Strong's Lexicon
ei: if, whether
Original Word:εἰ
Part of Speech:Conditional Particle Or Conjunction
Transliteration:ei
Pronunciation:ā
Phonetic Spelling:(i)
Definition:if, whether
Meaning:if.
Word Origin:A primary particle of conditionality
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: -H518 אִם (im): Often used in the Hebrew Bible to introduce conditional clauses, similar to "εἰ" in Greek.
Usage:The Greek conjunction "εἰ" (ei) is primarily used to introduce conditional clauses, often translated as "if" or "whether" in English. It sets up a condition that must be met for the main clause to be true or applicable. This particle is essential in forming hypothetical statements, questions, and expressions of doubt or uncertainty. It is a fundamental component in Greek syntax for expressing conditionality and potentiality.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the context of the New Testament, "εἰ" is used to convey conditions that reflect the cultural and theological nuances of the time. The use of conditional statements was a common rhetorical device in ancient Greek literature and philosophy, often employed to explore moral and ethical dilemmas. In the biblical context, it frequently appears in teachings of Jesus and the apostles, emphasizing the importance of faith, obedience, and the consequences of human actions.
HELPS Word-studies
1487ei (a conditional conjunction) –if.1487/ei (followed by any verb) expresses "a condition,thought of asreal, or to denoteassumptions" (i.e.viewed as factual. for the sake of argument) (BAGD). Accordingly,1487 (ei) shouldnot be translated "since," but rather always "if" – since the assumption may only beportrayed as valid (true, factual).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. particle; if, whether (a cond. part. introducing circumstances nec. for a given proposition to be true
Definitionsometimes used with a command or as an indirect question, etc.)
NASB Translationalthough* (1), if (341), no (1), only (1), only* (11), suppose* (1), though (7), though* (5), unless (2), unless* (5), until* (1), whatever* (1), whether (19), whoever* (3).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1487: εἰ[εἰ,ἰ:εἰ andἰ are frequent interchanged in N. T. spelling. This is due partly to itacism, partly to the endeavor to mark the iota sound as long or short. See the remarks on this subject inWHs Appendix, p. 152f (cf. Introductory § 399); Tdf Proleg., p. 83f;Sophocles' Lexicon, under the wordεἰ. The use of iotaἰ forεἰ is noticed under the word Iota; instances in whichεἰ is substituted for iotaἰ are the folling:ἈβειληνηWH;ἈδδειTTrWH;ἈντειπαςT;ἈρεοπαγειτηςT;ΒενιάμεινLTTrWH;ΔαυειδLTTrWH;ἘζεκειαςL;ἘλαμειτηςTWH;ἘλεισαβετWH;ἘσλειTTrWH;ἘυνεικηRec.st;ἡλειTTrWH;ἠλειαςTWH;ἱερείχωTWH;ἱεροσολυμειτηςTWH;ἸσραηλειτηςTWH, soTr inJohn 1:47 (48);ἸωσείαςLTTrWH;κεἰςLTTrWH;ΚυρεῖνοςTr marginal readingWH marginal reading;ΛευειςTWH, soTr except inMark 2:14;ΛευειτηςTWH, soTr except inActs 4:36;ΛευειτικοςTWH;ΜελχειTTrWH;ΝηρειTTrWH;ΝινευειτηςTWH, soTr inMatthew 12:41;ὈζείαςLTTrWH;ΠειλᾶτοςTWH;ΣεμηινTTrWH;ΤαβειθαWH;ΧερούβεινLTTrWH (χερουβιμRG);ΧοράζεινTTrWH;ἀφειδειαL;ἐιδειαTTrWH;ἐπαρχείαTWH;ἐπιποθειαWH;ἡλειT;πανοικείTWH;ῥαββειTWH;ῥαββουνειWH;σαβαχθανεTTrWH;ταλειθαWH;τάχειονWH;τραπεζειτηςTWH.)εἰ, is first a conditional particle,if (Latinsi); secondly, an interrogative particle,whether, (Latinan, num, ne).
I.εἰ Conditional (on the difference between it andἐάν, seeἐάν, I. 1 b.) is connected, according to the variety of conditions, with various tenses and moods; viz.
