### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **halykós**, represented by `{{G252}}`, is a specific term for something that is **briny** or **salt**. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible, highlighting its specialized use. Its meaning is derived from the word for salt, ἅλς, and it is used to describe the quality of water.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{G252}}` is in [[James 3:12]]. Here, it is used in a rhetorical question to illustrate a point about consistency and the nature of a source. The verse asks if a **fountain** can yield both **salt** water and fresh water. This question is posed alongside other natural impossibilities, such as a fig tree bearing olive berries or a vine producing figs, to emphasize that a single source cannot produce contradictory outcomes [[James 3:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words in the passage help clarify the meaning of `{{G252}}`:
* `{{G1099}}` **glykýs** (sweet, fresh): This is the direct antonym used in the same phrase to create a stark contrast. A fountain cannot produce both **salt** `{{G252}}` and **fresh** `{{G1099}}` water, illustrating the theme of mutual exclusivity [[James 3:12]].
* `{{G4077}}` **pēgḗ** (fountain, well): This word identifies the source in question. The focus is on what a **fountain**, as a single origin point, can or cannot produce, making it central to the illustration [[James 3:12]].
* `{{G1410}}` **dýnamai** (to be able or possible): This word establishes the theme of capability. The passage begins with the question "Can... the fig tree..." and concludes with the statement that a fountain cannot, framing the entire argument around what is naturally possible or impossible [[James 3:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G252}}` comes from its role in a powerful analogy about the integrity of a source.
* **Principle of Consistency:** The term is used to establish a law of nature—that a source produces according to its own kind. A **salt** spring cannot also be a source of fresh water, illustrating that a single source cannot yield opposite results [[James 3:12]].
* **Figurative Language:** By appearing alongside examples like a **fig tree** `{{G4808}}` and a **vine** `{{G288}}`, "salt water" serves as a universally understood metaphor. It makes a spiritual truth accessible by grounding it in a simple, observable fact of the natural world.
* **Defining a Source:** The illustration implies that a thing is known by what it produces. Just as a fountain is defined by the type of water it yields, whether **salt** `{{G252}}` or **fresh** `{{G1099}}`, the nature of something is revealed by its output.
### Summary
In summary, **halykós** `{{G252}}` is a highly specific term whose single biblical usage carries significant metaphorical weight. It is not merely a descriptor for water but a key component in an argument about the unchangeable nature of a source. By being placed in direct opposition to **fresh** `{{G1099}}` water from a **fountain** `{{G4077}}`, it serves as a powerful and clear illustration of the principle that a single origin cannot yield contradictory products.
TRV