Quick Definition
γάλα, ακτος, τό n.n. milk
Strong's Definition
of uncertain affinity; milk (figuratively)
KJV Usage: milk
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | γάλακτος
5.19 · Foods and Condiments · Food
milk white fluid secreted by women and female mammals for nourishment of their young; also used as food for humans The term γάλα may refer to any type of milk, whether produced by humans or by certain domesticated animals, for example, cow, sheep, goat, camel.
In a number of languages two distinct terms are used for milk, one identifying the human milk and another term specifying milk from animals. In the context of 1CO 3:2 it is probably the latter reference which is important, though the passage is highly figurative and the emphasis is upon food for babies.
1 The meanings of ᾠόν ‘egg’ (5.18) and γάλα ‘milk’ (5.19) could be classified under Body Products in Domain 8, but in the NT contexts the focus is upon these products as food and not upon the physiological processes involved in producing such products.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
γάλα, -Aaxros [cf. Lat. lac; Curtius § 123], τό, {from Hom. down], milk: 1 Co. ix. 7. Metaph. of the less difficult truths of the Christian religion, 1 Co. iii. 2; Heb. y. 12 sq. (Quintil. 2, 4, 5 “doctoribus hoe esse curae yelim, ut teneras adhue mentes more nutricum mollius alant et satiari velut quodam jucundioris disciplinae lacte patiantur,” [ef. Siegfried, Philo von Alex. p. 329, cf. p. 3017); of the word of God, by which souls newly regenerate are healthfully nourished unto growth in the Christian life, 1 Pet. ii. 2.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
γάλα gala 5x
milk, 1 Cor. 9:7; met. spiritual milk, consisting in the elements of Christian instruction, 1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12, 13; spiritual nutriment, 1 Pet. 2:2*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
γάλα, -ακτος, τό
[in LXX for חלב ;]
milk: I Co 9:7. Metaph., of elementary Christian teaching: I Co 3:2, He 5:12, 13; τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γ., the rational (spiritual) genuine milk (v. Hort, in l.), I Pe 2:2 (in support of AV, milk of the word, v. ICC, in l.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
γάλα. P Oxy IV. 736% (c. A.D. 1) γάλακτος παιδ(ῶν) (ἡμιωβέλιον), ‘milk for the children 4 ob.,” in a private account ; 24. IX. 121119 (ii/a.p.) ἔλεον, μέλι, γάλα, articles for a sacrifice; Sy// 80415 (Ὁ ii/A.D.) γάλα μετὰ μέλιτος προλαβεῖν (= ‘‘ edere,”’ Dittenberger); BGU IV. 105517 (8.6, 13) σταμμνὸν ὀκτοκαίδεκα κοτυρὸν (= κοτυλῶν) γάλακτος βοήου (-- βοείου) ἀρεστοῦ, to be a daily allowance; 7é. T109® (B.C. 5) συνχωρεῖ. .. παρασχέσθαι τὴν δούλην αὑτ]οῦ Xpwrdpio(v) τροφεύουσαν καὶ θηλάζουσαν τῶι ἰδίῳ αὐτῆς γάλακτι καθαρῷ καὶ adOdpwi—the last a sample of numerous contracts with nurses. In connexion with the use of γάλα in 1 Pet 25, it may be mentioned that Reitzenstein (Die hell. Mysterienreligionen, pp. 84, 157) shows that milk plays a prominent part in the mystery-cults. He quotes Sallust περὶ θεῶν 4, where milk, the new birth, and crowns are all mentioned together—éoptiy ἄγομεν διὰ. ταῦτα... ἐπὶ τούτοις γάλακτος τροφή, ὡς ἀναγεννωμένων * ἐφ᾽ ois ἱλαρεῖαι καὶ στέφανοι καὶ πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς οἷον ἐπάνοδος. For the compounds γαλακτοφόρος, -ία, and -έω, see P Lond 372 (B.c. 146 or 135) (=I. p. 46), BGU I. 201." (A.D. 50), and P Tebt II. 399 (ii/a.p.). The word is MGr.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
γάλα (gala) — milk. γάλα [??], τό, genitive γάλακτος (also γάλακος, dative γάλακι [Refs 5th c.BC+] indeclinable, [Refs 5th c.BC+], cf. Latin lac for glact):—milk, ἀμελγόμενοι γ. λευκόν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; εὔποτον γ., εὐτραφὲς γ., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐν γάλακτι ὤν, τεθραμμένη, at the breast, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν γάλαξι τρέφεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐμπλῆσαι γάλακτος to fill full of milk, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. ὀρνίθων γ. (ὄρνιθος γάλα, ={ὀρνιθόγαλον}, [Refs 5th c.BC+] as white of egg, compare [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
3. ἀγαθὸν γ. a good wet-nurse, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; οὐδ᾽ εἰ γ. λαγοῦ εἶχον.. καὶ ταὧς, κατήσθιον [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
II. milky sap of plants, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III. the milky way, [Refs 4th c.BC+]