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ἀλλότριος

allótrios

G245 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Belonging to another, not one's own; by extension, foreign or pertaining to someone else. In various contexts, denotes what is alien, unrelated, or outside one's group, responsibility, or domain. Also used of people or things that are estranged, hostile, or opposed.

Semantic Range

belonging to another, not one's own, foreign, alien, strange, unrelated, outsider, hostile, opposed

Root / Etymology

From the root ἄλλος (allos, 'other, another'), with the adjectival suffix -τριος, forming an adjective meaning 'pertaining to another.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀλλότριος primarily indicated what did not belong to oneself—property, possessions, or matters belonging to another individual. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the sense broadens to include persons, ideas, or things considered foreign, outside the community, or unrelated ('stranger,' 'alien'). In some contexts, it carried a nuance of hostility or opposition, marking clear social and group boundaries. English translations often use 'strange,' 'alien,' or 'another's,' but these can fail to capture the full social and legal force the term encompasses. Unlike ξένος (foreigner, guest), ἀλλότριος tends to stress 'not one's own' or 'outside the group,' and can imply exclusion or opposition, not just difference. In legal or ethical contexts (e.g., Exod 20:17; Rom 14:4), it points to what is beyond rightful concern, authority, or property, often reinforcing social boundaries. Usage in the New Testament tends to emphasize exclusion, foreignness, or lack of belonging, sometimes in contrast to those who are insider or 'of the household'.

Translation Consistency

primary "other" 7 occurrences

allótrios primarily denotes something or someone that is ‘belonging to another’ or ‘not one’s own’ and by extension ‘foreign/alien/outsider.’ The English word “other” is the most natural, flexible single-word choice that covers possessive/attributive and substantive uses (e.g., other, another’s, the other/others, foreign) and will render naturally across contexts while keeping a single consistent base form.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"what is other's" (3x) "another’s" (1x) "alien things" (1x) "another" (1x) "foreign one" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἄλλος; another's, i.e. not one's own; by extension foreign, not akin, hostile:--alien, (an-)other (man's, men's), strange(-r).

Root Family

ἀλλότριος (allotrios) — other, another, alien

Root ἄλλ- other, another, alien

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G245-06 ἀλλοτρίων allotrion ADJ.S GEN M PL strangers of others of others 6
G245-04 ἀλλοτρίῳ allotrio ADJ.S DAT N SG another's to what is another’s to what is other's 4
G245-01 ἀλλοτρίᾳ allotria DET DAT F SG foreign to another’s to another’s 1
G245-03 ἀλλοτρίαν allotrian ADJ.S ACC F SG a foreign an alien one a foreign one 1
G245-05 ἀλλοτρίοις allotriois DET DAT M PL other to alien ones alien things 1
G245-02 ἀλλοτρίαις allotriais DET DAT F PL others' to alien ones of others 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G245-06 Matthew 17:25 ἀλλοτρίων allotrion ADJ.S GEN M PL strangers of others others
G245-06 Matthew 17:26 ἀλλοτρίων allotrion ADJ.S GEN M PL strangers of others of others
G245-04 Luke 16:12 ἀλλοτρίῳ allotrio ADJ.S DAT N SG another's to what is another’s to what is other's
G245-04 John 10:5 ἀλλοτρίῳ allotrio ADJ.S DAT M SG a stranger to what is another’s to what is other's
G245-06 John 10:5 ἀλλοτρίων allotrion ADJ.S GEN M PL strangers of others of others
G245-01 Acts 7:6 ἀλλοτρίᾳ allotria DET DAT F SG foreign to another’s to another’s
G245-06 Romans 14:4 ἀλλότριον allotrion DET ACC M SG another's of others of others
G245-06 Romans 15:20 ἀλλότριον allotrion DET ACC M SG another's of others of others
G245-05 2 Corinthians 10:15 ἀλλοτρίοις allotriois DET DAT M PL other to alien ones alien things
G245-04 2 Corinthians 10:16 ἀλλοτρίῳ allotrio DET DAT M SG another's to what is another’s to what is other's
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