[ἅλα, τό, read by Tdf. in Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34; see ἅλας.]

STRONGS NT 217: ἅλαςἅλας, (ατος, τό (a later form, found in the Sept. and N. T. (Aristotle, de mirab, ause. § 138; Plutarch, qu. conv. 4:4, 3, 3), cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. i., p. 220; dative ἅλατι Colossians 4:6), and ἅλς, ἁλός, ὁ (the classic form (from Homer down); Sir. 22:15 (13); ; Wis. 10:7; 1 Macc. 10:29, etc. Mark 9:49 ἁλί dative (T WH Tr marginal reading omit; Tr text brackets), and in Mark 9:50 L T Tr WH ἅλα accusative (yet without the article) with the nominative τό ἅλας), finally, the nominative and the accusative ἅλα Tdf. in Mark 9:50 (also Matthew 5:13; Luke 14:34 (where see his note)) (similar to γάλα, genitive γάλατος, a form noted by certain grammarians, see (WH's Appendix, p. 158;) Kühner, 1:353f; but see what Fritzsche, Commentary on Sirach (Sir. 39:26), p. 226f, says in opposition); salt;

1. Salt with which food is seasoned and sacrifices are sprinkled: Mark 9:49 R G; cf. ἁλίζω.

2. ἅλας τῆς γῆς, those kinds of saline matter used to fertilize arable land, Matthew 5:13{a}; here salt as a condiment cannot be understood, since this renders land sterile (Deuteronomy 29:23; Zephaniah 2:9; Judges 9:45); cf. Grohmann in Kauffer's Biblical Studien, 1844, p. 82ff The meaning is, 'It is your prerogative to impart to mankind (likened to arable land) the influences required for a life of devotion to God.' In the statement immediately following, ἐάν δέ ἅλας κτλ., the comparison seems to be drawn from salt as a condiment, so that two figures are blended; (but it is better to adopt this latter meaning throughout the passage, and take γῆ to denote the mass of mankind, see under the word, 4 b. and cf. Tholuck and others at the passage). In Mark 9:50{a} and Luke 14:34 salt is a symbol of that health and vigor of soul which is essential to Christian virtue; (cf. Meyer on the former passage).

3. Salt is a symbol of lasting concord, Mark 9:50{c}, because it protects food from putrefaction and preserves it unchanged. Accordingly, in the solemn ratification of compacts, the Orientals were, and are to this day, accustomed to partake of salt together. Cf. Winers RWB under the word Salz; (BB. DD. under the word ); Knobel on Leviticus, p. 370. 4. Wisdom and grace exhibited in speech: Colossians 4:6 (where see Lightfoot).

STRONGS NT 217a: ἌλασσαἌλασσα: Acts 27:8; cf.Λασαία.