Greek word · G5465

χαλάω

chalaō

to lower

To slacken, loosen; to let down or lower something, usually on a rope.

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

χαλάω, -ῶ

[in LXX: (Jeremiah 38:6) (שָׁלַח pi.), etc. ;]

(a) to slacken, loosen;

(b) to let loose, let go;

(with) to lower, let down: with accusative of thing(s), Mark 2:4, Luke 5:4-5, Acts 9:25 27:17, 30; with accusative of person(s) (cf. Je, l.with), pass., 2 Corinthians 11:33.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 5:4

Range of meaning

To slacken, loosen; to let down or lower something, usually on a rope.

Against the English

"Let down" (KJV, BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV, NASB) matches the Greek well. No English version shows that the verb is plural, which the Greek makes clear.

Used elsewhere in the period

The New Testament uses it for lowering the paralysed man through the roof (Mark 2:4), lowering Paul over the Damascus wall in a basket (Acts 9:25; 2 Corinthians 11:33), and lowering the gear or the lifeboat of a ship (Acts 27:17, 30).

Where it appears

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 2:4 χαλῶσιν they let down

    Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 5:4 χαλάσατε do lower

    When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

    Here: "Let down!" This command is plural. Jesus now addresses the whole crew, not Simon alone. The verb pictures paying out the nets over the side into the water. In verse 5 Simon answers in the singular, "I will let down."

  2. Luke 5:5 χαλάσω I will let down

    “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

    Here: 'I will let down.' The future form expresses a decision. It is singular, so Simon personally commits, although Jesus told them all (plural) to let down the nets.

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 9:25 χαλάσαντες having lowered [him]

    One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

  2. Acts 27:17 χαλάσαντες having lowered

    After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.

  3. Acts 27:30 χαλασάντων having let down

    Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:33 ἐχαλάσθην I was let down

    But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.