Original Word: λαλιά
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: lalia
Pronunciation: lah-lee-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (lal-ee-ah')
Definition: Speech, talk, dialect
Meaning: (in classical Greek: babble, chattering) speech, talk; manner of speech, dialect.

saying, speech.

From laleo; talk -- saying, speech.

see GREEK laleo

Word Origin
from laleó
Definition
talk
NASB Translation
said (1), way...talk (1), what...saying (1).

STRONGS NT 2981: λαλιά

λαλιά, λαλιᾶς, ἡ (λάλος, cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Sprchl. § 119 Anm. 21), in secular authors (from Aristophanes down) loquacity, talkativeness, talk (German Gerede) (see λαλέω, at the beginning); in a good sense conversation; in the N. T.

1. speech, equivalent to story: John 4:42.

2. dialect, mode of speech, pronunciation (Winer's Grammar, 23): Mark 14:70 Rec.; Matthew 26:73; speech which discloses the speaker's native country: hence of the speech by which Christ may be recognized as having come from heaven, John 8:43 (where cf. Meyer).

Word Origin: Derived from the verb λαλέω (laleó), meaning "to speak" or "to talk."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for λαλιά, the concept of speech and its significance is prevalent throughout the Old Testament. Hebrew words such as דָּבָר (dabar, Strong's 1697), meaning "word" or "speech," and אָמַר (amar, Strong's 559), meaning "to say" or "to speak," capture similar themes of communication and expression found in the Greek λαλιά. These Hebrew terms emphasize the power and importance of words, paralleling the New Testament's focus on the nature and impact of speech.

Usage: The term λαλιά is used in the New Testament to describe speech or conversation, often highlighting the distinctiveness or characteristics of one's manner of speaking.

Context: The Greek word λαλιά appears in the New Testament in contexts that emphasize the nature and quality of speech. It is used to describe the distinctive accent or dialect of individuals, as seen in the account of Peter's denial of Jesus. In Matthew 26:73 (BSB), it is recorded, "After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. 'Surely you are one of them,' they said, 'for your accent gives you away.'" Here, λαλιά is translated as "accent," indicating the recognizable manner of speaking that identified Peter as a Galilean.

The term is also used in Mark 14:70 (BSB), where it is similarly noted, "But again he denied it. After a little while, those standing nearby said to Peter, 'Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean.'"

In these instances, λαλιά underscores the idea that one's speech can reveal their background or identity. This concept is significant in the biblical narrative, as it illustrates how speech can betray one's association or origin, even when one attempts to conceal it.

Theologically, λαλιά can be understood as a reflection of the heart, as Jesus taught that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34, BSB). Thus, the word serves as a reminder of the importance of pure and truthful speech, aligning with the broader biblical exhortation to let one's words be seasoned with grace and truth.

λαλια λαλιά λαλιαί λαλιαν λαλιάν λαλιὰν λαλιάς λαλίας lalia laliá lalian laliànInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts