What does καλῶς (kalōs) mean in the Bible?
Kalōs is an adverb meaning well, rightly, fittingly, or commendably. It evaluates an action or state, but the standard of "well" must come from the sentence and from God's revealed will.
Greek · G2573
καλῶς
Well (usually morally)
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καλῶς G2573
Pronunciation kalōs
What does καλῶς (kalōs) mean in the Bible?
Kalōs is an adverb meaning well, rightly, fittingly, or commendably. It evaluates an action or state, but the standard of "well" must come from the sentence and from God's revealed will.
Reader summary
Full entry for καλῶς (G2573) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2573?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include well (11), good (3), correctly (2), Right (2), . . . (1).
Where does καλῶς (kalōs) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 12:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Mark (6), 1 Timothy (4), John (4), Luke (4).
What This Word Actually Means
Kalōs is an adverb meaning well, rightly, fittingly, or commendably. It evaluates an action or state, but the standard of "well" must come from the sentence and from God's revealed will. Jesus says it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. He commands love toward those who hate His disciples, a noble response grounded in the Father's character. Paul tells Gentile believers they stand by faith, then warns them not to become proud: "well" affirms his argument before intensifying humility.
Household leadership can be done well, and faithful hospitality can be carried out in a manner worthy of God. The adverb is not generic positivity. It commends conduct aligned with truth, love, stewardship, and reverence.
How the Bible Uses It
Kalōs marks actions or statements as right, fitting, or commendable: doing good, loving enemies, acknowledging an argument, leading a household, and supporting gospel workers. The passages reveal that biblical excellence is measured by God's will and the good of others, not appearance or efficiency alone.
- Matt.12.12
How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:12 concludes Jesus' Sabbath argument: it is lawful to do good. Kalōs places merciful action within faithful obedience rather than opposing compassion to God's law.
- Luke.6.27
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 6:27 commands hearers to do good to those who hate them. The adverb belongs to enemy-love that refuses retaliation and reflects the Father's mercy.
- Rom.11.20
That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
Romans 11:20 answers an imagined Gentile response with "That is correct" or "Well said," then immediately warns against pride. Accurate reasoning must lead to fear and persevering faith, not boasting.
- 1Tim.3.12
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.
First Timothy 3:12 requires deacons to manage their children and households well. Household care functions as visible evidence of responsible character, not as a promise of perfect family outcomes.
- 3John.1.6
They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.
Third John 6 says the church will do well to send faithful workers forward in a manner worthy of God. Commendable hospitality materially serves truth-bearing mission.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It well 11× Mark 7:37, Mark 16:18, Luke 6:26, Luke 20:39
good 3× Matthew 12:12, Luke 6:27, James 2:19
correctly 2× Matthew 15:7, Mark 7:6
Right 2× Mark 12:32, John 8:48
. . . 1× Luke 6:48
[I spoke] correctly 1× John 18:23
a good 1× 1 Timothy 3:12
correct {to say} 1× John 4:17
effectively 1× 1 Timothy 5:17
honorably 1× Hebrews 13:18
how well 1× Mark 12:28
in a good way 1× Galatians 4:17
kind enough 1× Acts 10:33
of honor 1× James 2:3
rightly 1× John 13:13
so well 1× Galatians 5:7
That is correct 1× Romans 11:20
very easily 1× 2 Corinthians 11:4
vvv 1× Mark 7:9
was right 1× Acts 28:25
well [as deacons] 1× 1 Timothy 3:13
well enough 1× 1 Corinthians 14:17
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 12:12 καλῶς to good Adverb Matthew 15:7 καλῶς to correctly Adverb Mark 7:6 Καλῶς to correctly Adverb Mark 7:9 Καλῶς to vvv Adverb Mark 7:37 Καλῶς to well Adverb Mark 12:28 καλῶς to how well Adverb Mark 12:32 Καλῶς to Right Adverb Mark 16:18 καλῶς to well Adverb Luke 6:26 καλῶς to well Adverb Luke 6:27 καλῶς to good Adverb
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 12:12
Aligned rows 36
Books represented 15
Matthew 2 Mark 6 Luke 4 John 4 Acts 2 Romans 1 1 Corinthians 3 2 Corinthians 1 Galatians 2 Philippians 1 1 Timothy 4 Hebrews 1 James 3 2 Peter 1 3 John 1
Source forms
καλῶς 30x kalōs Matthew 12:12, Matthew 15:7, Mark 12:28, Mark 16:18
Καλῶς 6x Kalōs Mark 7:6, Mark 7:9, Mark 7:37, Mark 12:32
Parsing patterns
Adverb 36x Matthew 12:12, Matthew 15:7, Mark 7:6, Mark 7:9
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not reduce doing well to visible success, efficiency, or public praise.