1. with the indicative of all tenses, when anything is simply and generally assumed to be, or to be done, or to have been done, or to be about to be, (Winers Grammar, § 41 b., 2; cf. 42, 2; (Buttmann, 220 (190))).
a. with the present indicativeα. following in the apodosis by the present indicative:Matthew 19:10 (εἰοὕτωςἐστινἡαἰτία ...οὐσυμφέρειγαμῆσαι);;Romans 7:16, 20;Romans 8:25;Romans 14:15;1 Corinthians 9:17;Galatians 2:18;Galatians 5:18;Hebrews 12:8;James 2:8f, etc.β. followed by an imperative in the apodosis — either the present, as (Matthew 19:17LTr textWH text);Mark 4:23;Mark 7:16RGL;John 15:18;Acts 13:15;Acts 25:5;1 Corinthians 7:12, 15;James 3:14, etc.; or the aorist, asMatthew 5:29, 30;Matthew 8:31;Matthew 19:17 (RGTTr marginal readingWH marginal reading);Mark 9:22 (cf.Buttmann, 55 (48));Luke 22:67 ();1 Corinthians 7:9.γ. followed by the future in the apodosis:;Acts 5:39LTTrWH;;Romans 8:11, 13;2 Corinthians 11:30, etc.δ. followed by the perfect or the aorist in the apodosis, where it is declared that, if this or that is, something else has or has not occurred:Matthew 12:26, 28;Luke 11:20;1 Corinthians 15:16;Galatians 2:21;Romans 4:14;2 Peter 2:20.ε. followed by the imperfect, either with or withoutἄν, where in the protasis something is simply assumed to be, but the apodosis shows that what has been assumed cannot be the case. Three passages falling under this head have a doubtful or disputed text:εἰἔχετε (TTrWH, for theRGLεἴχετε)ἐλέγετεἄν, etc.Luke 17:6;εἰ ...μνημονεύουσιν (TTr, forRGLWHἐμνημόνευον) ...εἶχονἄν,Hebrews 11:15 (where by the present tense the writer refers to the language of the Jewish Fathers as at present corded in the sacred Scriptures; cf.τοιαῦταλέγοντεςLuke 17:14);εἰτέκνατοῦἈβραάμἐστε (GLTTrWH, forRἦτε) ...ἐποιεῖτε ((WH textποιεῖτε.)RL addἄν),John 8:39; AlexanderButtmann (1873) in Studien und Kritiken for 1858, p. 474ff (N. T. Gram. § 139, 26; but cf. Meyer on Luke, the passage cited). But2 Corinthians 11:4εἰ ...κηρύσσει ...ἀνείχεσθέGTTrWH marginal reading (ἀνέχεσθεLWH text) must not be referred to this head; here Paul in the protasis supposes something which actually occurred, in the apodosis censures a thing which actually occurred viz. the readiness with which his readers gave ear continually (this is indicated by the imperfect) to false teachers. On the difficulty of the passage cf. Holsten in the Zeitschr. f. wissensch. Theol. for 1874, p. 1ff; (cf. alsoButtmann, 226 (195); butWiner's Grammar, 306 (287) and Meyer at the passage).ζ. with a question as the apodosis:Matthew 6:23;John 5:47;John 7:23;John 8:46;1 Peter 2:20.b. with the future indicative:Matthew 26:33;James 2:11RG;1 Peter 2:20.
c. with the perfect indicative:John 11:12;Acts 16:15;Romans 6:5;Romans 11:6 (where afterεἰ supplyλεῖμμαγέγονεν from what precedes),2 Corinthians 2:5;2 Corinthians 5:16;2 Corinthians 7:14.
d. with the aorist indicative — followed by the present in the apodosis,Luke 19:8;Romans 4:2;Romans 15:27; followed by a question in the apodosis,Luke 16:11, 12;John 18:23;1 Corinthians 4:7;1 Corinthians 9:11; followed by the aorist in the apodosis,Revelation 20:15; by the Impv. in the apodosis,John 18:23;John 20:15;Romans 11:17;1 Timothy 5:9, 10;Philemon 1:18; by the future in the apodosis,John 13:32;John 15:20;Hebrews 12:25 (where supplyοὐκἐκφευξόμεθα in the apodosis).
2. Not infrequently, when a conclusion is drawn from something that is quite certain,εἰ with the indicative is used argumentatively so as to be equivalent in sense toἐπεί (cf. the use of Germanwenn) (cf.Winer's Grammar, 448 (418)):Matthew 12:28;Luke 23:31;John 7:4;Romans 5:17;Romans 6:5;Romans 8:31;Romans 11:6, 12;Colossians 2:20;Colossians 3:1, etc.
3. When it is said what would have been, or what would be now or in the future, if something else were or had been,εἰ is used with the imperfect, pluperfect, and aorist indicative; in the apodosis it is followed in direct discourse byἄν with the imperfect or the pluperfect or the aorist; sometimesἄν is omitted, (on the causes of the omission, seeButtmann, § 139, 27); sometimes the apodosis is made a question (cf.Winers Grammar, 304f (285f)).
a.εἰ with the imperfect, followed in the apodosis byἄν with the imperfect:Matthew 23:30;Luke 7:39 (εἰοὗτοςἦνπροφήτης,ἐγίνωσκενἄν, if this man were a prophet, he would know);John 5:46;John 8:42;John 9:41;John 15:19;1 Corinthians 11:31;Galatians 1:10;Hebrews 8:4, 7 (if ... were, etc., there would not be sought, etc., viz. in the O. T. passage quotedHebrews 8:8); by a question in the apodosis:1 Corinthians 12:19;Hebrews 7:11; byἄν with the aorist, where the Latin uses the pluperfect subjunctive:John 11:32 if thou hadst been here,οὐκἄνἀπέθανεμουὁἀδελφός, my brother would not have died (when he did (cf. below);Buttmann, § 139, 25 regards the imperfect in protasis as expressing duration));John 4:10;John 18:30 (εἰμήἦνοὗτοςκακοποιός,οὐκἄνσοιπαρεδώκαμεναὐτόν, we would not have delivered him to thee);Acts 18:14; byἄν with the pluperfect:John 11:21 (εἰἦςὧδε ...οὐκἄνἐτεθνήκει, would not have died (and be now dead; cf.Winers Grammar, 304 (285) and see above; butLTTr textWH read the aorist here also));1 John 2:19.
b.εἰ with the pluperfect, followed in the apodosis byἄν with the pluperfect or the aorist, in the sense of the Latin pluperfect subjunctive:Matthew 12:7 (εἰἐγνώκειτε, if ye had understood, i. e., if ye knew,οὐκἄνκατεδικάσατετούςἀναιτίους, ye would not have condemned the guiltless);Matthew 24:43 andLuke 12:39 (εἰᾔδει, if he had perceived, i. e., if he knew,ἐγρηγόρησενἄν, he would have watched, namely, before the thief had approached (Tr textWH omitἄν in Luke, the passage cited));John 4:10;John 8:19;John 14:7 (RGL). c:. with the aorist in the same sense as the Latin pluperfect subjunctive:εἰἐδόθηνόμος ...ὄντωςἄνἐκνόμουἦνἡδικαιοσύνη, if a law had been given, righteousness would in truth come from the law,Galatians 3:21;εἰαὐτούςἸησοῦςκατέπαυσεν, if Joshua had given them rest,οὐκἄνπερίἄλληςἐλάλει, he would not be speaking, namely, in the passage quoted,Hebrews 4:8; apodosis withoutἄν,John 15:22, seeἄν I. 3, p. 33f.
4. As in classic Greek,εἰ with the indicative is often joined to verbs expressing wonder, surprise, or other strong emotion (whereὅτι might have been expected), when the thing spoken of is either not quite certain, or, although certain, yet in accordance with the well-known Greek urbanity is represented as not quite free from doubt (Matthiae, ii., p. 1474f; Kühner, ii., p. 887f; (Jelf, § 804, 9);Winers Grammar, § 60, 6; (Buttmann, § 139, 52]). Thus, it is joined — to the verb,θαυμάζω:ἐθαύμαζεν,εἰἤδητέθνηκε, for the matter had not yet been investigated; hence, it is addedἐπηρώτησεναὐτόν,εἰἤδη (RGTTr marginal readingWH marginal readingπάλαι)ἀπέθανεν,Mark 15:44;μήθαυμάζετε,εἰμισεῖὑμᾶςὁκόσμος (the thing is certain)1 John 3:13; to the phraseἄπιστονκρίνεται:Acts 26:8 (withπαράδοξον preceding,Lucian, dial. mort. 13, 1); toκαλόνἐστιν andλυσιτελεῖ:Mark 9:42 andLuke 17:2 (Matthew 18:6 hasσυμφέρει,ἵνα);Matthew 26:24 andMark 14:21; toμέγαἐστι:1 Corinthians 9:11 (on which see 8 below);2 Corinthians 11:15;τίθέλω,εἰἤδηἀνήφθη (τόπῦρ), how would I if (i. e., that) it were already kindled (but it has not yet been kindled),Luke 12:49 (others besides, but cf. Meyer at the passage; (so B. 1. e.; cf.Winers Grammar, 448 (418); seeτίς, 1 e.γ. at the end); Sir. 23:14θελήσεις,εἰμήἐγεννήθης; (in addition to the other interpretations noticed byWiner's and Meyer the passages cited mention may be made of that which takesθέλω as subjunctive:what am I to choose if (as I may well assume)it has already been kindled; cf.Green, 'Critical Notes' at the passage)).
