StrongerBible

kalōs

καλῶς

GreekG2573well, rightly, ...

Appears 37 times · tap a cell to see the verses

Mat 5:44Mat 12:12Mat 15:7Mrk 7:6Mrk 7:9Mrk 7:37Mrk 12:28Mrk 12:32Mrk 16:18Luk 6:26Luk 6:27Luk 6:48
Root family
Word studyka-LOSEadverb

What kalōs means

well: in a good, right, or fitting way

TranslatabilityPartialCertaintySettled

This is the adverb of the common word for "good, fine, noble." Its basic sense is simply "well": doing something in a good, right, or fitting way. Most of its uses fall into two broad groups: carrying out an action well or admirably (managing a household well, building well, running well), and saying or seeing something rightly or correctly (Isaiah prophesied rightly; "well said, teacher").

Beyond that plain core the word settles into a handful of set phrases. Paired with "do," it can mean to act rightly or to perform a good deed, and in a letter it becomes a courteous way of thanking or approving someone ("you did well to come," "you will do well to send them on their way"). To "do well to" people means to treat them kindly, and to "speak well of" someone means to praise.

Like the English "well," it can also be turned to irony. When Jesus tells his critics they have a fine way of setting aside God's command, the word's usual approval is flipped into a rebuke. Once it even marks a place rather than an action, as when a rich visitor is told to sit in a good seat.

Nuances

1awell, competently, admirably: an action carried out to a good standard
Mrk 7:37Mrk 16:18Luk 6:481Co 14:17Gal 4:17Gal 5:71Ti 3:41Ti 3:121Ti 3:131Ti 5:17Heb 13:18
1brightly, correctly, truly: of speaking or judging accurately, and as a word of agreement ("well said, quite right")
Mat 15:7Mrk 7:6Mrk 12:28Mrk 12:32Luk 20:39Jhn 4:17Jhn 8:48Jhn 13:13Jhn 18:23Act 28:25Rom 11:20
1cto act rightly, to do a good deed: paired with "do," of behaving as one should
Mat 12:121Co 7:371Co 7:38Jas 2:8
1dyou do well to (do something): a courteous formula of thanks or approval for what someone has done
Act 10:33Php 4:14Jas 2:192Pe 1:193Jn 1:6
1eto do good to, to treat kindly: to act well toward other people
Mat 5:44Luk 6:27
1fto speak well of someone, to praise
Luk 6:26
1gused with irony: a fine or clever way of doing something that is in fact wrong
Mrk 7:92Co 11:4
1hin a good place, in a seat of honor
Jas 2:3

What scholars say about kalōs

The adverb of καλός, well attested from classical Greek onward (LSJ) with the range "well, rightly, fitly." BDAG sorts the New Testament uses into the manner of an action done well, the correctness of speech or judgment (including the elliptical reply of agreement), the collocations with ποιέω (do rightly / do good to / the polite formula with a participle), ironic usage, καλῶς εἰπεῖν "speak well of," and the locative use in James 2:3. The epistolary courtesy formula καλῶς ποιεῖν plus a participle ("you do well to...") is abundantly documented in the papyri by Moulton-Milligan as a standard politeness idiom. Grundmann's TDNT treatment of the καλός word group situates the adverb within the wider Greek and Septuagint vocabulary of the good and the fitting.

Sources

  • BDAG, s.v. καλῶςlexicon
  • LSJ, s.v. καλῶςlexicon
  • Moulton and Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament, s.v. καλῶς / καλῶς ποιέωlexicon
  • W. Grundmann, "καλός," TDNT 3:536-556reference

All attested forms of καλῶς

adv

καλῶς

Mat 5:44, Mat 12:12, Mat 15:7, Mrk 7:6, Mrk 7:9, Mrk 7:37, Mrk 12:28, Mrk 12:32