ἀληθής (alēthēs)
alēthēs
true
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adjective alēthēs describes something that is true to fact, real, and unconcealed. Its root sense comes from a word meaning "to forget" or "to escape notice," so the term literally points to what does not slip into obscurity but stands manifest before us. In Scripture, it distinguishes reality from illusion, marking things as actual rather than merely apparent.
This word appears frequently in John’s writings and Paul’s letters. It describes Jesus’ testimony as genuine (John 8:14), the nature of God’s law as true (Romans 3:4), and even the character of people who speak without deceit (Matthew 22:16). Unlike near-synonyms that might emphasize ideal perfection, alēthēs focuses on factual accuracy and honesty in the present moment.
Translators often render it simply as "true," but the underlying image is one of visibility. What is alēthēs cannot be hidden; it is open, clear, and reliable. This quality applies to divine revelation, human speech, and spiritual realities alike, grounding Christian truth in something concrete and undeniable.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word alēthēs invites us to look past appearances and rest in what is real. In a world full of shifting opinions, this term points to God’s nature as unchanging and reliable. When Scripture calls God true, it means His character is consistent and His promises are not empty words but solid ground for our lives.
This reliability extends to how we live daily. Jesus described those who seek God’s glory as alēthēs, meaning their actions align with reality rather than self-interest. We can trust that the grace we stand in is genuine, and the light of Christ shines clearly even when darkness surrounds us.
For your faith, this means you do not need to guess at God’s heart. His truth is open and visible, offering a stable foundation for hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- true16×
- true,3×
- true;2×
- truth1×
- truly1×
- true.1×
- real1×
- [the] true1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀληθής9×
- ἀληθῆ3×
- ἀληθὴς3×
- ἀληθής·2×
- ἀληθές2×
- ἀληθὲς2×
- ἀληθῆ,1×
- ἀληθής.¶1×
- ἀληθής,1×
- ἀληθοῦς1×
- ἀληθεῖς,1×
Key Verses
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John 3:33
He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
This verse establishes the foundational claim that God Himself is true, validating every witness He provides.
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Romans 3:4
May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
Paul contrasts human unfaithfulness with God’s absolute truth to show that justification rests on His reliability, not ours.
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John 8:14
Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going.
Jesus asserts the validity of His own testimony because He knows His divine origin and destination, unlike those who judge by mere appearance.
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I John 2:8
Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light already shines.
John describes the commandment as true in Christ and in believers, linking spiritual reality to the passing of darkness.