ἅλλομαι (hallomai)
hallomai
to spring
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb hallomai describes a sudden, energetic movement, most commonly translated as "to leap" or "to spring." In the New Testament, it appears only three times, primarily in the Acts of the Apostles to describe physical actions. For instance, Peter heals a lame man who immediately leaps up and begins walking (Acts 3:8), and later uses the same word to describe Paul’s sudden burst of energy when he realizes his Roman citizenship is at stake (Acts 14:10).
Its usage extends beyond human movement to nature. In John 4:14, Jesus speaks of water that will become a "spring" within a person, using hallomai to depict water bubbling up or gushing forth from below. This imagery connects the physical act of leaping with the dynamic, rising force of living water, suggesting an internal vitality that bursts outward.
Etymologically, the word conveys a sense of vigorous, upward motion rather than simple walking or standing. Translators often choose "leap" for human subjects to capture this suddenness, while "spring up" fits the natural imagery in John. The term emphasizes the immediacy and power of the action, whether it is a healed body moving or water rising from a source.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hallomai captures a sudden, energetic movement, often translated as 'leaping' or 'springing.' In Acts, we see this vividly when a lame man, healed by Peter, leaps up and walks into the temple. This physical action mirrors the spiritual vitality that comes from encountering Jesus. It is not a slow, gradual change but an immediate response to divine power.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus uses similar imagery for living water. He describes it as springing up within a person, suggesting an internal source of life that bursts outward. This image reminds us that faith is not static; it involves a dynamic, rising energy that sustains us through life's challenges.
Whether in the physical healing of a man or the spiritual renewal offered by Christ, hallomai points to a lively, active faith. It invites us to trust in the power that transforms and sustains us, moving from stillness to joyful movement.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- welling up1×
- leaping1×
- he sprang up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἥλατο1×
- ἁλλόμενος1×
- ἁλλομένου1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 3:8
Leaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.
This verse uses hallomai to describe the healed man's immediate physical response, highlighting the suddenness and joy of his restoration.
-
John 4:14
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Here, the word depicts living water springing up within a person, symbolizing the internal, life-giving power of Christ's gift.
-
Acts 14:10
said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked.
Paul commands the lame man to stand, and the verb hallomai describes the man's subsequent leap, showing the power of faith in action.