G2573 G2573
well, rightly, fittingly — adverb affirming that something is done in a good, proper, or commendable manner
Kalos is the adverbial form of the adjective kalos ('beautiful, good, noble') and carries a double valence in the New Testament. It can serve as a simple affirmation — 'you do well' (Jas 2:19) — or as biting irony when Jesus tells the Pharisees 'well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites' (Mark 7:6, 9). It modifies ethical behavior in Paul's instruction to do good to all (Gal 6:9) and appears in the phrase kalos poiein ('to do well/rightly') as a general commendation. The French and Spanish both translate it straightforwardly as 'bien,' while German uses 'gut,' all reflecting the adverb's core sense of acting in a manner that is morally fitting, appropriate, or commendable.
Senses
1. well — An adverb affirming that an action is performed rightly, fittingly, or commendably, derived from the adjective kalos ('beautiful, good'). Used both sincerely — 'you will do well' (Acts 15:29; 3 John 6) — and with pointed irony: 'well do you reject the commandment of God' (Mark 7:9). In the formula kalos poieo ('to do well/rightly'), it appears in ethical exhortation (1 Cor 7:37-38; Jas 2:8, 19). Jesus' 'well did Isaiah prophesy' (Matt 15:7; Mark 7:6) turns the commendation into a stinging indictment. The uniform multilingual rendering — Spanish 'bien,' French 'bien,' German 'gut' — confirms its unambiguous adverbial function. 37×
AR["أَحْسِنُوا", "حَسَناً", "حَسَنًا"]·ben["বলেছ", "ভালো", "ভালো-করে", "ভালোই", "ভালোভাবে", "ভালোভাবে,", "ভালোভাবে।"]·DE["gut"]·EN["rightly", "well"]·FR["bien"]·heb["בְּטוֹב", "הֵיטִיבוּ", "הֵיטֵב", "הֵיטַבְתָּ", "טוֹב", "יָפֶה", "נָכוֹן"]·HI["अचछि-तरह", "अचछि-तरह,", "अचछि-तरह.", "अच्छा", "अच्छाई-से", "अच्छी-तरह", "अच्छे", "अच्छे-से", "ठीक", "ठीक-से", "भलअ", "भला", "भलाई", "भलि-भअन्ति"]·ID["baik", "baiklah", "benar", "dengan-baik", "dengan-benar"]·IT["bene"]·jav["Lèrès", "leres", "sae", "saè", "saé", "saé,", "saé."]·KO["선을", "옳게", "잘", "잘.", "좋게", "좋게,", "좋아지리라"]·PT["bem"]·RU["добро", "доброе", "хорошо", "хорошо,"]·ES["bien"]·SW["vizuri"]·TR["doğru", "güzel", "güzel-", "iyi", "iyi-niyetle", "iyilik", "kendi-"]·urd["اچھا", "اچھی-طرح", "اچھے", "بھلائی", "نفرت-کرنے-والوں-کی", "ٹھیک"]
Matt 5:44, Matt 12:12, Matt 15:7, Mark 7:6, Mark 7:9, Mark 7:37, Mark 12:28, Mark 12:32, Mark 16:18, Luke 6:26, Luke 6:27, Luke 6:48 (+25 more)
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Included with: καλός, ή, όν, Aeolic dialect κάλος (see. below), α, ον, Boeotian dialect καλϝός Refs 6th c.BC+:— __A beautiful, of outward form, frequently of persons, κάλλιστος ἀνὴρ ὑπὸ Ἴλιον ἦλθεν Refs 8th c.BC+ usually in the phrase κ. τε μέγας τε Refs 8th c.BC+; μέγας καὶ κ. Refs 8th c.BC+; καλὸς δέμας beautiful of form,Refs 5th c.BC+; Χορῷ καλή beauteous in the dance, Refs 8th c.BC+: with…