ἀλήθεια
alētheia
truth
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἀλήθεια (alētheia) is a fundamental concept in the biblical lexicon, appearing 110 times in the New Testament. At its core, ἀλήθεια is defined as "truth." This concept encompasses the idea of reality, accuracy, and sincerity. In its usage, ἀλήθεια is often employed to convey the idea of God's truth, which is contrasted with human deception and falsehood. This dichotomy is evident in passages where ἀλήθεια is used to describe God's revelation, such as in Jesus' statement, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The word is also used to describe the truth of Jesus' teachings and the consequences of rejecting them. The significance of ἀλήθεια lies in its emphasis on the importance of truth and authenticity in human relationships and interactions with God. In a world where deception and falsehood are prevalent, ἀλήθεια serves as a reminder of the value of honesty, integrity, and sincerity.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
110 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.
Mark 5:33But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
Mark 12:14When they had come, they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don’t defer to anyone; for you aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
Mark 12:32The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he,
Luke 4:25But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land.
Luke 20:21They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.
Luke 22:59After about one hour passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean!”
John 1:14The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
John 3:21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
John 4:23But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers.
John 4:24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 5:33You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
John 8:32You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:32You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
John 8:40But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.
John 8:44You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
John 8:44You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
John 8:45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.
John 8:46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
John 14:17the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.
John 15:26“When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me.
John 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:13However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
John 16:13However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.
John 17:17Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:19For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
John 18:37Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:37Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:38Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
Acts 4:27“For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed,
Acts 10:34Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;
Acts 26:25But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.
Romans 1:18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Romans 2:2We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
Romans 2:8but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation,
Romans 2:20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.
Romans 3:7For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
Romans 9:1I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit
Romans 15:8Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
1 Corinthians 5:8Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 13:6doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 6:7in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2 Corinthians 7:14For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
2 Corinthians 7:14For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
2 Corinthians 11:10As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
2 Corinthians 12:6For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me.