Halas denotes salt, used in sayings about its retained quality and in the seasoning of speech.

The term most often occurs in sayings that speak of salt’s goodness, its possible loss of effective quality, and its use as an image addressed to people; Colossians 4:6 applies salt to speech that is to be joined with grace.

1. Salt in sayings about its quality and use · dominant

   In Luke 14:34 and Mark 9:50, the nominative singular form names salt as good but asks what could season it if it became tasteless or unsalty. In Matthew 5:13, the same form occurs in the declaration, “You are the salt of the earth,” followed by the prospect of salt being thrown out when it no longer has strength.

   Luke 14:34Mark 9:50Matthew 5:13
2. Salt as the seasoning of speech · occasional

   In Colossians 4:6, the dative singular form occurs with “your word”; the APB renders the clause, “Let your word always be seasoned with grace and salt,” in connection with knowing how to answer each person.

   Colossians 4:6

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB explicitly uses “salt” in all four verses. In the Gospel sayings it describes salt as good yet liable to become ineffective, while Colossians 4:6 speaks of words “seasoned with grace and salt”.