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Bible Lexicons

Old & New Testament Greek Lexical DictionaryGreek Lexicon

Strong's #1487 - εἰ

Transliteration

Phonetics

Origin

a primary particle of conditionality

Parts of Speech

conjunction

TDNT

None

Definition

Thayer
Strong
Mounce

Thayer's

if, whether

Frequency Lists

Book
Word
Parsing

Verse Results

ASV (458)

Matthew 55

Mark 24

Luke 52

John 47

Acts 32

Romans 40

1 Corinthians 58

2 Corinthians 33

Galatians 18

Ephesians 2

Philippians 13

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 12

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Philemon 2

Hebrews 16

James 9

1 Peter 14

2 Peter 2

1 John 7

2 John 1

Revelation 10

BSB (454)

Matthew 55

Mark 35

Luke 53

John 49

Acts 35

Romans 44

1 Corinthians 64

2 Corinthians 36

Galatians 20

Ephesians 4

Philippians 13

Colossians 4

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 13

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Philemon 2

Hebrews 16

James 10

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 2

1 John 7

2 John 1

Revelation 16

CSB (373)

Matthew 54

Mark 33

Luke 49

John 49

Acts 29

Romans 43

1 Corinthians 64

2 Corinthians 35

Galatians 20

Ephesians 2

Philippians 12

Colossians 3

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 8

2 Timothy 4

Philemon 2

Hebrews 12

James 9

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 2

1 John 7

2 John 1

Revelation 14

ESV (298)

Matthew 55

Mark 34

Luke 53

John 46

Acts 37

Romans 42

1 Corinthians 61

2 Corinthians 37

Galatians 21

Ephesians 4

Philippians 9

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 13

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Hebrews 16

James 10

1 Peter 13

2 Peter 2

1 John 7

Revelation 16

KJV (291)

Matthew 38

Mark 15

Luke 32

John 34

Acts 32

Romans 32

1 Corinthians 33

2 Corinthians 11

Galatians 14

Philippians 1

Colossians 2

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Timothy 5

2 Timothy 4

Philemon 2

Hebrews 14

James 5

1 Peter 10

2 Peter 2

1 John 5

LEB (0)

The Lexham English Bible
did not use
this Strong's Number

LSB (373)

Matthew 37

Mark 22

Luke 35

John 39

Acts 27

Romans 37

1 Corinthians 50

2 Corinthians 22

Galatians 17

Ephesians 3

Philippians 10

Colossians 4

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 11

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Philemon 2

Hebrews 9

James 10

1 Peter 13

2 Peter 2

1 John 5

2 John 1

Revelation 9

N95 (371)

Matthew 37

Mark 22

Luke 35

John 39

Acts 27

Romans 37

1 Corinthians 50

2 Corinthians 22

Galatians 17

Ephesians 3

Philippians 10

Colossians 4

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 11

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Philemon 2

Hebrews 9

James 10

1 Peter 13

2 Peter 2

1 John 5

2 John 1

Revelation 7

NAS (376)

Matthew 40

Mark 23

Luke 38

John 42

Acts 28

Romans 37

1 Corinthians 53

2 Corinthians 28

Galatians 18

Ephesians 3

Philippians 10

Colossians 4

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 12

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Philemon 2

Hebrews 10

James 10

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 2

1 John 5

2 John 1

Revelation 10

NLT (296)

Matthew 31

Mark 15

Luke 29

John 38

Acts 24

Romans 28

1 Corinthians 49

2 Corinthians 15

Galatians 20

Ephesians 1

Philippians 6

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 4

Philemon 2

Hebrews 11

James 9

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 2

1 John 4

2 John 1

Revelation 3

WEB (464)

Matthew 54

Mark 26

Luke 52

John 48

Acts 34

Romans 42

1 Corinthians 59

2 Corinthians 33

Galatians 18

Ephesians 2

Philippians 13

Colossians 3

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 11

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Philemon 2

Hebrews 16

James 9

1 Peter 14

2 Peter 2

1 John 7

2 John 1

Revelation 10

YLT (459)

Matthew 52

Mark 34

Luke 47

John 47

Acts 30

Romans 41

1 Corinthians 53

2 Corinthians 33

Galatians 17

Ephesians 3

Philippians 12

Colossians 4

1 Thessalonians 1

2 Thessalonians 2

1 Timothy 12

2 Timothy 4

Titus 1

Philemon 2

Hebrews 15

James 9

1 Peter 15

2 Peter 2

1 John 6

2 John 1

Revelation 16

ASV (458)

although 2

and 1

and if 1

another 1

anything 1

are 1

are they 1

but 17

but if 6

but such 1

coveting 1

desire 1

did 1

dost 1

else 1

except 7

for 2

garment 1

glory 1

had 1

he 1

heaven 1

him 1

him: if 1

how that 1

if 308

is it 1

is it, if 1

it may 1

it: though 1

itself 1

me 1

me, and if 1

mine own 1

nbsp 8

neither the son, but 1

no 1

not 1

nothing 1

now if 1

of them 1

only 1

or 2

receiving 1

salvation 1

save 14

save that 1

saying 2

sent 1

shall 1

sin 1

sins 1

souls. if 1

stood by 1

such 1

that 2

the 1

the father 1

there 1

there, save 1

therefore; or 1

though 7

to enter in 1

to it 1

unto it 1

was cleansed 1

what 1

whether 23

with a man, if 1

without honor 1

you, if 1

BSB (454)

- 1

although 1

an elder must 1

and 1

and as the 1

and so 1

back 1

because 1

but 11

but if 1

but only 3

even if 3

evidently 1

except 37

except for 1

for 2

if 308

if he does 3

if it is 3

if only 1

if that were 1

if they do 1

if you have 1

if you suffer 1

in the hope that 1

is this 1

no 1

now that 1

only 13

only for 1

or 4

perhaps 1

regardless 1

since 7

since you are 1

such as 1

surely 1

that 5

though 6

to have 2

to see if 3

to see whether 1

to see} if 1

unless 4

was it 1

what if 2

when 1

whether 6

which 1

will 1

CSB (373)

assuming 1

if 347

no 1

price 1

since 4

that 5

though 7

whether 6

yet 1

ESV (298)

assuming 2

did 1

has 4

if 245

is 1

it 2

no 1

not 3

order 1

shall 1

since 4

that 7

though 2

unless 1

were 1

when 2

whether 18

will 1

would 1

KJV (291)

* 13

although 1

for 2

forasmuch 1

had 1

he 2

i 2

if 233

it 2

no 1

not 1

that 6

there 2

though 1

whether 21

ye 1

LEB (0)

The Lexham English Bible
did not use
this Strong's Number

LSB (373)

if 345

no 1

only 1

though 6

unless 2

whether 18

N95 (371)

if 341

no 1

only 1

though 7

unless 2

whether 19

NAS (376)

if 355

no 1

though 5

whether 15

NLT (296)

and 2

are 3

argue 1

as 3

assuming 1

be 1

can 1

do 3

does 2

even 1

first 1

for 1

how 1

if 207

never 3

not 1

now 1

oh 1

remember 1

should 1

since 28

stayed 1

suppose 1

that 13

though 3

to 2

true 1

was 1

when 4

whether 5

yes 1

WEB (464)

* 6

although 3

and how 1

and if 1

another 1

anything 1

are 2

are they 1

be 1

boast 1

but 15

but if 6

by them 1

coveting 1

did 1

even if 1

except 19

except that 1

except what 1

for 2

had 1

heaven 1

him 1

how 1

if 310

is it 1

is it if 1

it may 1

itself 1

me 1

no 1

not 1

nothing 1

now if 1

only 2

or 1

or else 1

receiving 1

salvation 1

saying 1

sent 1

shall 1

sin 1

sins 1

stood by 1

such 1

that 3

the 1

the father 1

though 5

to 2

to enter in 1

to it 2

to see 1

to see if 1

to see whether 2

unless 5

was cleansed 1

we only 1

what 1

what i own 1

whether 16

wish 1

without honor 1

YLT (459)

[he]; if 1

[is it] if 1

[is it], if 1

also, if 1

and 1

and if 4

and said, 'if 1

but 3

even if 2

except 64

for if 1

him, if 1

himself, if 1

i if 1

if 354

if but 1

if if 1

if let us eat 1

it except 1

me that 1

one, if 1

only 1

save 1

that 1

things? if 1

though 1

to: if 1

whether 8

whoever 1

ye, if 1

RAH

The
did not use
this Strong's Number

SWE

COND 404

ANT

COND 503

BEZ

CONJ 507

BGB

COND 503

BMT

COND 506

BYZ

COND 488

ELZ

A-ASF 1

ADV 4

CONJ 430

N-ASF 1

N-NSF 1

P-ASM 1

P-GP 1

P-GS 1

PRT 37

V-AAN 1

V-PAI-2S 3

V-PAPNPM 1

NA26

C 458

D 4

X 40

SBL

COND 488

SCV

COND 489

STV

COND 491

TIS

COND 504

ADV 4

CONJ 457

PRT 39

TRG

A-ASF 1

ADV 4

CONJ 423

N-ASF 1

N-NSF 1

P-ASM 1

P-GP 1

P-GS 1

PRT 36

V-AAN 1

V-PAI-2S 4

V-PAPNPM 1

The
did not use
this Strong's Number

Liddell-Scott-Jones Definitions

εἰ,

Att. - Ion. and Arc. (for εἰκ, v. infr. 11 ad init.), = Dor. and Aeol. αἰ, αἰκ (q. v.), Cypr. ἤ Inscr.Cypr. 135.10 H., both εἰ and αἰ in : — Particle used interjectionally with imper. and to express a wish, but usu. either in conditions, if, or in indirect questions, whether. In the former use its regular negative is μή; in the latter, οὐ.

INTERJECTIONALLY, in Hom.,

1. come now ! c. imper., εἰ δὲ.. ἄκουσον Il. 9.262; εἰ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ φευγόντων ib. 46; most freq. with ἄγε (q. v.), 1.302, al.

2. in wishes, c. opt., ἀλλ' εἴ τις.. καλέσειεν 10.111, cf. 24.74; so later, εἴ μοι ξυνείη μοῖρα S. OT 863 (lyr.); εἴ μοι γένοιτο φθόγγος ἐν βραχίοσιν E. Hec. 836: more freq. folld. by γάρ, αἲ γὰρ δὴ οὕτως εἴη Il. 4.189, al.; εἰ γὰρ γενοίμην ἀντὶ σοῦ νεκρός E. Hipp. 1410; εἰ γὰρ γένοιτο X. Cyr. 6.1.38; εἰ γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ εἴη Pl. Prt. 310d; of unattained wishes, in Hom. only c. opt., εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼν.. Διὸς πάϊς αἰγιόχοιο εἴην Il. 13.825; Ζεῦ πάτερ, αἰ γὰρ ἐμὸς πόσις εἴη Alcm. 29; later with past tenses of ind., εἰ γάρ μ' ὑπὸ γῆν.. ἧκεν A. Pr. 152 (anap.); εἰ γὰρ τοσαύτην δύναμιν εἶχον ὥστε.. E. Alc. 1072: twice in Od. c. inf. (cf. the use of inf. in commands), αἰ γὰρ τοῖος ἐὼν.. ἐμὸς γαμβρὸς καλέεσθαι 7.311, cf. 24.376. εἴθε, αἴθε, is freq. used in wishes in the above constructions, εἴθε οἱ αὐτῷ Ζεὺς ἀγαθὸν τελέσειεν 2.33; εἴθ' ὣς ἡβώοιμι Il. 7.157; ἰὼ γᾶ, εἴθ' ἔμ' ἐδέξω A. Ag. 1537 (lyr.); εἴθε σοι, ὦ Περίκλεις, τότε συνεγενόμην X. Mem. 1.2.46: later c. inf., γαίης χθαμαλωτέρη εἴθε.. κεῖσθαι AP 9.284 (Crin.). εἰ γάρ, εἴθε are also used with ὤφελον ( ὤφελλον), of past unattained wishes, αἴθ' ὤφελλες στρατοῦ ἄλλου σημαίνειν Il. 14.84; εἰ γὰρ ὤφελον [κατιδεῖν ] Pl. R. 432c. folld. by a clause expressing a consequence of the fulfilment of the wish, αἰ γὰρ τοῦτο.. ἔπος τετελεσμένον εἴη· τῷ κε τάχα γνοίης.. Od. 15.536, cf. 17.496, al.; sts. hard to distinguish from εἰ in conditions (which may be derived from this use), εἴ μοί τι πίθοιο, τό κεν πολὺ κέρδιον εἴη Il. 7.28.

IN CONDITIONS, if:

I with INDIC.,

1 with all tenses (for fut., v. infr. 2), to state a condition, with nothing implied as to its fulfilment, εἰ δ' οὕτω τοῦτ' ἐστίν, ἐμοὶ μέλλει φίλον εἶναι but if this is so, it will be.., Il. 1.564: any form of the Verb may stand in apodosi, εἰ θεοί τι δρῶσιν αἰσχρόν, οὐκ εἰσὶν θεοί E. Fr. 292.7; εἰ δοκεῖ, πλέωμεν S. Ph. 526; εἰ Φαῖδρον ἀγνοῶ, καὶ ἐμαυτ οῦ ἐπιλέλησμαι Pl. Phdr. 228a; κάκιστ' ἀπολοίμην, Ξανθίαν εἰ μὴ φιλῶ Ar. Ra. 579, cf. Od. 17.475; εἰ θεοῦ ἦν, οὐκ ἦν αἰσχροκερδής· εἰ δ' αἰσχροκερδής, οὐκ ἦν θεοῦ Pl. R. 408c; εἰ ταῦτα λέγων διαφθείρω τοὺς νέους, ταῦτ' ἂν εἴη βλαβερά Id. Ap. 30b, cf. 25b; εἰ οὗτοι ὀρθῶς ἀπέστησαν, ὑμεῖς ἂν οὐ χρεὼν ἄρχοιτε if these were right in their revolt, (it would follow that) you rule when you have no right, Th. 3.40. to express a general condition, if ever, whenever, sts. with pres., εἴ τις δύο ἢ καὶ πλείους τις ἡμέρας λογίζεται, μάταιός ἐστιν S. Tr. 943: with impf., εἴ τίς τι ἠρώτα ἀπεκρίνοντο Th. 7.10: rarely with aor., D.S. 31.26.1, S.E. P. 1.84; cf. 111.2.

2. with fut. (much less freq. than ἐάν c. subj.), either to express a future supposition emphatically, εἰ φθάσομεν τοὺς πολεμίους κατακαίνοντες οὐδεὶς ἡμῶν ἀποθανεῖται X. Cyr. 7.1.19; εἰ μὴ βοηθήσετε οὐ περιέσται τἀκεῖ Th. 6.91; εἰ αὕτη ἡ πόλις ληφθήσεται, ἔχεται ἡ πᾶσα Σικελία ibid.; in threats or warnings, εἰ μὴ καθέξεις γλῶσσαν ἔσται σοι κακά E. Fr. 5; εἰ τιμωρήσεις Πατρόκλῳ, αὐτὸς ἀποθανῇ Pl. Ap. 28c, cf. D. 28.21: or, to express a present intention or expectation, αἶρε πλῆκτρον εἰ μαχεῖ if you mean to fight, Ar. Av. 759; ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἀνήρ.. εἰ ταῦτ' ἀνατεὶ τῇδε κείσεται κράτη S. Ant. 485, cf. Il. 1.61, E. Hec. 863.

3. with historical tenses, implying that the condition is or was unfulfilled. with impf., referring to present time or to continued or repeated action in past time (in Hom. always the latter, Il. 24.715, al.): ταῦτα οὐκ ἂν ἐδύναντο ποιεῖν, εἰ μὴ διαίτῃ μετρίᾳ ἐχρῶντο they would not be able to do this (as they do), if they did not live an abstemious life, X. Cyr. 1.2.16, cf. Pl. R. 489b; οὐκ ἂν νήσων ἐκράτει, εἰ μή τι καὶ ναυτικὸν εἶχεν he (Agamemnon) would not have been master of islands, if he had not had also some naval force, Th. 1.9; αἰ δ' ἦχες ἔσλων ἴμερον ἢ κάλων.. αἴδως κεν.. ἦχεν Sapph. 28; εἰ ἦσαν ἄνδρες ἀγαθοὶ.. οὐκ ἄν ποτε ταῦτα ἔπασχον if they had been good men, they would never have suffered as they did, Pl. Grg. 516e, cf. X. Mem. 1.1.5; εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ τάδε ᾔδἐ.. οὐκ ἂν ὑπεξέφυγε if I had known thIsa., Il. 8.366. with aor. referring to past time, εἰ μὴ ἔφυσε θεὸς μέλι.. ἔφασκον γλύσσονα σῦκα πέλεσθαι Xenoph. 38; εἰ μὴ ὑμεῖς ἤλθετε, ἐπορευόμεθα ἂν ἐπὶ βασιλέα had you not come, we should be on our way.., X. An. 2.1.4; καὶ ἴσως ἂν ἀπέθανον, εἰ μὴ ἡ ἀρχὴ διὰ ταχέων κατελύθη Pl. Ap. 32d, cf. Il. 5.680, Od. 4.364, D. 4.5, 27.63: with plpf. in apodosi, εἰ τριάκοντα μόναι μετέπεσον τῶν ψήφων, ἀπεπεφεύγη ἄν Pl. Ap. 36a. rarely with plpf. referring to action finished in past or present time, λοιπὸν δ' ἂν ἦν ἡμῖν ἔτι περὶ τῆς πόλεως διαλεχθῆναι, εἰ μὴ προτέρα τῶν ἄλλων τὴν εἰρήνην ἐπεποίητο if she had not (as she has done) made peace before the rest, Isoc. 5.56, cf. Pl. Ti. 21c.

II with SUB J., εἰ is regularly joined with ἄν ( κε, κεν), cf. ἐάν: Arc. εἰκαν in Tegean Inscrr. of iv B. C. (IG 5(2).3.16, 31, 6.2, SIG 306.34) should be understood as εἰκ ἄν (εἰ: εἰκ = οὐ: οὐκ), since εἰ δ' ἄν is also found in IG 5(2).3.2, 6.45, and εἰκ alone, ib.3.21; but ἄν (κε, κεν) are freq. absent in Hom. as Od. 5.221, 14.373 (and cf. infr. 2), and Lyr., Pi. (who never uses εἰ with ἄν or κε (ν)) P. 4.266, al.; in dialects, αἰ δείλητ' ἀγχωρεῖν IG 9(1).334.6 (Locr., v B. C.), cf. Foed. Dor. ap. Th. 5.79; rarely in Hdt., εἰ μὴ ἀναβῇ 2.13; occasionally in Trag., A. Eu. 234, S. OT 198 (lyr.), etc.; very rarely in Att. Prose, εἰ ξυστῶσιν αἱ πόλεις Th. 6.21; εἴ τι που ἄλσος ἢ τέμενος ἀφειμένον ᾖ Pl. Lg. 761c: in later Prose, εἴ τις θελήσῃ Revelation 11:5; εἰ φονεύῃ Plot. 2.9.9, cf. Procl. Inst. 26.

1 when the apodosis is fut., to express a future condition more distinctly and vividly than εἰ c. opt., but less so than εἰ c. fut. ind. (supr. 1.2a); εἰ δέ κεν ὣς ἕρξῃς καί τοι πείθωνται Ἀχαιοί, γνώσῃ ἔπειθ'.. if thou do thus.., thou shalt know, Il. 2.364, cf. 1.128, 3.281, Od. 17.549; ἂν δέ τις ἀνθιστῆται, σὺν ὑμῖν πειρασόμεθα χειροῦσθαι X. An. 7.3.11; ἂν μὴ νῦν ἐθέλωμεν ἐκεῖ πολεμεῖν αὐτῷ, ἐνθάδ' ἴσως ἀναγκασθησόμεθα τοῦτο ποιεῖν if we be not now willing, D. 4.50, cf. X. Cyr. 5.3.27: folld. by imper., ἢν εἰρήνης δοκῆτε δεῖσθαι, ἄνευ ὅπλων ἥκετε ib. 3.2.13, cf. 5.4.30.

2. when the apodosis is present, denoting customary or repeated action, to express a general condition, if ever, ἤν ποτε δασμὸς ἵκηται, σοὶ τὸ γέρας πολὺ μεῖζον (sc. ἐστί) whenever a division comes, your prize is (always) greater, Il. 1.166; ἢν ἐγγὺς ἔλθῃ θάνατος, οὐδεὶς βούλεται θνῄσκειν if death come near, E. Alc. 671; with ἄν omitted, εἴ περ γάρ τε χόλον.. καταπέψῃ ἀλλά.. ἔχει κότον Il. 1.81. with Rhet. present in apodosis, ἐὰν μὴ οἱ φιλόσοφοι βασιλεύσωσιν, οὐκ ἔστι κακῶν παῦλα there is (i.e. can be, will be) no rest.., Pl. R. 473d.

III with OPTATIVE (never with ἄν in early Gr., later ἐάν c. opt., Dam. Pr. 114, al.),

1 to express a future condition less definitely than ἐάν c. subj., usu. with opt. with ἄν in apod., ἦ κεν γηθήσαι Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες.. εἰ σφῶιν τάδε πάντα πυθοίατο μαρναμένοιιν surely they would exult, if they should hear.., Il. 1.255, cf. 7.28, Od. 3.223; εἴης φορητὸς οὐκ ἄν, εἰ πράσσοις καλῶς A. Pr. 979; οὐδὲ γὰρ ἄν με ἐπαινοίη, εἰ ἐξελαύνοιμι τοὺς εὐεργέτας X. An. 7.7.11; οἶκος δ' αὐτός, εἰ φθογγὴν λάβοι, σαφέστατ' ἂν λέξειεν A. Ag. 37, etc.: fut. opt. is f.l. in Pl. Tht. 164a: with pres. ind. in apod., Xenoph. 34.3, Democr. 253: with fut. ind., Meliss. 5. in Hom.sts. with pres. opt., to express an unfulfilled present condition, εἰ μὲν νῦν ἐπὶ ἄλλῳ ἀεθλεύοιμεν, ἦ τ' ἂν ἐγὼ τὰ πρῶτα φεροίμην if we were now contending, etc., Il. 23.274: rarely in Trag., εἰ μὴ κνίζοι (= εἰ μὴ ἔκνιζε) E. Med. 568; also εἰ ἀναγκαῖον εἴη ἀδικεῖν ἢ ἀδικεῖσθαι, ἑλοίμην ἂν μᾶλλον ἀδικεῖσθαι Pl. Grg. 469c.

2. when the apodosis is past, denoting customary or repeated action, to express a general condition in past time (corresponding to use of subj. in present time, supr. 11.2); once in Hom., εἴ τίς με.. ἐνίπτοι, ἀλλὰ σὺ τόν γ'.. κατέρυκες Il. 24.768; εἰ δέ τινας θορυβουμένους αἴσθοιτο.., κατασβεννύναι τὴν ταραχὴν ἐπειρᾶτο if he should see (whenever he saw) any troops in confusion, he (always) tried, X. Cyr. 5.3.55, cf. An. 4.5.13, Mem. 4.2.40; εἴ τις ἀντείποι, εὐθὺς ἐτεθνήκει if any one made objection, he was a dead man at once, Th. 8.66; ἀλλ' εἴ τι μὴ φέροιμεν, ὤτρυνεν φέρειν E. Alc. 755. For εἰ c. ind. in this sense v. supr. 1.1: ind. and opt. are found in same sentence, ἐμίσει, οὐκ εἴ τις κακῶς πάσχων ἠμύνετο, ἀλλ' εἴ τις εὐεργετούμενος ἀχάριστος φαίνοιτο X. Ages. 11.3.

3. in oratio obliqua after past tenses, representing ἐάν c. subj. or εἰ with a primary (never an historical) tense of the ind. in oratio recta, ἐλογίζοντο ὡς, εἰ μὴ μάχοιντο, ἀποστήσοιντο αἱ πόλεις (representing ἐὰν μὴ μαχώμεθα, ἀποστήσονται) X. HG 6.4.6, cf. D. 21.104, X. HG 5.2.2; ἔλεγεν ὅτι, εἰ βλαβερὰ πεπραχὼς εἴη, δίκαιος εἴη ζημιοῦσθαι (representing εἰ βλαβερὰ πέπραχε, δίκαιός ἐστι) ib. 32, cf. An. 6.6.25; εἰ δέ τινα φεύγοντα λήψοιτο, προηγόρευεν ὅτι ὡς πολεμίψ χρήσοιτο (representing εἴ τινα λήψομαι, χρήσομαι) Id. Cyr. 3.1.3; also, where oratio obliqua is implied in the leading clause, οὐκ ἦν τοῦ πολέμου πέρας Φιλίππῳ, εἰ μὴ Θηβαίους.. ἐχθροὺς ποιήσειε τῇ πόλει, i.e. Philip thought there would be no end to the war, un less he should make.. (his thought having been ἐὰν μὴ ποιήσω), D. 18.145; ἐβούλοντο γὰρ σφίσιν, εἴ τινα λάβοιεν, ὑπάρχειν ἀντὶ τῶν ἔνδον, ἢν ἄρα τύχωσί τινες ἐζωγρημένοι Th. 2.5.

4. c. opt. with ἄν, only when the clause serves as apodosis as well as protasis, cf. Pl. Prt. 329b, D. 4.18, X. Mem. 1.5.3 (v. ἄν A. 111. d). c. INF., in oratio obliqua, only in Hdt., εἰ γὰρ δὴ δεῖν πάντως περιθεῖναι ἄλλῳ τέῳ τὴν βασιληΐην, [ἔφη] δικαιότερον εἶναι κτλ. 1.129; εἰ εἶναι τοῦτο μὴ φίλον 2.64, cf. 172, 3.105, 108. after Verbs denoting wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, εἰ c. ind. is used instead of ὅτι, to express the object of the feeling in a hypothetical form, θαυμάζω εἰ μηδεὶς ὑμῶν μήτ' ἐνθυμεῖται μήτ' ὀργίζεται, ὁρῶν.. I wonder that no one of you is either concerned or angry when he sees.., D. 4.43; οὐκ ἀγαπᾷ εἰ μὴ δίκην δέδωκεν, ἀλλ' εἰ μὴ καὶ χρυσῷ στεφάνῳ στεφανωθήσεται ἀγανακτεῖ Aeschin. 3.147: after past tenses, ἐθαύμασε δ' εἰ μὴ φανερόν ἐστιν X. Mem. 1.1.13; δεινὸν εἰσῄει, εἰ μὴ.. δόξει D. 19.33; ἐθαύμαζον εἴ τι ἕξει τις χρήσασθαι τῷ λόγῳ Pl. Phd. 95a; οὐδὲ ᾐσχύνθη εἰ.. ἐπάγει D. 21.105: in oratio obliqua (expressed or implied) c. opt., ἐπεῖπεν ὡς δεινὸν (sc. εἴη) εἰ.. μεγαλόψυχος γένοιτο Aeschin. 2.157; ᾤκτιρον εἰ ἁλώσοιντο X. An. 1.4.7; ἐθαύμαζε δ' εἴ τις ἀρετὴν ἐπαγγελλόμενος ἀργύριον πράττοιτο he wondered that any one should demand money, Id. Mem. 1.2.7; ἔχαιρον ἀγαπῶν εἴ τις ἐάσοι I rejoiced, being content if any one should let it pass, Pl. R. 450a: — in this use the neg. οὐ is also found, ἀγανακτῶ εἰ ὁ Φίλιππος ἁρπάζων οὐ λυπεῖ D. 8.55; δεινὸν ἂν εἴη εἰ οἱ ἐκείνων ξύμμαχοι οὐκ ἀπεροῦσιν Th. 1.121; τέρας λέγεις, εἰ οὐκ ἂν δύναιντο λαθεῖν Pl. Men. 91d, etc. in citing a fact as a ground of argument or appeal, as surely as, since, εἴ ποτ' ἔην γε if there was [as there was], i.e. as sure as there was such an one, Il. 3.180, al.; εἰ τότε κοῦρος ἔα, νῦν αὖτέ με γῆρας ὀπάζει 4.321; πολλοὺς γὰρ οἶκε εἶναι εὐπετέστερον διαβάλλειν ἢ ἕνα, εἰ Κλεομένεα μὲν μοῦνον οὐκ οἷός τε ἐγένετο διαβαλεῖν, τρεῖς δὲ μυριάδας Ἀθηναίων ἐποίησε τοῦτο it seems easier to deceive many than one, if (as was the fact, i.e. since) he was not able.., Hdt. 5.97, cf. 1.60,al.

ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTIONS:

1 with apodosis implied in the context, εἰ having the force of in case, supposing that, πρὸς τὴν πόλιν, εἰ ἐπιβοηθοῖεν, ἐχώρουν they marched towards the city [so as to meet the citizens], in case they should rush out, Th. 6.100; ἱκέται πρὸς σὲ δεῦρ' ἀφίγμεθα, εἴ τινα πόλιν φράσειας ἡμῖν εὔερον we have come hither to you, in case you should tell us of some fleecy city (i.e. that we might hear of it), Ar. Av. 120; παρέζεο καὶ λαβὲ γούνων, αἴ κέν πως ἐθέλῃσιν ἐπὶ Τρώεσσιν ἀρῆξαι sit by him and grasp his knees [so as to persuade him], in case he be willing to help the Trojans, Il. 1.408, cf. 66, Od. 1.94, 3.92; ἄκουσον καὶ ἐμοῦ, ἐάν σοι ἔτι ταὐτὰ δοκῇ hear me also [that you may assent], in case the same opinion please you, Pl. R. 358b; ἰδὲ δή, ἐάν σοι ὅπερ ἐμοὶ συνδοκῇ look now, in case you approve what I do, ib. 434a.

2. with apodosis suppressed for rhetorical reasons, εἴ περ γάρ κ' ἐθέλῃσιν Ὀλύμπιος.. στυφελίξαι if he wish to thrust him away, [he will do so], Il. 1.580; εἰ μὲν δώσουσι γέρας — · εἰ δέ κε μὴ δώωσιν, ἐγὼ δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕλωμαι if they shall give me a prize, [well and good]; but if they give not, then I will take one for myself, 1.135, cf. 6.150, Ar. Pl. 468; καὶ ἢν μὲν ξυμβῇ ἡ πεῖρα — · εἰ δὲ μή.. and if the attempt succeed, [well]; otherwise.., Th. 3.3, cf. Pl. Prt. 325d.

3. with the Verb of the protasis omitted, chiefly in the following expressions: εἰ μή except, οὐδὲν ἄλλο σιτέονται, εἰ μὴ ἰχθῦς μοῦνον Hdt. 1.200; μὰ τὼ θεώ, εἰ μὴ Κρίτυλλά γ' [εἰμί ] — nay, if I'm not Critylla! i.e. I am, Ar. Th. 898; εἰ μὴ ὅσον except only, ἐγὼ μέν μιν οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ ὅσον γραφῇ Hdt. 2.73, cf. 1.45, 2.20; εἰ μὴ εἰ Th. 1.17, Pl. Grg. 480b, etc.; εἰ μή τι οὖν, ἀλλὰ σμικρόν γέ μοι τῆς ἀρχῆς χάλασον if nothing else, yet.., Id. Men. 86e; ironical, εἰ μὴ ἄρα ἡ τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐπιμέλεια διαφθορά ἐστιν X. Mem. 1.2.8; εἰ μή πέρ γε τὸν ὑοσκύαμον χρήματα εἶναι φήσομεν Id. Oec. 1.13. εἰ δὲ μή but if not, i.e. otherwise, προηγόρευε τοῖς Λαμψακηνοῖσι μετιέναι Μιλτιάδεα, εἰ δὲ μή, σφέας πίτυος τρόπον ἀπείλεε ἐκτρίψειν Hdt. 6.37, cf. 56; after μάλιστα μέν, Th. 1.32, 35, etc.: — after a preceding neg., μὴ τύπτ'· εἰ δὲ μή, σαυτόν ποτ' αἰτιάσει don't beat me; otherwise, you will have yourself to blame, Ar. Nu. 1433; ὦ Κῦρε, μὴ οὕτω λέγε· εἰ δὲ μή, οὐ θαρροῦντά με ἕξεις X. Cyr. 3.1.35; οὔτ' ἐν τῷ ὕδατι τὰ ὅπλα ἦν ἔχειν· εἰ δὲ μή Id. An. 4.3.6, cf. Th. 1.28, 131, Pl. Phd. 91c. εἰ δέ sts. stands for

Thayer's Expanded Definition

εἰ, ἰ: εἰ and ἰ 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 in WHs Appendix, p. 152f (cf. Introductory § 399); Tdf Proleg., p. 83f; Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word εἰ. The use of iota ἰ for εἰ is noticed under the word Iota; instances in which εἰ is substituted for iota ἰ are the folling: Ἀβειληνη WH; Ἀδδει T Tr WH; Ἀντειπας T; Ἀρεοπαγειτης T; Βενιάμειν L T Tr WH; Δαυειδ L T Tr WH; Ἐζεκειας L; Ἐλαμειτης T WH; Ἐλεισαβετ WH; Ἐσλει T Tr WH; Ἐυνεικη Rec.st; ἡλει T Tr WH; ἠλειας T WH; ἱερείχω T WH; ἱεροσολυμειτης T WH; Ἰσραηλειτης T WH, so Tr in John 1:47 (48); Ἰωσείας L T Tr WH; κεἰς L T Tr WH; Κυρεῖνος Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading; Λευεις T WH, so Tr except in Mark 2:14; Λευειτης T WH, so Tr except in Acts 4:36; Λευειτικος T WH; Μελχει T Tr WH; Νηρει T Tr WH; Νινευειτης T WH, so Tr in Matthew 12:41; Ὀζείας L T Tr WH; Πειλᾶτος T WH; Σεμηιν T Tr WH; Ταβειθα WH; Χερούβειν L T Tr WH (χερουβιμ R G); Χοράζειν T Tr WH; ἀφειδεια L; ἐιδεια T Tr WH; ἐπαρχεία T WH; ἐπιποθεια WH; ἡλει T; πανοικεί T WH; ῥαββει T WH; ῥαββουνει WH; σαβαχθανε T Tr WH; ταλειθα WH; τάχειον WH; τραπεζειτης T WH.) εἰ, is first a conditional particle, if (Latinsi); secondly, an interrogative particle, whether, (Latinan, num, ne).

I. εἰ Conditional (on the difference between it and ἐάν, see ἐάν, 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 indicative α. following in the apodosis by the present indicative: Matthew 19:10 (εἰ οὕτως ἐστιν ἡ αἰτία ... οὐ συμφέρει γαμῆσαι); ; 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 19:17 L Tr text WH text); Mark 4:23; Mark 7:16 R G L; John 15:18; Acts 13:15; Acts 25:5; 1 Corinthians 7:12, 15; James 3:14, etc.; or the aorist, as Matthew 5:29, 30; Matthew 8:31; Matthew 19:17 (R G T Tr marginal reading WH 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 5:39 L T Tr WH; ; 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 without ἄν, 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: εἰ ἔχετε (T Tr WH, for the R G L εἴχετε) ἐλέγετε ἄν, etc. Luke 17:6; εἰ ... μνημονεύουσιν (T Tr, for R G L WH ἐμνημόνευον) ... εἶχον ἄν, 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. τοιαῦτα λέγοντες Luke 17:14); εἰ τέκνα τοῦ Ἀβραάμ ἐστε (G L T Tr WH, for R ἦτε) ... ἐποιεῖτε ((WH text ποιεῖτε.) R L add ἄν), John 8:39; Alexander Buttmann (1873) in Studien und Kritiken for 1858, p. 474ff (N. T. Gram. § 139, 26; but cf. Meyer on Luke, the passage cited). But 2 Corinthians 11:4 εἰ ... κηρύσσει ... ἀνείχεσθέ G T Tr WH marginal reading (ἀνέχεσθε L WH 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. also Buttmann, 226 (195); but Winer'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 2:11 R G; 1 Peter 2:20.

c. with the perfect indicative: John 11:12; Acts 16:15; Romans 6:5; Romans 11:6 (where after εἰ supply λεῖμμα γέγονεν 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 supply οὐκ ἐκφευξόμεθα 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 to ἐπεί (cf. the use of German wenn) (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 by ἄν with the imperfect or the pluperfect or the aorist; sometimes ἄν is omitted, (on the causes of the omission, see Buttmann, § 139, 27); sometimes the apodosis is made a question (cf. Winers Grammar, 304f (285f)).

a. εἰ with the imperfect, followed in the apodosis by ἄν with the imperfect: Matthew 23:30; Luke 7:39 (εἰ οὗτος ἦν προφήτης, ἐγίνωσκεν ἄν, 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 quoted Hebrews 8:8); by a question in the apodosis: 1 Corinthians 12:19; Hebrews 7:11; by ἄν with the aorist, where the Latin uses the pluperfect subjunctive: John 11:32 if thou hadst been here, οὐκ ἄν ἀπέθανε μου ὁ ἀδελφός, 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 (εἰ μή ἦν οὗτος κακοποιός, οὐκ ἄν σοι παρεδώκαμεν αὐτόν, we would not have delivered him to thee); Acts 18:14; by ἄν with the pluperfect: John 11:21 (εἰ ἦς ὧδε ... οὐκ ἄν ἐτεθνήκει, would not have died (and be now dead; cf. Winers Grammar, 304 (285) and see above; but L T Tr text WH read the aorist here also)); 1 John 2:19.

b. εἰ with the pluperfect, followed in the apodosis by ἄν with the pluperfect or the aorist, in the sense of the Latin pluperfect subjunctive: Matthew 12:7 (εἰ ἐγνώκειτε, if ye had understood, i. e., if ye knew, οὐκ ἄν κατεδικάσατε τούς ἀναιτίους, ye would not have condemned the guiltless); Matthew 24:43 and Luke 12:39 (εἰ ᾔδει, if he had perceived, i. e., if he knew, ἐγρηγόρησεν ἄν, he would have watched, namely, before the thief had approached (Tr text WH omit ἄν in Luke, the passage cited)); John 4:10; John 8:19; John 14:7 (R G L). c:. with the aorist in the same sense as the Latin pluperfect subjunctive: εἰ ἐδόθη νόμος ... ὄντως ἄν ἐκ νόμου ἦν ἡ δικαιοσύνη, if a law had been given, righteousness would in truth come from the law, Galatians 3:21; εἰ αὐτούς Ἰησοῦς κατέπαυσεν, if Joshua had given them rest, οὐκ ἄν περί ἄλλης ἐλάλει, he would not be speaking, namely, in the passage quoted, Hebrews 4:8; apodosis without ἄν, John 15:22, see ἄν 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 (where ὅτι 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, εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκε, for the matter had not yet been investigated; hence, it is added ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτόν, εἰ ἤδη (R G T Tr marginal reading WH marginal reading πάλαι) ἀπέθανεν, Mark 15:44; μή θαυμάζετε, εἰ μισεῖ ὑμᾶς ὁ κόσμος (the thing is certain) 1 John 3:13; to the phrase ἄπιστον κρίνεται: Acts 26:8 (with παράδοξον preceding, Lucian, dial. mort. 13, 1); to καλόν ἐστιν and λυσιτελεῖ: Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:2 (Matthew 18:6 has συμφέρει, ἵνα); Matthew 26:24 and Mark 14:21; to μέγα ἐστι: 1 Corinthians 9:11 (on which see 8 below); 2 Corinthians 11:15; τί θέλω, εἰ ἤδη ἀνήφθη (τό πῦρ), 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); see τίς, 1 e. γ. at the end); Sir. 23:14 θελήσεις, εἰ μή ἐγεννήθης; (in addition to the other interpretations noticed by Winer's and Meyer the passages cited mention may be made of that which takes θέλω 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 Hebrew אִם, 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): ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν, εἰ δοθήσεται ... 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, εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τήν κατάπαυσιν μου (fully, 'let my name no longer be Jehovah, if they shall enter,' etc.), Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 4:3, from Psalm 94:11 () the Sept. (Hebrew אִם, Genesis 14:23; Numbers 14:30; 1 Samuel 14:45, etc.; we have the full expression in 1 Samuel 3:17; Song of Solomon 2:7, etc.).

6. Sometimes, as in classic Greek, after a protasis with εἰ 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)): εἰ βούλει παρενεγκεῖν τό ποτήριον τοῦτο (namely, παρένεγκε (but here L Tr WH adopt the imperative in place of the infinitive; yet cf. Buttmann, 396 (339))), Luke 22:42; εἰ δέ πνεῦμα ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ ἤ ἄγγελος, supply in place of an apodosis the question what then? Acts 23:9 (the apodosis added in Rec., μή θεομαχωμεν is spurious); εἰ ἔγνως ... τά πρός εἰρήνην σου, namely, ἐπιστευες ἄν ἐμοί, Luke 19:42 (Buttmann, 396 (339)].

7. The conditional εἰ 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: εἰ τύχοι, if it so chance, it may be (see τυγχάνω 2), 1 Corinthians 14:10; 1 Corinthians 15:37; εἰ θέλοι τό θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ, 1 Peter 3:17 (Rec. θέλει.

b. where it indicates that something may occur repeatedly (cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 492f): εἰ καί πάσχοιτε, 1 Peter 3:14 (cf. Winers Grammar, as above).

c. where the condition represents the mind and judgment of others: εἰς ὁ ἐβουλεύοντο (R G ἐβουλεύσαντο), εἰ δύναιντο ἐξῶσαι (WH text ἐκσωσαι (which see)) τό πλοῖον, into which bay (or rather 'upon which beach'; see ἐξωθέω) they determined to run the ship, if they could; as though the navigators had said among themselves, ἐξώσομεν, εἰ δυνάμεθα, Acts 27:39; so also εἰ τί ἔχοιεν πρός με, 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 if ἐάν were used (Klotz, the passage cited, p. 500ff; Winers Grammar, 294f (276f); Buttmann, § 139, 22): εἰ ... θερισωμεν, 1 Corinthians 9:11 Tdf. editions 2, 7 (Lachmann marginal reading; others, θερίσομεν); (the Sept. Genesis 43:3f; Sir. 22:26; 4 Macc. 6:20). But see III. below, under εἰ μή, εἰ μήτι, εἰ πῶς, εἴτε ... εἴτε, εἰ τίς.

