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ἀλήθω

alḗthō

G229 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ἀλεθ- to grind, to crush, to reduce to flour

Definition

To grind, especially to reduce grain or similar substances to powder or meal by rubbing or crushing. In the context of daily life, refers primarily to the manual or mechanical processing of grain for bread-making or other food preparation. The action is performed using a millstone or hand mill.

Semantic Range

to grind (grain, meal), to crush or mill, to process into flour; in some technical contexts, to triturate, to reduce to powder

Root / Etymology

From the same root as ἄλευρον (aleuron, 'flour'), likely related to the process of grinding grain to make flour. The underlying root ἀληθ- may be onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of grinding. Direct relationship to ἄλευρον is indicated through morphological and semantic proximity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Occurrences of ἀλήθω in Koine Greek are rare, and the term is primarily attested in later Greek, as well as in medical or technical contexts. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the more common verb for this action is μύλλω or μύλεω, though ἀλήθω appears in some manuscripts or in specialized vocabulary. The Classical Greek term for grinding is μυλέω. English translations, especially of older sources, usually render ἀλήθω as 'to grind,' but this does not always convey the specific reference to grain processing. The semantic field is narrower than the more general terms for crushing or bruising. The action is a regular element of ancient daily life, with grinding typically performed by women in domestic contexts. There is no significant theological or metaphorical usage documented for this verb in contemporary Jewish or early Christian texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as ἄλευρον; to grind:--grind.

Root Family

ἀλήθω (alēthō) — to grind, to crush, to reduce to flour

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G229-01 ἀλήθουσαι alethousai V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL grinding grinding 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G229-01 Matthew 24:41 ἀλήθουσαι alethousai V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL grinding
G229-01 Luke 17:35 ἀλήθουσαι alethousai V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL grinding grinding
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