ἀλήθεια (alētheia)
alētheia
truth
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 99 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun alētheia denotes truth as the solid reality underlying appearances, rather than mere opinion or illusion. In the New Testament it carries significant weight, appearing nearly 100 times with a heavy concentration in John’s Gospel and Epistles, as well as in Romans. It describes both the objective facts of God’s nature and the subjective integrity of those who live by them.
Lexical sources distinguish between truth as doctrine and truth as character. Objectively, it refers to the "manifested, veritable essence" of matters concerning God, as seen when Paul speaks of the truth in Romans 9:1 or the gospel in Galatians 2:5. Subjectively, it signifies sincerity and freedom from pretence, a quality Jesus attributes to those who walk in the light (John 3:21) and contrasts with the deceit of the father of lies (John 8:44).
The word’s force is often clarified by its collocations. Phrases like "speaking the truth" (Ephesians 4:25) or "doing the truth" (John 3:21) show that alētheia is not just abstract correctness but active alignment with reality. This usage bridges the gap between intellectual assent and moral conduct, presenting truth as a way of life rooted in the character of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word alētheia points to something solid and real, standing firm against shifting opinions or surface-level appearances. In the New Testament, it is not merely a statement of fact but the very character of God made visible in Jesus Christ. When John describes the Word as full of grace and truth, he invites us into a relationship where divine reality meets human need.
This concept bridges the gap between what we believe and how we live. To walk in the truth means acting with sincerity and integrity, allowing our actions to align with God’s nature rather than hiding behind pretense. It is an invitation to live openly before God, finding freedom in honesty and stability in His unchanging word.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 99 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- truth51×
- truth.13×
- [the] truth8×
- truth,7×
- truth;5×
- of truth,5×
- of truth4×
- of truth.3×
- of [the] truth3×
- of [the] truth,2×
- a truth2×
- truth?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀληθείας27×
- ἀλήθειαν15×
- ἀληθείᾳ15×
- ἀλήθεια11×
- ἀληθείας,8×
- ἀληθείᾳ,7×
- ἀληθείᾳ.5×
- ἀληθείας.¶5×
- ἀλήθειαν.¶2×
- ἀλήθειαν,2×
- ἀληθείᾳ·2×
- ἀληθείᾳ.¶2×
Key Verses
-
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
This verse anchors the concept by showing truth as a personal attribute of Jesus, full alongside grace.
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John 3:21
But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
Here the word describes active moral integrity, where doing good reveals a heart aligned with God.
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John 8:32
You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
This occurrence highlights the liberating power of truth to break the bonds of sin and deception.
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John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate standard of reality, making truth a person rather than just a principle.