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. Ro 3:31);
1. opposing a previous negation, but: οὐ (μὴ)... ἀ., Mt 5:15, 17Mk 5:39, Jo 7:16, al.; rhetorically subordinating but not entirely negativing what precedes, οὐ... ἀ., not so much... as, Mk 9:37, Mt 10:20, Jo 12:44, al.; with ellipse of the negation, Mt 11:7-9, Ac 19:2, I Co 3:66:11 7:7, II Co 7:1, Ga 2:3, al.; in opposition to a foregoing pos. sentence, ἀ. οὐ, Mt 24:6, I Co 10:23; οὐ μόνον... ἀ. καί, Jo 5:18, Ro 1:32, al.; elliptically, after a negation, ἀ. ἵνα, Mk 14:49, Jo 1:89:3, al.; = εἰ μή (Bl., §77, 13; M, Pr., 241; but cf. WM, §iii, 10), Mt 20:23, Mk 4:22.
2. Without previous negation, to express opposition, interruption, transition, etc., but: Jo 16:2012:27, Ga 2:14; before commands or requests, Ac 10:2026:16, Mt 9:18, Mk 9:22, al.; to introduce an accessory idea, II Co 7:11; in the apodosis after a condition or concession with εἰ, ἐάν, εἴπερ, yet, still, at least, Mk 14:29, I Co 9:2, II Co 4:16, Col 2:5, al.; after μέν, Ac 4:17, Ro 14:20, I Co 14:17; giving emphasis to the following clause, ἀλλ’ ἔρχεται ὥρα, yea, etc., Jo 16:2; so with neg., ἀλλ’ οὐδέ, nay, nor yet, Lk 23:15.
3. Joined with other particles (a practice which increases in late writers; Simcox, LNT, 166), ἀ. γε, yet at least, Lk 24:21, I Co 9:2; ἄ ἤ., save only, except, Lk 12:51, II Co 1:13; ἀ. μὲν οὖν, Phl 3:8 (on this usage, v. MM, VGT, s.v.).