What does βάλλω · κλῆρος mean in the Bible?
βάλλω · κλῆρος is a Greek phrase meaning "casting lots".
Greek · G906, G2819
βάλλοντες κλῆρον
To throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense) · lot
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
βάλλωG906to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense)
Pronunciationbállō
Fundamental action of forceful placement: throwing, casting, or pouring with intensity or directedness.
Open lexicon entry →κλῆροςG2819lot
Pronunciationklēros
Divinely determined portion or inheritance, often obtained through casting lots to discern God's will.
Open lexicon entry →What does βάλλοντες κλῆρον (ballontes klēron) mean in the Bible?
βάλλω · κλῆρος is a Greek phrase meaning "casting lots".
Full entry for βάλλοντες κλῆρον (G906, G2819) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G906, G2819?
G906, G2819 is connected to 121 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. casting lots
Source Gloss
casting lots
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups5Aligned forms121TensesAorist, Present, Future, Perfect, Imperfect, PluperfectVoicesActive, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality68×
Aorist ActiveMatt 18:30 · Mark 7:33 · Mark 9:22 · Mark 12:42 · Mark 12:43 · Mark 12:44 · Luke 13:19 · Luke 21:3 · Luke 21:4 · John 21:7 · Acts 16:24 · Acts 27:14 · Rev 8:5 · Rev 12:4 · Rev 12:15 · Rev 12:1630×
Present ActiveMark 2:22 · Mark 12:41 · Luke 5:37 · John 13:5 · 1 John 4:18 · Rev 6:13 · Matt 9:17 · Luke 14:35 · John 15:6 · Rev 2:22 · Rev 2:24 · Jas 3:313×
Aorist PassiveJohn 15:6 · Rev 8:7 · Rev 8:8 · Rev 12:9 · Rev 12:10 · Rev 12:13 · Rev 20:10 · Rev 20:15 · Rev 19:20 · Rev 20:1412×
Future ActiveMatt 13:42 · Matt 13:50 · Rev 4:10 · Luke 12:584×
Present PassiveMatt 3:10 · Matt 7:19 · Luke 3:93×
Perfect PassiveMatt 8:6 · Mark 9:422×
Future PassiveMatt 5:25 · Rev 18:212×
Imperfect ActiveMark 12:411×
Pluperfect PassiveLuke 16:201×
Imperativecommand or strong request12×
Aorist ActiveMatt 4:6 · Matt 5:29 · Matt 5:30 · Matt 17:27 · Matt 18:8 · Matt 18:9 · Luke 4:9 · John 18:11 · John 20:27 · John 21:610×
Aorist PassiveMatt 21:21 · Mark 11:232×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract13×
Aorist ActiveMatt 10:34 · Matt 15:26 · Matt 25:27 · Matt 27:6 · Mark 7:27 · Luke 12:49 · Rev 2:148×
Aorist PassiveMatt 18:8 · Matt 18:9 · Mark 9:45 · Mark 9:474×
Present ActiveRev 2:101×
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose8×
Aorist ActiveLuke 13:8 · John 20:25 · Mark 4:26 · John 5:7 · Matt 7:6 · John 8:597×
Aorist PassiveMatt 5:291×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality20×
Present ActiveMatt 4:18 · Luke 21:1 · Matt 27:35 · Mark 15:24 · Mark 12:43 · Acts 22:23 · Luke 21:27×
Perfect PassiveMatt 9:2 · Luke 23:25 · Matt 8:14 · Mark 7:30 · John 3:245×
Present PassiveMatt 6:30 · Luke 12:28 · John 12:63×
Aorist PassiveMatt 5:13 · Matt 13:47 · Luke 23:193×
Aorist ActiveMatt 26:121×
Perfect ActiveJohn 13:21×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 120 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist78present28perfect6future6pluperfect1imperfect1
Voice
active85passive35
Mood
indicative68participle18imperative13infinitive13subjunctive8
NT Occurrences
Matthew 3:10βάλλεταιpresent passive indicativeongoingMatthew 4:18βάλλονταςpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 4:6βάλεaorist active imperativeimperativeMatthew 5:13βληθὲνaorist passive participleparticipleMatthew 5:25βληθήσῃfuture passive indicativeprospectiveMatthew 5:29βάλεaorist active imperativeimperativeMatthew 5:29βληθῇaorist passive subjunctivesubjunctiveMatthew 5:30βάλεaorist active imperativeimperativeMatthew 6:30βαλλόμενονpresent passive participleparticipleMatthew 7:19βάλλεταιpresent passive indicativeongoingMatthew 7:6βάλητεaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveMatthew 8:6βέβληταιperfect passive indicativeresultantMatthew 9:17βάλλουσινpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 9:17βάλλουσινpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 9:2βεβλημένονperfect passive participleparticipleMatthew 10:34βαλεῖνaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveMatthew 10:34βαλεῖνaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveMatthew 13:42βαλοῦσινfuture active indicativeprospectiveMatthew 13:47βληθείσῃaorist passive participleparticipleMatthew 13:48ἔβαλονaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 13:50βαλοῦσινfuture active indicativeprospectiveMatthew 15:26βαλεῖνaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveMatthew 17:27βάλεaorist active imperativeimperativeMatthew 18:30ἔβαλενaorist active indicativecompletedMatthew 18:8βάλεaorist active imperativeimperativeMatthew 18:8βληθῆναιaorist passive infinitiveinfinitiveMatthew 18:9βάλεaorist active imperativeimperativeMatthew 18:9βληθῆναιaorist passive infinitiveinfinitiveMatthew 21:21βλήθητιaorist passive imperativeimperativeMatthew 25:27βαλεῖνaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveMatthew 26:12βαλοῦσαaorist active participleparticipleMatthew 27:35βάλλοντεςpresent active participleparticipleMatthew 27:6βαλεῖνaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveMark 1:16ἀμφιβάλλονταςpresent active participleparticipleMark 2:22βάλλειpresent active indicativeongoingMark 4:26βάλῃaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveMark 7:27βαλεῖνaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveMark 7:30βεβλημένονperfect passive participleparticipleMark 7:33ἔβαλενaorist active indicativecompletedMark 9:22ἔβαλενaorist active indicativecompleted+80 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
βάλλοντες κλῆρον is a primary verb - no further derivation.