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. Acts 21:9ἦσαν · had
    He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
  2. Acts 21:11ἐστιν
    Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
  3. Acts 21:20εἰσὶν
    When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.
  4. Acts 21:22ἐστιν · should [we do]
    What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.
  5. Acts 21:23εἰσὶν · There are
    Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.
  6. Acts 21:24ἐστιν · there
    Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.
  7. Acts 21:28ἐστιν · is
    …crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”
  8. Acts 21:29ἦσαν · they had
    For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
  9. Acts 21:33εἴη · he was; ἐστιν
    The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
  10. Acts 21:38εἶ · Aren’t
    “Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”
  11. Acts 21:39εἰμι · am
    But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”
  12. Acts 22:3εἰμι · am; ἐστε · are
    “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
  13. Acts 22:5ὄντας
    …as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
  14. Acts 22:8εἶ · are You; εἰμι · am
    ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.
  15. Acts 22:9ὄντες
    My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.
  16. Acts 22:15ἔσῃ · You will be
    You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
  17. Acts 22:19ἤμην
    ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
  18. Acts 22:20ἤμην
    And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
  19. Acts 22:26ἐστιν · is
    On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
  20. Acts 22:27εἶ · are
    The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
  21. Acts 22:29ἐστιν; ἦν
    At once those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.
  22. Acts 23:5ἐστὶν · he was
    “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
  23. Acts 23:6ἐστὶν · were; εἰμι · am
    Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
  24. Acts 23:8εἶναι · there is
    For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
  25. Acts 23:13ἦσαν · were
    More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
  26. Acts 23:15ἐσμεν · are
    Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
  27. Acts 23:19ἐστιν
    The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
  28. Acts 23:21εἰσιν · they are
    Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
  29. Acts 23:27ἐστιν · he is
    This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
  30. Acts 23:30ἔσεσθαι · there was
    When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.
  31. Acts 23:34ἐστὶν · [Paul] was
    The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
  32. Acts 24:10ὄντα · have been
    When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.
  33. Acts 24:11εἰσίν
    You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
  34. Acts 24:15ἔσεσθαι · be
    …and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
  35. Acts 24:24οὔσῃ · who was
    After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
  36. Acts 25:5ἐστιν · has done
    So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”
  37. Acts 25:10εἰμι · I am
    Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.
  38. Acts 25:11ἐστιν · there is
    If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
  39. Acts 25:14ἐστιν · There is
    Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.
  40. Acts 25:16ἔστιν · it is
    I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
  41. Acts 26:3ὄντα · are
    …especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.
  42. Acts 26:15εἶ · are You; εἰμι · am
    ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
  43. Acts 26:21ὄντα
    For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
  44. Acts 26:26ἐστιν · was
    For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.