5. Contrary to Greek usage, in imitation of the Hebrewאִם,εἰ, with the indicative is so used in oaths and asseverations that by aposiopesis the formula of imprecation (constituting the apodosis) is suppressed (Winers Grammar, § 55 at the end;Buttmann, § 149, 4):ἀμήνλέγωὑμῖν,εἰδοθήσεται ...σημεῖον (fully expressed, 'may God punish me, if it shall be given,' i. e. it shall by no means be given),Mark 8:12;ὤμοσα,εἰεἰσελεύσονταιεἰςτήνκατάπαυσινμου (fully, 'let my name no longer be Jehovah, if they shall enter,' etc.),Hebrews 3:11;Hebrews 4:3, fromPsalm 94:11 () theSept. (Hebrewאִם,Genesis 14:23;Numbers 14:30;1 Samuel 14:45, etc.; we have the full expression in1 Samuel 3:17;Song of Solomon 2:7, etc.).6. Sometimes, as in classic Greek, after a protasis withεἰ and the indicative, the apodosis is suppressed on account of mental agitation and left to be supplied by the reader or the hearer from the context (cf.Winer's Grammar, 599f (557)):εἰβούλειπαρενεγκεῖντόποτήριοντοῦτο (namely,παρένεγκε (but hereLTrWH adopt the imperative in place of the infinitive; yet cf.Buttmann, 396 (339))),Luke 22:42;εἰδέπνεῦμαἐλάλησεναὐτῷἤἄγγελος, supply in place of an apodosis the questionwhat then?Acts 23:9 (the apodosis added inRec.,μήθεομαχωμεν is spurious);εἰἔγνως ...τάπρόςεἰρήνηνσου, namely,ἐπιστευεςἄνἐμοί,Luke 19:42 (Buttmann, 396 (339)].
7. The conditionalεἰ is joined with the optative, to indicate that the condition is merely thought of or stated as a possibility (cf.Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 491ff;Winers Grammar, 293f (275f);Buttmann, § 139, 24). No example of this construction is found in the Gospels; very few in the rest of the N. T.
a. universally, in short intercalated clauses:εἰτύχοι, if it so chance, it may be (seeτυγχάνω 2),1 Corinthians 14:10;1 Corinthians 15:37;εἰθέλοιτόθέληματοῦΘεοῦ,1 Peter 3:17 (Rec.θέλει.
b. where it indicates that something may occur repeatedly (cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 492f):εἰκαίπάσχοιτε,1 Peter 3:14 (cf.Winers Grammar, as above).
c. where the condition represents the mind and judgment of others:εἰςὁἐβουλεύοντο (RGἐβουλεύσαντο),εἰδύναιντοἐξῶσαι (WH textἐκσωσαι (which see))τόπλοῖον, into which bay (or rather 'upon which beach'; seeἐξωθέω) they determined to run the ship, if they could; as though the navigators had said among themselves,ἐξώσομεν,εἰδυνάμεθα,Acts 27:39; so alsoεἰτίἔχοιενπρόςμε, if they think they have anything against me,Acts 24:19.
8. with the subjunctive, when it is assumed that something may take place, but whether it will in reality is unknown before the event, in order to make the event seem to be more certain than ifἐάν were used (Klotz, the passage cited, p. 500ff;Winers Grammar, 294f (276f);Buttmann, § 139, 22):εἰ ...θερισωμεν,1 Corinthians 9:11Tdf. editions 2, 7 (Lachmann marginal reading; others,θερίσομεν); (theSept.Genesis 43:3f; Sir. 22:26; 4 Macc. 6:20). But see III. below, underεἰμή,εἰμήτι,εἰπῶς,εἴτε ...εἴτε,εἰτίς.
II.εἰ Interrogative,whether. "The conditional particle gets this force if a question is asked about anything, whether it is or is not so, and that about which the question is put is uttered as it were conditionally" (Klotz, the passage cited, p. 508; (Winers Grammar, § 57, I; AlexanderButtmann (1873) 248ff (214ff); 254f (218f)).
