ἀλλὰ
allá
moreover
Primary meaning: but, rather, on the contrary. ἀλλά primarily functions as a strong adversative conjunction introducing contrast, correction, or qualification within a statement or between clauses. It can be used to negate an expectation, introduce a counterpoint, or shift the focus, often with the sense of 'but (instead)' or 'but (on the contrary)'. In some contexts, it can have a concessive nuance ('nevertheless') or mildly emphatic force ('indeed', 'yea'). It never simply means 'and' in a coordinative sense; its function is always contrastive.
Luke 16:21 · Word #12
Lexicon G235
| Lemma | ἀλλά |
| Transliteration | allá |
| Strong's | G235 |
| Definition | Primary meaning: but, rather, on the contrary. ἀλλά primarily functions as a strong adversative conjunction introducing contrast, correction, or qualification within a statement or between clauses. It can be used to negate an expectation, introduce a counterpoint, or shift the focus, often with the sense of 'but (instead)' or 'but (on the contrary)'. In some contexts, it can have a concessive nuance ('nevertheless') or mildly emphatic force ('indeed', 'yea'). It never simply means 'and' in a coordinative sense; its function is always contrastive. |
Morphology CONJ
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | CONJ — Coordinating Conjunction — Joins equal elements |
Common Translation
| Phrase | moreover |
| Literal | but-however |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | ἀλλά |
| Strong's | G235 |
SIBI-P1 Translation G235-02
but rather
| Morphological Notes | Correlative/coordinating conjunction; strong adversative particle with no inflection for case, gender, or number. |
| Rendering Rationale | This rendering reflects ἀλλά as a strong adversative conjunction introducing contrast or correction, rooted in the idea of "other" or "alternative." "But rather" preserves its force of replacing or overturning a prior idea rather than merely coordinating. |
View full lexicon entry for G235 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
but
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | In this context, 'but' is the most direct and accurate adversative. 'But rather' in P1 is unnecessarily strong and does not fit the Greek connective here as naturally. |