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G228 · Greek · New Testament
ἀληθινός
alethinos
Adjective
genuine, true, real, authentic

Definition

While alethes (H227) means 'truthful' (describing someone who tells the truth), alethinos means 'genuine' — the real article as opposed to a copy or shadow. It is a word of ontological quality: not 'this statement is true' but 'this thing is the real one, the authentic fulfillment of what shadows and types were pointing toward.'

Usage & Theological Significance

John's Gospel is saturated with alethinos. Jesus is the alethinos light (1:9), the alethinos bread from heaven (6:32), the alethinos vine (15:1). Each time, a contrast is implied: there were other lights, other breads, other vines in Israel's story — but Jesus is the authentic, ultimate reality they all prefigured. Hebrews 8:2 similarly calls the heavenly sanctuary the 'true (alethinos) tabernacle' of which the Mosaic one was a copy.

Key Bible Verses

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Revelation 3:7 These things saith he that is holy, he that is true.

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