χαλάω (chalaō)
chalaō
to lower
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb chalaō describes the physical act of lowering or letting something down from a higher place to a lower one. In the Gospels, it captures the moment when friends lower a paralyzed man through the roof so Jesus can heal him (Mark 2:4), or when Peter is lowered into a boat at sea (Luke 5:4). It conveys a deliberate release of tension or height, allowing an object or person to descend.
Its root suggests loosening or slackening, which explains its use in Acts where Paul is lowered down a city wall in a basket (Acts 9:25; 2 Corinthians 11:33). The word implies a controlled descent rather than a drop. Translators typically render it "lower" or "let down," preserving the sense of moving from elevation to ground level.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chalaō describes the careful act of lowering something from a higher place to a lower one. It is not a careless drop, but a controlled descent that requires intention and care. In the Gospels, we see this when friends lower a paralyzed man through a roof so Jesus can heal him. This image shows how community effort can create space for divine intervention.
Similarly, in Acts, Paul is lowered in a basket to escape danger. These stories remind us that sometimes we must be brought down from our high places or lifted up from our low ones by the hands of others. It is a physical act that carries spiritual weight, showing how God uses human cooperation to bring about healing and deliverance.
When you feel stuck or unable to reach Jesus because of obstacles, remember that others can help lower you into His presence. This word encourages us to trust in the careful, deliberate work of God and the supportive community around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they let down1×
- having lowered [him]1×
- having lowered1×
- having let down1×
- do lower1×
- I will let down1×
- I was let down1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χαλάσαντες2×
- ἐχαλάσθην1×
- χαλῶσιν1×
- χαλάσω1×
- χαλάσατε1×
- χαλασάντων1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 2:4
When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.
This verse highlights how friends actively remove barriers to bring a sick man directly to Jesus, showing that faith often involves others helping you into God's presence.
-
Acts 9:25
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
Here, the word describes a desperate but careful escape, illustrating how God’s servants sometimes rely on humble means like a basket to fulfill His purpose.
-
Luke 5:4
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Jesus uses this term when instructing Peter to lower nets into deep water, linking the physical act of descending with the promise of spiritual abundance.