1. As in Greek writings in an indirect question after verbs of seeing, asking, deliberating, knowing, saying, etc.
a. with the present indicative: asὀυδ'εἰπνεῦμαἅγιονἐστιν,ἠκούσαμεν (properly, according to the conditional force of the particle, 'if there is (i. e. has appeared, been given; cf.εἰμί, I. 2) a Holy Spirit, we did not even hear'),Acts 19:2;ἴδωμεν,εἰἔρχεται,Matthew 27:49;Mark 15:36;βουλεύεται (TWHL marginal readingβουλήσεται),εἰδυνατόςἐστιν,Luke 14:31;ἵναεἴπῃς,εἰσύεἰ,Matthew 26:63; (ἵναγνῷτήνδοκιμήνὑμῶνεἰ (WH marginal readingἡ) ...ὑπηκωιἐστε,2 Corinthians 2:9 (seeWH. Introductory § 404)); afterοὐκοἶδα,John 9:25; afterκρίνατε,Acts 4:19;δοκιμάζετε ((?),πειράζετε),2 Corinthians 13:5.
b. with the future indicative (cf.Winers Grammar, 300 (282);Buttmann, § 139, 61 b.):δεήθητι,εἰἄραἀφεθήσεταισοι,Acts 8:22;τίοἶδας,εἰ ...σώσεις,1 Corinthians 7:16;παρετήρουν,εἰθεραπεύσει (Tdf.θεραπεύει),Mark 3:2 and inLuke 6:7 (RGWH marginal reading);ἦλθεν (namely, to see),εἰἄρατίεὑρήσει,Mark 11:13.
c. with the aorist indicative:οὐκοἶδα,εἰτιναἄλλονἐβάπτισα, whether I baptized,1 Corinthians 1:16;ἐπηρώτησαν,εἰπάλαι (LTr textWH textἤδη)ἀπέθανεν, whether he were long dead,Mark 15:44;εἶπεμοι,εἰ ...ἀπέδοσθε,Acts 5:8.
d. with the subjunctive aorist (cf.Buttmann, 255f (220);Winer's Grammar, 298f (280f)):διώκω,εἰκαίκαταλάβω, I press on (namely,πειρωμενος orσκοπῶν, trying to see), whether I may also lay hold,Philippians 3:12. Sosi is used in Latin, e. g.Nepos, vit. Hann. 8 Hannibal ...African accessit in finibus Cyrenaeorum (namely,experturus),si forte Carthaginienses ad bellum possent induci Caesar b. g. 1, 8, 4si perrumpere possent, conati; add Caesar b. g. 2, 9, 1. Cf. Kühner, ii., p. 1032f; (Jelf, § 877 b.).
2. Contrary to the usage of Greek authors, like the Hebrewאִם and the interrogative he (ה), it is used in theSept. and the N. T. (especially by Luke) also in direct questions (cf. the colloquial use of the Germanob; e. g.ob icb wohl thun soll?); cf.Winers Grammar, § 57, 1;Buttmann, 248 (214), and, in opposition to those who have striven to absolve the sacred writers from this misuse of the particle (especially Fritzsche and Meyer (see the latter's note onMatthew 12:10 andLuke 13:23; he quotes with approval the language of Ast (Platonic Lexicon, vol. i. 601), 'dubitanter interrogat, ita ut interrogatio videatur directa esse)), cf.Lipsius, Paulin. Rechtfertigungslehre, p. 30ff: —εἶπετίςαὐτῷ,κύριε,εἰὀλογοιοἱσῳζόμενοι;Luke 13:23;κύριε,εἰπατάξομενἐνμάχαιρα (μαχαίρῃTTrWH);Luke 22:49;κύριε,εἰ ...ἀποκαθιστάνειςτήνβασιλείαν;Acts 1:6; cf. besides,Matthew 12:10;Matthew 19:3;Mark 8:23 (according to the reading of (Tdf. 2, 7)Tr (marginal readingWH text)εἰτίβλέπεις forRGLTTr textWH marginal readingβλέπει);Acts 19:2, etc. (Genesis 17:17;Genesis 43:6;1 Samuel 10:24, etc.; in the O. T. Apocrypha, 2 Macc. 7:7 2Macc. 15:3; 4 Macc. 18:17 fromEzekiel 37:3 theSept.; Tobit 5:5).
III.εἰ with other particles and with the indefinite pronounτίς,τί.
1.εἰἄρα, seeἄρα, 1.
2.εἴγε, seeγέ, 3 c.
3.εἰδέκαί, a.but if also, so thatκαί belongs to some word that follows:Luke 11:18 (but if Satan also).
b.but though, but even if, so thatκαί belongs toεἰ:1 Corinthians 4:7;2 Corinthians 4:3;2 Corinthians 5:16 (RG; others omitδέ);2 Corinthians 11:6; see 6 below.
4.εἰδέμή,but if not; if it is or were otherwise, (Buttmann, 393 (336f), cf. 345 (297);Winer's Grammar, as below):John 14:2 (εἰδέμή, namely,οὕτωςἦν),John 14:11 (εἰδέμή namely,ἐμοίπιστεύετε, i. e. my words). As in these passages so generally the phrase stands where a word or clause must be repeated in thought from what immediately precedes; it thus has the force of the Latinalioquin,otherwise, or else, (Winer's Grammar, 583 (543)):Revelation 2:5, 16; also after negative declarations,Mark 2:21f; cf.Matthiae, § 617 b.
5.εἰδέμήγε, seeγέ, 3 d.
6.εἰκαί, a.iif even, if also, (cf.εἰδέκαί, 3 a., (and 7 below)):1 Corinthians 7:21 (cf. Meyer at the passage;Lightfoot on Philemon, p. 324);2 Corinthians 11:15.
b.though, although:Luke 11:8;2 Corinthians 4:16;2 Corinthians 7:8, 12;Philippians 2:17;Colossians 2:5 (εἰγάρκαί);Hebrews 6:9; with the optative,1 Peter 3:14; see I. 7 b. above.
7.καίεἰ,even if:Mark 14:29 (TTrWHεἰκαί);1 Peter 3:1; cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 519 (who says, "Inεἰκαί the conditional particleεἰ has the greater force; inκαίεἰ the conjunctive particleκαί. Hence,καίεἰ is used of what is only assumed to be true;εἰκαί, on the other hand, of what is as it is said to be."Bäumlein (Griech. Partikeln, p. 151) says, "Inεἰκαί theκαί naturally belongs to the conditional clause and is taken up into it,if even; in the combinationκαίεἰ theκαί belongs to the consequent clause,even if. Sometimes however the difference disappears."Krüger (sec. 65, 5, 15): "withκαίεἰ, the leading clause is regarded as holding under every condition, even the one stated, which appears to be the most extreme; withεἰκαί the condition, which may also come to pass, is regarded as a matter of indifference in reference to the leading clause;" Sauppe (onDemosthenes, Ol. 2 § 20) is very explicit: "καίεἰ andεἰκαί both indicate that something conflicts with what is expressed in the leading clause, but that that is (or is done) notwithstanding.καίεἰ, however, represents the thing adduced in the conditional sentence to be the only thing conflicting; but when the conditional particle precedes (εἰκαί), the representation is that something which is (or may be) accompanied by many others (καί) conflicts ineffectually. Accordingly, the phraseκαίαἱ greatly augments the force of what follows,εἰκαί lays less emphasis upon it; although it is evident thatεἰκαί can often be substituted forκαίεἰ." Cf. Herm. Vig., p. 829f;Winer's Grammar, 444 (413); Ellicott onPhilippians 2:17; Schmalfeld, Griech. Syntax, § 41; Paley, Greek Particles, p. 31).
8.εἰμή, a. in a conditional protasis, with the same sequence of moods and tenses as the simpleεἰ see I. above,if not, unless, except, (Winers Grammar, 477ff (444ff);Buttmann, 345 (297)):Matthew 24:22;John 9:33;John 15:22, 24;Romans 7:7, etc.
b. it serves, with the entire following sentence, to limit or correct what has just been said,only, save that, (Latinnisi quod) (Buttmann, 359 (308)):Mark 6:5;1 Corinthians 7:17 (where Paul by the additionεἰμήἑκάστῳκτλ. strives to prevent anyone in applying what had been said a little while before, viz.οὐδεδούλωται ...ἐντοιούτοις to his own case, from going too far); in ironical answers,unless perchance, save forsooth that, (Kühner, § 577, 7; (Jelf, § 860, 5 Obs.)):εἰμήχρῄζομενκτλ.,2 Corinthians 3:1Rec. c.εἰμή very often coalesce into one particle, as it were, which takes the same verb as the preceding negation:unless, equivalent toexcept, save, (Kühner, § 577, 8;Buttmann, 359 (308));
a. universally:Matthew 11:27;Matthew 12:39;Mark 2:26;Mark 8:14;John 3:13;Romans 7:7;Romans 13:1, 8;1 Corinthians 8:4;1 Corinthians 12:3;2 Corinthians 12:5, etc. as in classic Greek,μόνος,μόνον, is added pleonastically:Matthew 17:8;Matthew 21:19;Matthew 24:36;Acts 11:19;Philippians 4:15;Revelation 13:17, etc.β. after negatives joined to nouns it is so used as to refer to the negative alone (hence, many have regarded it as used forἀλλά (i. e. as being not exceptive but adversative)), and can be rendered in Latinsed tantum,but only:Matthew 12:4 (οὐκἐξόνἦναὐτῷφαγεῖνοὐδέτοῖςμετ'αὐτοῦ,εἰμήτοῖςἱερεῦσιμόνοις, as ifοὐκἐξόνἦνφαγεῖν alone preceded);Luke 4:26;Romans 14:14;Revelation 9:4;Revelation 21:27 (ἐάνμή is so used inGalatians 2:16; onGalatians 1:19 seeἸάκωβος, 3); cf. Fritzsche on Romans, vol. iii., p. 195; (seeἐάν, I. 3 c. and references).γ. when preceded by the interrogativeτίς in questions having a negative force:Mark 2:7;Luke 5:21;Romans 11:15;1 Corinthians 2:11;2 Corinthians 2:2;2 Corinthians 12:13;Hebrews 3:18;1 John 2:22;1 John 5:5; (Xenophon, oec. 9, 1;Aristophanes eqq. 615).δ. with other conjunctions:εἰμήἵναJohn 10:10;εἰμήὅταν,Mark 9:9;εἰμήὅτι etc.,2 Corinthians 12:13;Ephesians 4:9.ε. it has its own verb, and makes a phrase by itself:ὁοὐκἐστινἄλλο,εἰμήτινεςεἰσινοἱταράσσοντεςὑμᾶς which means nothing else, save that there are some who trouble you,Galatians 1:7 (soWiner (commentary at the passage) et al.; but see Meyer))
d.ἐκτόςεἰμή, arising from the blending of the two expressionsεἰμή andἐκτόςεἰ, like the Latinnisi si equivalent topraeterquam si,except in case, except:1 Timothy 5:19; with the aorist indicative,1 Corinthians 15:2; with the subjunctive present1 Corinthians 14:5; (Lucian, de luctu c. 19; dial. meret. 1, 2, etc.). Cf.Lob. ad Phryn., p. 459;Winers Grammar, § 65, 3 c.; (Buttmann, index under the wordἐκτόςεἰμή).
9.εἰμήν,assuredly, surely, in oaths:Hebrews 6:14LTTrWH (forRGἤμήν (which see)) and several times in theSept. asEzekiel 33:27;Ezekiel 34:8; (cf.;1 Kings 21:23 ()), etc.; here, ifεἰ did not come fromἤ by itacism,εἰμήν must be explained as confusion of the Hebraisicεἰμή (see I. 5 above) and the Greek formula of asseverationἤμήν; cf. Bleek on Heb. vol. 2:2, p. 248ff, and what Fritzsche says on the other side, commentary on Baruch 2:29; Judith 1:12; (cf. Kneucker on Baruch, the passage cited;Buttmann, 359 (308);Tdf. Proleg., p. 59;WHs Appendix, p. 151;B. D. under the word, I. 31).10.εἰμήτί orμήτι,unless in some respect, unless perchance, unless indeed: ironically, with the present indicative,2 Corinthians 13:5; hesitatingly, with the subjunctive aoristLuke 9:13; Meyer at the passage (alsoWiners Grammar, 294 (276);Buttmann, 221 (191));τίἄν:1 Corinthians 7:5, seeἄν, IV.
11.εἰοὐ (fully discussed byWiners Grammar, § 55, 2 c. andButtmann, 345ff (297ff)),if not; this combination is used much more frequently in the N. T. than in the more elegant Greek authors; it differs fromεἰμή in this, that in the latterμή belongs to the particleεἰ, while inεἰοὐ theοὐ refers to some following word and denies it emphatically, not infrequently even coalescing with it into a single idea.
a. when the idea to whichοὐ belongs is antithetic a. to a positive term, either preceding or following:εἰδέοὐμοιχεύειςφονεύειςδέ,James 2:11 (inRG the future);εἰγάρὁΘεός ...οὐκἐφείσατο, ...ἀλλά ...παρέδωκενεἰςκρίσιν,2 Peter 2:4f;εἰκαίοὐδώσει ...διάγέ ...δώσει,Luke 11:8;εἰοὐποιῶ ...εἰδέποιῶ,John 10:37f;εἰγάρἐπιστεύετε ...,εἰδέ ...οὐπιστεύετε,John 5:46f; add,Mark 11:26RGL;Romans 8:9;1 Corinthians 9:2;1 Corinthians 11:6;James 3:2.β. to some other idea which is negative (formally or virtually):εἰ ...οὐκἀκούουσιν,οὐδέ ...πεισθήσονται,Luke 16:31;εἰ ...οὐκἐφείσατο,οὐδέσουφείσεται (Rec.φείσηται),Romans 11:21; add,1 Corinthians 15:13, 15-17;2 Thessalonians 3:10; followed in the apodosis by a question having the force of a negative:Luke 16:11;John 3:12;1 Timothy 3:5.γ. theοὐ denies with emphasis the idea to which it belongs:καλόνἦναὐτῷεἰοὐκἐγεννήθη, good were it for him not to have been born,Matthew 26:24;Mark 14:21.δ. the whole emphasis is placed on the negative itself:εἰσύοὐκεἰὁΧριστός,John 1:25.