- Do not use household-leadership texts to demand outcomes beyond a servant's faithful responsibility.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not reduce doing well to visible success, efficiency, or public praise.
- Do not use household-leadership texts to demand outcomes beyond a servant's faithful responsibility.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. well (usually morally)
Strong's G2573
Lexical occurrences 36 verses Greek text appearances 36 times 16 shown below Word forms 1 form 36 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
well (usually morally)
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 36 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 5:44 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Matthew 12:12 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Matthew 15:7 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Mark 7:6 Adverb
Καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Mark 7:9 Adverb
Καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Mark 7:37 Adverb
Καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Mark 12:28 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Mark 12:32 Adverb
Καλῶς, kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Mark 16:18 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Luke 6:26 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Luke 6:27 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse Luke 20:39 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse John 4:17 Adverb
Καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse John 8:48 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse John 13:13 Adverb
καλῶς kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verse John 18:23 Adverb
καλῶς, kalwv
well, nobly, rightly
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 1 case and number pattern. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 1 Aligned forms 36
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Matt 12:12 · Matt 15:7 · Mark 7:6 · Mark 7:9 · Mark 7:37 · Mark 12:28 · Mark 12:32 · Mark 16:18 · Luke 6:26 · Luke 6:27 · Luke 6:48 · Luke 20:39 · John 4:17 · John 8:48 · John 13:13 · John 18:23 36×
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Kalōs is small but ethically demanding. It asks not simply whether something was done, but whether it was done fittingly under God's rule. Jesus locates doing well in merciful Sabbath action and enemy-love. Paul can acknowledge a correct conclusion in Romans 11 while refusing the pride that often follows being right. The Pastoral Epistles connect commendable service with the unglamorous responsibility of managing a household, and 3 John praises hospitality that sends gospel workers onward in a God-worthy manner.
These uses keep excellence from becoming image management. Biblical "well" joins truth, motive, manner, and neighborly good. A church can therefore celebrate careful work while examining the standard it uses. The goal is not admiration for competence, but conduct shaped by mercy, humility, stewardship, and partnership in the truth.
Anchor passage
Matt.12.12
Doctrinal connections
- Law and mercy: doing good on the Sabbath fulfills rather than frustrates God's humane purpose.
- Imitation of God: enemy-love reflects the mercy of the heavenly Father.
- Faith and humility: standing by faith excludes boasting over those who have fallen.
- Church leadership: visible faithfulness in ordinary household responsibility matters for recognized service.
- Mission: generous sending makes congregations fellow workers for the truth.
- Christian ethics: goodness concerns fitting action measured by God's character and commands.
Kalōs is the adverb related to kalos, "good" or "noble." Depending on context it can mean well, rightly, fittingly, or commendably, and occasionally affirm a preceding statement as correct.
From Old to New Testament
The Old Testament calls God's works good and joins wisdom with conduct that is right and fitting. Micah's summary of what is good, justice, covenant love, and humble walking, supplies a useful canonical posture without defining every use of kalōs.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain