Keraia
Lexicon

εἰμί

eimito beHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentVerb2,465 occurrences27 books2,100 verses

Definition

εἰμί,

with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be.

I. As substantive verb.

1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Acts 17:28, John 1:1; 8:58; 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8; 11:17; 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Romans 4:17, 1 Corinthians 1:28.

2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Matthew 24:3, Mark 14:2; 15:42, Luke 21:23, John 4:6, 23; 5:10, al.

3. to be present, be in a place, have come: Matthew 2:13, 15, Mark 1:45; 5:21; 15:40, Luke 1:80; 5:29, John 7:30, al.; before εἰς, Mark 2:1; before ἐκ, (ἐξ), Matthew 1:20; 21:25, Mark 11:30, John 3:31, al.

4. Impers., ἔστι, ἦν, etc.;

(a) there is (Fr. il y a), was, etc.: Matthew 16:28, Luke 16:19, John 3:1; 5:2, Romans 3:10, al.; with dative (of the possessor; Bl., §37, 3), Matthew 16:22, Luke 1:7, John 18:10, Romans 9:2, al.; ἔστιν ὅς, ὅστις (chiefly in pl), Matthew 16:28; 19:2, Mark 9:1, al.;

(b) with inf., = ἔξεστιν (which see), it is possible: Hebrews 9:5, 1 Corinthians 11:20, RV (but see ICC, in l.).

II. As copula uniting subject and predicate.

1. Expressing simply identity or equivalence: Matthew 5:13; 14:15, Luke 1:18, 19, John 1:1; 4:19, Revelation 3:9, al. mult.

2. Explicative, as in parable, figure, type, etc.: Matthew 13:19, 1 Corinthians 9:2; 10:4; 11:25, Galatians 4:24, Revelation 17:15, al.; ταῦτ᾽ ἔστιν, Matthew 27:46, Mark 7:2, Romans 7:18 al.; ὅ ἐστιν, Mark 3:17, Colossians 1:24, Hebrews 7:2, al.; akin to this is the sacramental usage: Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22, 24, Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24 (see ICC on Mk, I Co, ll. with; DB, iii, 148 f.).

3. C. genitive: qual., etc., Mark 5:42, Luke 3:23, 1 Corinthians 14:33, Hebrews 12:11, al.; part., 1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Timothy 1:15; poss., Matthew 5:3, 10, Mark 12:7, Luke 4:7; of service or partisanship, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 1:12, 2 Corinthians 10:7, 2 Timothy 2:19.

4. C. dative (BL, §37, 3): Acts 1:8; 9:15, Romans 4:12, 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:14, Revelation 21:7, al.

5. C. ptcp., as a periphrasis for the simple verb (Bl., §62, 1, 2; M, Pr., 225 ff.);

(a) with ptcp. pf. (cl.): Matthew 10:30, Luke 9:32, John 3:24, Acts 21:35, 1 Corinthians 15:19, al;

(b) with ptcp. pr. (esp. in impf., as in Heb. and Aram.; Dalman, Words, 35 f.), Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:22, Luke 4:31; 14:1, Acts 1:10, al. mult., id. for imper. (M, Pr., 180f., 182f.), with ellipsis of εἰμί, Romans 12:9, 10, Hebrews 13:5, al.;

(with) with ptcp. aor. (cl), Luke 23:9.

6. Seq. εἰς (cf. Heb. הָיָה לְ), a vernac. usage (M, Pr., 71): Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, Hebrews 8:10, al.

7. C. adv.: Matthew 19:20, Mark 4:26, Luke 18:11, al.

8. Ellipses;

(a) of the copula (Bl., §30, 3): Matthew 8:29; 24:32, John 21:22, 23, Hebrews 6:4, al.;

(b) of the predicate: ἐγώ εἰμί, Matthew 14:27, Mark 6:50, al.; absol. (cf. Deuteronomy 32:39; אֲנִי הוּא), Mark 13:6, John 4:26, al. (cf. ἄπ-, ἔν-, πάρ-, συμ-πάρ-, σύν-ειμι).

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as εἰμί:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

2,465 total
  1. Luke 1:63ἐστὶν · is
    Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
  2. Luke 1:66ἔσται · become; ἦν · was
    And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
  3. Luke 1:80ἦν · he lived
    And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
  4. Luke 2:4εἶναι · was
    So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
  5. Luke 2:5οὔσῃ · [and] was expecting
    He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
  6. Luke 2:6εἶναι · they were
    While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
  7. Luke 2:7ἦν · there was
    And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
  8. Luke 2:8ἦσαν · there were
    And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
  9. Luke 2:10ἔσται · will be
    But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
  10. Luke 2:11ἐστιν · is
    Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
  11. Luke 2:25ἦν · there was; ἦν · was
    Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
  12. Luke 2:26ἦν · had
    The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
  13. Luke 2:33ἦν · were
    The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
  14. Luke 2:36ἦν · There was
    There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
  15. Luke 2:40ἦν · was
    And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
  16. Luke 2:44εἶναι · was
    Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
  17. Luke 2:49εἶναί · to be
    “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
  18. Luke 2:51ἦν · was
    Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
  19. Luke 3:5ἔσται · shall be made
    Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
  20. Luke 3:15εἴη · could be
    The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.
  21. Luke 3:16εἰμὶ · I am
    John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
  22. Luke 3:22εἶ · are
    …and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
  23. Luke 3:23ἦν · was; Ὢν · He was
    Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
  24. Luke 4:3εἶ · You are
    The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
  25. Luke 4:7ἔσται · it will all be
    So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”
  26. Luke 4:9εἶ · You are
    Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here.
  27. Luke 4:16ἦν · He had been
    Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,
  28. Luke 4:17ἦν · it was
    …the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:
  29. Luke 4:20ἦσαν · were
    Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,
  30. Luke 4:22ἐστιν · Isn’t
    All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
  31. Luke 4:24ἐστιν · is
    Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
  32. Luke 4:25ἦσαν · there were
    But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.
  33. Luke 4:27ἦσαν · there were
    And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
  34. Luke 4:31ἦν · He began
    Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people.
  35. Luke 4:32ἦν · had
    They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
  36. Luke 4:33ἦν · there was
    In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
  37. Luke 4:34εἶ · are
    “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
  38. Luke 4:38ἦν · was
    After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,
  39. Luke 4:41εἶ · are; εἶναι · was
    Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.
  40. Luke 4:44ἦν · He continued
    And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.
  41. Luke 5:1ἦν · was
    On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,
  42. Luke 5:3ἦν · belonging
    Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
  43. Luke 5:8εἰμι · I am
    When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”
  44. Luke 5:10ἦσαν; ἔσῃ · you will
    …and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
  45. Luke 5:12εἶναι · was
    While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”