πλήν

μέντοι méntoi · G3305 · but, nevertheless, except

πλήν and μέντοι are both adversative or contrastive conjunctions marking a shift or qualification in discourse. πλήν expresses a stronger adversative force ('but, nevertheless'), while μέντοι is more concessive ('however, indeed though'); the two occupy adjacent positions on the same functional spectrum of contrastive discourse markers.

רַק raq · H7535 · thin, fine, gaunt

Greek πλήν and Hebrew רַק both function as adversative or restrictive particles expressing exception, limitation, or contrast — 'but,' 'except,' 'only,' 'nevertheless.' πλήν is a standard Greek rendering of רַק across this shared range of exceptive and restrictive functions.

אַךְ ʼak · H389 · only, just, mere

Greek πλήν and Hebrew אַךְ both function as discourse particles marking an adversative or restrictive transition — 'however,' 'but,' 'nevertheless,' 'only' — introducing a qualification or contrast to what precedes.

בִּלְעֲדֵי bilʻădêy · H1107 · other than, apart from, without

Greek πλήν typically functions as an adversative conjunction or adverb ('but', 'however', 'nevertheless'), while Hebrew בִּלְעֲדֵי is primarily a preposition of exception ('except', 'besides', 'without'); both converge semantically in expressing exclusive/exceptive relationships, often translatable as 'except' or 'save', though their syntactic categories differ.

זוּלָה zûwlâh · H2108 · except, besides

Greek πλήν and Hebrew זוּלָה both function as particles of exception or limitation — 'but,' 'save,' 'only,' 'besides' — expressing the same restrictive or adversative relation between clauses.

אֶפֶס ʼepheç · H657 · there is not, it is not, without

Greek πλήν (plḗn, G4133) serves as a functional translation equivalent of Hebrew אֶפֶס (ʼepheç, H657) in adversative and limiting contexts, both functioning as discourse markers that introduce exceptions, qualifications, or contrastive statements ('but, except, nevertheless, only').

But, nevertheless, except89.130

πλήν functions as a conjunction marking a contrast or exception to what precedes. Matthew records Jesus in Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

On the one hand … but on the other hand89.136

The same conjunction can also mark a balancing contrast between two clauses. Paul instructs the Ephesians on marriage: “Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33, where πλήν opens the verse's transition to this balancing instruction).

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.