (B.C. 200) καὶ μὴ ὑποκεῖσθαι πρὸς ἄλλο μηδὲν ἀλλ᾽ ἢ τὴν προγεγραμ [μέν ]ην ἐγγύην , ";has not been pledged for any other purpose than the aforesaid security"; (id.), P Lond 89713 (A.D. 84) ( = III. p. 207) ὃ μέντοιγε οὐ θέλωι ἀλλὰ ἢ ἀνάγκηι . In P Tebt I. 10419 (B.C. 92) μὴ ἐξέστω Φιλίσκωι γυναῖκα ἄλλην ἐπ [α ].γ [α ̣].γε ̣σ ̣θ ̣α ̣ι ̣ α ̣̓λ ̣λὰ Ἀπολλωνίαν , ";any other wife but A."; (Edd.), shows the same use for ἀλλά alone. See Proleg.3 p. 241 (with some additional remarks in the German ed., p. 269). G. C. Richards (JTS x. p. 288) observes on the note in Proleg., ";In Mark 4:22 ἐὰν μή and ἀλλά are parallel, a usage which Aramaic explains but Greek does not."; (Cf. the variants in Mark 9:8.) Without doubting that an Aramaic background makes the usage all the easier, we can assert that Hellenistic Greek does admit this use of ἀλλά . For ἀλλὰ μήν (not in NT) cf. P Oxy III. 47237 (c. A.D. 130) ἀ . μὴ ̣ν ̣ υτ ̣ω ̣ν πίστεως περὶ τούτων οὔσης , P Flor I. 8912 (iii/A.D.) ἀ . μ . καὶ πρὸς τὴν παρακομι [δὴν τ ]ο ̣ύτων [π ]λοῖον παρασχεῖν σπούδασον . It is hardly necessary to illustrate the conjunction further.

List of Word Forms

αλλ αλλ' ἀλλ' αλλα αλλά αλλ'ά ἀλλά ἀλλὰ άλλαγμα άλλαγμά αλλάγματα αλλάγματι all all' alla allá allà