Quick Definition
ἅλας, ατος, τό n.n. salt
Strong's Definition
from 251; salt; figuratively, prudence
KJV Usage: salt
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m./n. | ἁλός | ἁλίζω
5.25 · Foods and Condiments · Condiments
salt white crystalline substance, mainly consisting of sodium chloride, used for seasoning or preserving food Since salt is a universal condiment, there is no difficulty involved in finding an adequate expression for it, but there is a difficulty in MAT 5:13, since pure salt cannot lose its taste. In the ancient world, however, what was often sold as salt was highly adulterated and the sodium chloride could leach out in humid weather, in which case the residue (normally a form of lime) would be useless. It may, therefore, be important in some languages to provide a marginal note explaining the basis for the biblical statement concerning salt losing its flavor; otherwise, the parable may appear to be either meaningless or misleading.
MAT 5:13 · MAT 5:13 · MRK 9:50 · MRK 9:50 · MRK 9:50 · LUK 14:34 · LUK 14:34 · COL 4:6
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἅλας, -atos, τό, (a later form, found in Sept. and N. T. [Aristot. de mirab. ause. § 138; Plut. qu. conv. iv. 4, 3, 3], ef. Bitm. Ausf. Spr. i. p. 220; dat. Gare Col. iv. 6), and Gs, ἁλός, 6, (the classic form [fr. Hom. down]; Sir. Xxii. 15 (13); xliii. 19; Sap. x. 7; 1 Mace. x. 29, etc. ; Mk. ix. 49 ἁλί dat. [T WH Tr mrg. om. Tr txt. br.], and in vs. 50 L T Tr WH ἅλα ace. [yet without the ~ in Mk. ix. 50 [also Mt. v. 13; Lk. xiv. 34 (where see his note)] (similar to γάλα, gen. γάλατος, a form noted by certain grammarians, see [WH. App. p. 158;] Kiuhner i. 353 sq.; but see what Fritzsche, Com. on Sir. (xxxix. 26) p. 226 sq., says in opposition) ; salt; 1. Salt with which food is seasoned and sacrifices are sprinkled: Mk. ix.49 RG; cf. ἁλίζω. 2. ἅλας τῆς γῆς. those kinds of saline matter used to fertilize arable land, Mt. v. 13°; here salt as a condiment cannot be understood, since this renders land sterile (Deut. xxix. 23; Zeph. ii. 9; Judg. ix. 45); cf. Grohmann in Kauffer’s Bibl. Studien, 1844, p. 82 sqq. The meaning is, ‘It is your prerogative to impart to mankind (likened to arable land) the influences required for a life of deyotion to God.’ In the statement immediately following, ἐὰν δὲ ἅλας κτλ.» the comparison seems to be drawn from salt as a condiment, so that two figures are blended; [but it is better to adopt this latter meaning throughout the pass., and take γῆ to denote the mass of mankind, see 8. v. 4 b. and ef. Tholuck et al. ad loc.]. In Mk. ix. 50
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἅλας halas 8x
variant spellings of ἅλα and ἁλός, salt, Mt. 5:13; Mk. 9:50; met. the salt of wisdom and prudence, Col. 4:6
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἅλας (T, ἅλα), -ατος, τό, late form of cl. ἅλς, -ος, ὁ (MM, VGT, s.v.),
[in LXX chiefly for מְלַח ;]
salt, lit, and fig.: Mt 5:13, Mk 9:50 Lk 14:34; like cl. ἅλες, wit, of wisdom and grace in speech: Col 4:6.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἅλας. As early as iii/B.C. the neuter form is proved to have been in existence, e.g. P Petr III. 140 (a)? ἔλαιον &Aas νὶ ξύλα, and may therefore be acknowledged in P Hib 1. 152 (B.c. 250) ἐμβαλοῦ els τὸ πλοῖον ἅλας Kal λωτόν, though there the editors treat the word as accusative plural. A clear example seems to be quotable from P Par 55 ézs i 29 (ii/B.c.) kal ἄρτοι kal ἅλας. From later times we can quote P Leid X ὁ 8 (iii/iv A.D.) ἅλας Καππαδοκικόν, P Oxy IX. 12222 (iv/a.D.) τὸ ἅλας. The ambiguity of earlier exx. attaches itself even to P Leid C τιον. ὃ (p. 93 of part i.), where ἅλας may as well be acc. pl., since the itenis are acc. as well as nom. in this λόγος of provisions supplied to the Twins of the Serapeum (ii/B.c.). Mayser (Gr. p. 286)
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἅλας (halas) — salt. ἅλας, ᾰτος, τό, ={ἅλς}, salt, [NT+4th c.BC+]