ἀλλά

ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146),

adversative particle,

stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom 3,31);

1. opposing a previous negation, but: οὐ (μὴ) . . . ἀ., Matt 5,15, 17 Mark 5,39, Joh 7,16, al.; rhetorically subordinating but not entirely negativing what precedes, οὐ . . . ἀ., not so much . . . as, Mark 9,37, Matt 10,20, Joh 12,44, al.; with ellipse of the negation, Matt 11,7-9, ApG 19,2, 1 Kor 3,6; 6,11; 7,7, 2 Kor 7,1, Gal 2,3, al.; in opposition to a foregoing pos. sentence, ἀ. οὐ, Matt 24,6, 1 Kor 10,23; οὐ μόνον . . . ἀ. καί, Joh 5,18, Rom 1,32, al.; elliptically, after a negation, ἀ. ἵνα, Mark 14,49, Joh 1,8; 9,3, al.; = εἰ μή (Bl., §77, 13; M, Pr., 241; but cf. WM, §iii, 10), Matt 20,23, Mark 4,22.

2. Without previous negation, to express opposition, interruption, transition, etc., but: Joh 16,20; 12,27, Gal 2,14; before commands or requests, ApG 10,20; 26,16, Matt 9,18, Mark 9,22, al.; to introduce an accessory idea, 2 Kor 7,11 in the apodosis after a condition or concession with εἰ, ἐάν, εἴπερ, yet, still, at least, Mark 14,29, 1 Kor 9,2, 2 Kor 4,16, Kol 2,5, al.; after μέν, ApG 4,17, Rom 14,20, 1 Kor 14,17; giving emphasis to the following clause, ἀλλ᾽ ἔρχεται ὥρα, yea, etc., Joh 16,2 so with neg., ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ, nay, nor yet, Luk 23,15,

3. Joined with other particles (a practice which increases in late writers; Simcox, LNT, 166), ἀ. γε, yet at least, Luk 24,21, 1 Kor 9,2; ἄ ἤ., save only, except, Luk 12,51, 2 Kor 1,13; ἀ. μὲν οὖν, Fil 3,8 (on this usage, see MM, VGT, see word).