b. theοὐ coalesces, as it were, with the word to which it belongs into a single idea:εἰδέοὐκἐγκρατεύονται if they areincontinent,1 Corinthians 7:9;εἰτίςτῶνἰδίωνοὐπρονοεῖ (orπρονοειταιTTr textWH marginal reading), "neglects,1 Timothy 5:8; add,Luke 14:26;1 Corinthians 16:22;Revelation 20:15, etc.
12.εἰοὖν,if then:Matthew 6:23;Matthew 7:11;Luke 11:13, 36;John 13:14;John 18:8;Acts 11:1;Colossians 3:1;Philemon 1:1. (Onεἰμένοὖν seeμέν II. 4.)
13.εἴπερ (soTWH (except in2 Corinthians 5:3 marginal reading), butLTrεἰπερ; cf.Winers Grammar, 45;Lipsius, Gram. Unters., p. 123) (εἰ andπερ, and this apparently fromπερί), properly,if on the whole; if only, provided that, is usedof a thing which is assumed to be, but whether rightly or wrongly is left in doubt (Herm. ad Vig., p. 831 (soWiners Grammar, 448 (417); but cf.Bäumlein, Griech. Partikeln, p. 202 (cf. 64 bottom);Klotz ad Devar. 2:2, p. 528, and especially under the wordεἴγε (inγέ, 3 c.) and the references to Meyer,Lightfoot, Ellicott, there given)):Romans 8:9, 17;1 Corinthians 8:5;1 Corinthians 15:15;1 Peter 2:3 (whereLTTrWHεἰ); by a species of rhetorical politeness it is used of that about which there is no doubt:2 Thessalonians 1:6;Romans 3:30LTTrWH;2 Corinthians 5:3LTrWH marginal reading
14.εἰπῶς (LTrWH) orεἴπως (GT),if in any way, if by any means, if possibly: with the optative present (see I. 7 above),Acts 27:12; interrogatively, with the future indicative,Romans 1:10; with the subjunctive aorist, so that beforeεἰ the wordσκοπῶν orπειρωμενος must be mentally supplied (see II. 1 d. above):Romans 11:14;Philippians 3:11.
15.εἴτε ...εἴτε, a.whether ... or (as disjunc. conjunc.,sive ... sive; cf.Winers Grammar, 440 (409f);Buttmann, 221 (191)), without a verb following:Romans 12:6-8;1 Corinthians 3:22;1 Corinthians 8:5;2 Corinthians 5:9;Philippians 1:18, 20, 27;2 Thessalonians 2:15;Colossians 1:16, 20;1 Peter 2:13f;εἴτεοὖν ...εἴτε,1 Corinthians 15:11; followed by the present indicative,1 Corinthians 12:26;1 Corinthians 13:8;2 Corinthians 1:6; followed by the subjunctive present1 Thessalonians 5:10, where the use of the subjunctive was occasioned by the subjunctiveζήσωμεν in the leading clause; cf.Winers Grammar, 294 (276);Buttmann, 221 (191).
b.whether ... or (as indirect interrogatives,utrum ... an; cf.Buttmann, 250 (215)) (see examples from Greek authors inMatthiae, p. 1476f): afterοὐκοἶδα,2 Corinthians 12:2f.
16.εἰτίς,εἰτί: examples of this combination have already been given among the preceding; here may be addedεἰτίςἕτερος,εἰτίἕτερονand if (there be) any other person or thing — a phrase used as a conclusion after the mention or enumeration of several particulars belonging to the same class (in the classicsεἰτίςἄλλος,εἰκαίτίςἄλλος,καίεἰτίἄλλο, etc., inHerodotus,Xenophon,Plato, others):Romans 13:9;1 Timothy 1:10;εἰτίς with subjunctive presentRevelation 11:5Rec.; with the subjunctive aorist, ibid.TTrWH text
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
forasmuch as, if, thatA primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. -- forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as ineige,ei de me(ge),ei kai,ei me,ei me ti,ei per,ei pos,ei tis,ek. See alsoean.
see GREEKeige
see GREEKei de me(ge)
see GREEKei kai
see GREEKei me
see GREEKei me ti
see GREEKei per
see GREEKei pos
Forms and Transliterations
Ει Εἰ Εἴ εις ἔτι Ei Eí eti étiLinks
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