βάλλω

bállō

G906 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To throw or cast something, typically with force or purpose; to let fall, put, or place something, often in a deliberate or active manner. Extended meanings include to pour, to position by throwing (such as casting lots), to throw down or strike, and in some contexts, to lay down or place (without the connotation of violence).

Semantic Range

to throw, to cast, to hurl, to put, to lay, to place, to pour, to strike, to send, to drive, to drop (something), to set down

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root βαλ- (ball-), an old and fundamental verb in Greek with Indo-European roots. Cognate with ῥίπτω (rhiptō), though βάλλω is generally more formal and covers a broader semantic range.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Βάλλω is a widely attested verb in both classical and Hellenistic Greek. In classical usage, it regularly describes throwing objects with the hand (stones, weapons) but is also used metaphorically. In the Septuagint, it translates several Hebrew verbs for 'throwing,' 'casting,' or 'placing.' In the New Testament, its usage remains active and wide-ranging: physical acts of throwing or casting (Mt 5:29, throwing into Gehenna), casting out (excluding someone), placing (such as lying sick or setting something down), or metaphorically casting/bringing forth (as with nets or lots). The English translation tradition renders βάλλω variably as 'cast,' 'throw,' 'lay,' 'put,' and even 'pour,' reflecting this broad semantic scope. Βάλλω differs from ῥίπτω, which tends to indicate throwing with less care or more suddenness. While βάλλω can indicate violence or force, it can also simply mean to put or place, depending on idiom and context.

Translation Consistency

primary "throw" 31 occurrences

βάλλω most frequently means to throw/cast/hurl. "Throw" is the natural, modern English verb that captures the primary forceful/action sense across contexts (cast down, hurl, throw into, send, drop) while remaining idiomatic. It is preferable to the more formal/archaic "cast" and will yield more natural SIBI renderings even when sense shifts to placing or putting (these can be handled by context or secondary phrasing).

Alternatives (90 occurrences):
"cast" (26x) "he/she/it threw" (19x) "thrown" (10x) "threw" (8x) "put" (6x) "having been cast" (4x) "casting" (3x) "lying" (2x) "having been thrown" (2x) "those casting" (2x) "having poured" (1x) "putting" (1x) "laid" (1x) "him cast" (1x) "things being put" (1x) "having put" (1x) "pours" (1x) "rushed" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary verb; to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense):--arise, cast (out), X dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike, throw (down), thrust. Compare ῥίπτω.

Root Family

βάλλω (ballō) — to throw, to cast, to put

Root βαλ- to throw, to cast, to put

Word Forms

41 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G906-36 ἔβαλεν ebalen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG cast he/she/it threw he/she/it threw 21
G906-01 βάλε bale V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG cast Throw! Throw! 11
G906-40 ἐβλήθη eblethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was thrown was cast was cast 9
G906-38 ἔβαλον ebalon V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they cast they cast they threw 8
G906-03 βαλεῖν balein V AOR ACT INF to put to throw to throw 8
G906-06 βάλλει ballei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG puts throws throws 6
G906-17 βάλλουσιν ballousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL do they put they are casting they are throwing 4
G906-31 βληθῆναι blethenai V AOR PASS INF to be thrown to be cast to be thrown 4
G906-08 βάλλεται balletai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG is thrown is being cast is being thrown 3
G906-18 βάλω balo V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG put I may cast I may put 3

Occurrences in Scripture

122 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G906-08 Matthew 3:10 βάλλεται balletai V PRS PASS IND 3P SG is thrown is being cast is being thrown
G906-01 Matthew 4:6 βάλε bale V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG throw Throw! Throw!
G906-13 Matthew 4:18 βάλλοντας ballontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL casting those casting those throwing
G906-30 Matthew 5:13 βληθὲν blethen V AOR PASS PTCP NOM N SG to_be_thrown having been cast having been cast
G906-32 Matthew 5:25 βληθήσῃ blethese V FUT PASS IND 2P SG you be cast you will be cast you will be cast
G906-01 Matthew 5:29 βάλε bale V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG cast Throw! Throw!
G906-27 Matthew 5:29 βληθῇ blethe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG should be cast may be cast may be cast
G906-01 Matthew 5:30 βάλε bale V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG throw Throw! Throw!
G906-12 Matthew 6:30 βαλλόμενον ballomenon V PRS PASS PTCP ACC M SG thrown being cast being cast
G906-04 Matthew 7:6 βάλητε balete V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL cast you may cast you may throw