G1490 G1490
Otherwise, if not, else; a conditional particle introducing an alternative scenario or contrary consequence.
A compact conditional particle meaning 'otherwise' or 'if not,' used to signal what would happen under an alternative condition. Jesus warns that practicing righteousness for human approval means 'otherwise you have no reward' (Matt 6:1), and explains that new wine in old wineskins will burst them — 'otherwise' the wine is lost (Matt 9:17; Luke 5:36-37). Paul uses it in theological argument: 'otherwise grace would no longer be grace' (Rom 11:6). The word carries a logical sharpness, marking the boundary between one condition and its contrary. German 'andernfalls/sonst' and Spanish 'de otra manera' capture this pivoting function well.
Senses
1. otherwise, if not, else — A conditional particle meaning 'otherwise,' 'if not,' or 'else,' introducing the consequence that follows if a stated condition does not hold. It functions as a logical pivot in Jesus' teaching — 'otherwise you have no reward from your Father' (Matt 6:1), 'otherwise the new wine will burst the skins' (Matt 9:17; Luke 5:36-37) — and in Pauline theology — 'otherwise grace is no longer grace' (Rom 11:6; cf. 11:22). German 'andernfalls' and 'sonst,' Spanish 'de otra manera,' and French 'sinon' all render the same contrastive-conditional function, confirming a unified sense across all eight occurrences. 8×
AR["-", "فَ-لَا", "فَـ", "لا", "لا-وَاِلّا"]·ben["না-অন্যথা", "না-অবশ্যই", "না-তো", "না-হয়", "না-হলে"]·DE["andernfalls", "sonst"]·EN["not", "not-indeed", "otherwise"]·FR["sinon"]·heb["לֹא", "לֹא-אָז", "לֹא-גַּם", "לֹא-כֵן"]·HI["नहीं", "नहीं-तो"]·ID["tidak", "tidak-demikian"]·IT["altrimenti"]·jav["boten", "mboten", "mboten,", "mboten-mekaten"]·KO["아니라도", "아니면"]·PT["de-outra-forma", "de-outro-modo", "não"]·RU["иначе", "иначе,", "нет"]·ES["de-otra-manera", "no"]·SW["hapana", "la-sivyo", "sivyo"]·TR["değil-ise", "değilse", "değilse-de", "yoksa"]·urd["-کو", "نہیں", "نہیں-تو", "پھاڑے-گا"]
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
Related to: εἰ, Attic dialect-Ionic dialect and Refs 4th c.AD+ ἤ Refs in Epic dialect:— Particle used interjectionally with imperative and to express a wish, but usually either in conditions, if, or in indirect questions, whether. In the former use its regular negative is μ; in the latter, οὐ. __A INTERJECTIONALLY, in Refs 8th c.BC+, come now! with imperative, εἰ δὲ.. ἄκουσον Refs 8th c.BC+ __A.2…