ἀληθ-εύω G0226
to speak truth, to be truthful, to tell the truth
This verb means to speak or practice truth, emphasizing truthful communication. In Galatians 4:16, Paul asks rhetorically whether he has become their enemy by ἀληθεύων—telling them the truth. Ephesians 4:15 exhorts believers to ἀληθεύοντες ἐν ἀγάπῃ—speak truth in love—so they may grow up into Christ. The classical usage includes speaking truth, proving statements true, and being fulfilled (of prophecies). Paul employs it to emphasize authentic, truthful speech that serves love and spiritual growth rather than flattery or deception.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Cross-linguistic renderings emphasize truthful speech: Spanish 'diciéndoos verdad' (telling you truth) and 'hablando verdad,' French preserving the Greek, German 'die Wahrheit reden' (speak the truth). Galatians highlights potential offense from truth-telling, while Ephesians balances truth with love. Both contexts value honest communication as essential to healthy Christian relationships. 2×
AR["إذ-أصدُقُكُم", "صادِقينَ"]·ben["সত্য-বলে"]·DE["die-Wahrheit-reden"]·EN["speaking-truth"]·FR["ἀληθεύοντες", "ἀληθεύων"]·heb["דּוֹבְרֵי-אֱמֶת", "מְדַבֵּר-אֱמֶת"]·HI["सच-बोलते-हुए", "सत्य-बोलकर"]·ID["berbicara-kebenaran", "berkata-benar"]·IT["alētheuontes", "alētheuōn"]·jav["nanging-matur-leres", "ngendika-kasunyatan"]·KO["진실을-말하여", "진실하는"]·PT["dizendo-a-verdade", "mas-falando-a-verdade"]·RU["истинствуя", "истину-говоря"]·ES["diciéndoos-verdad", "hablando-verdad"]·SW["bali-tukisema", "nikiwaambieni-kweli"]·TR["doğru-söyleyerek", "gercegi-soyleyerek"]·urd["سچ-بولتے-ہوئے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀληθ-εύω, future -εύσωRefs 5th c.BC+:—speak truth, Refs 5th c.BC+adjective, ἀ. πάντα speak truth in all things, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰς δέκα ἡμέρας ἠλήθευσε he rightly foretold.. , Refs; ἀ. τοὺς ἐπαίνους prove their praises true, Refs 2nd c.AD+; τοὔνομα `make good', Refs 4th c.AD+ __2 of things, to be, prove true, σημεῖαRefs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be fulfilled, of conditions, ἐπὶ τούτοις -ομένοιςRefs…