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; Alexander Buttmann (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: as ὀυδ' εἰ πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐστιν, 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, εἰ ἔρχεται, Matthew 27:49; Mark 15:36; βουλεύεται (T WH L marginal reading βουλήσεται), εἰ δυνατός ἐστιν, Luke 14:31; ἵνα εἴπῃς, εἰ σύ εἰ, Matthew 26:63; (ἵνα γνῷ τήν δοκιμήν ὑμῶν εἰ (WH marginal reading ἡ) ... ὑπηκωι ἐστε, 2 Corinthians 2:9 (see WH. Introductory § 404)); after οὐκ οἶδα, John 9:25; after κρίνατε, Acts 4:19; δοκιμάζετε ((?), πειράζετε), 2 Corinthians 13:5.

b. with the future indicative (cf. Winers Grammar, 300 (282); Buttmann, § 139, 61 b.): δεήθητι, εἰ ἄρα ἀφεθήσεται σοι, Acts 8:22; τί οἶδας, εἰ ... σώσεις, 1 Corinthians 7:16; παρετήρουν, εἰ θεραπεύσει (Tdf. θεραπεύει), Mark 3:2 and in Luke 6:7 (R G WH marginal reading); ἦλθεν (namely, to see), εἰ ἄρα τί εὑρήσει, Mark 11:13.

c. with the aorist indicative: οὐκ οἶδα, εἰ τινα ἄλλον ἐβάπτισα, whether I baptized, 1 Corinthians 1:16; ἐπηρώτησαν, εἰ πάλαι (L Tr text WH text ἤδη) ἀπέθανεν, whether he were long dead, Mark 15:44; εἶπε μοι, εἰ ... ἀπέδοσθε, Acts 5:8.

d. with the subjunctive aorist (cf. Buttmann, 255f (220); Winer's Grammar, 298f (280f)): διώκω, εἰ καί καταλάβω, I press on (namely, πειρωμενος or σκοπῶν, 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 Hebrew אִם and the interrogative he (ה), it is used in the Sept. and the N. T. (especially by Luke) also in direct questions (cf. the colloquial use of the German ob; 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 on Matthew 12:10 and Luke 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: — εἶπε τίς αὐτῷ, κύριε, εἰ ὀλογοι οἱ σῳζόμενοι; Luke 13:23; κύριε, εἰ πατάξομεν ἐν μάχαιρα (μαχαίρῃ T Tr WH); Luke 22:49; κύριε, εἰ ... ἀποκαθιστάνεις τήν βασιλείαν; Acts 1:6; cf. besides, Matthew 12:10; Matthew 19:3; Mark 8:23 (according to the reading of (Tdf. 2, 7) Tr (marginal reading WH text) εἰ τί βλέπεις for R G L T Tr text WH marginal reading βλέπει); 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 from Ezekiel 37:3 the Sept.; Tobit 5:5).

III. εἰ with other particles and with the indefinite pronoun τίς, τί.

1. εἰ ἄρα, see ἄρα, 1.

2. εἴγε, see γέ, 3 c.

3. εἰ δέ καί, a. but if also, so that καί belongs to some word that follows: Luke 11:18 (but if Satan also).

b. but though, but even if, so that καί belongs to εἰ: 1 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Corinthians 4:3; 2 Corinthians 5:16 (R G; others omit δέ); 2 Corinthians 11:6; see 6 below.

4. εἰ δέ μή, but if not; if it is or were otherwise, (Buttmann, 393 (336f), cf. 345 (297); Winer's Grammar, as below): John 14:2 (εἰ δέ μή, namely, οὕτως ἦν), John 14:11 (εἰ δέ μή namely, ἐμοί πιστεύετε, 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. εἰ δέ μήγε, see γέ, 3 d.

6. εἰ καί, a. iif even, if also, (cf. εἰ δέ καί, 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 (εἰ γάρ καί); Hebrews 6:9; with the optative, 1 Peter 3:14; see I. 7 b. above.

7. καί εἰ, even if: Mark 14:29 (T Tr WH εἰ καί); 1 Peter 3:1; cf. Klotz, the passage cited, p. 519 (who says, "In εἰ καί the conditional particle εἰ has the greater force; in καί εἰ the conjunctive particle καί. Hence, καί εἰ is used of what is only assumed to be true; εἰ καί, on the other hand, of what is as it is said to be." Bäumlein (Griech. Partikeln, p. 151) says, "In εἰ καί the καί naturally belongs to the conditional clause and is taken up into it, if even; in the combination καί εἰ the καί belongs to the consequent clause, even if. Sometimes however the difference disappears." Krüger (sec. 65, 5, 15): "with καί εἰ, the leading clause is regarded as holding under every condition, even the one stated, which appears to be the most extreme; with εἰ καί the condition, which may also come to pass, is regarded as a matter of indifference in reference to the leading clause;" Sauppe (on Demosthenes, Ol. 2 § 20) is very explicit: "καί εἰ and εἰ καί both indicate that something conflicts with what is expressed in the leading clause, but that that is (or is done) notwithstanding. καί εἰ, however, represents the thing adduced in the conditional sentence to be the only thing conflicting; but when the conditional particle precedes (εἰ καί), the representation is that something which is (or may be) accompanied by many others (καί) conflicts ineffectually. Accordingly, the phrase καί αἱ greatly augments the force of what follows, εἰ καί lays less emphasis upon it; although it is evident that εἰ καί can often be substituted for καί εἰ." Cf. Herm. Vig., p. 829f; Winer's Grammar, 444 (413); Ellicott on Philippians 2:17; Schmalfeld, Griech. Syntax, § 41; Paley, Greek Particles, p. 31).

8. εἰ μή, a. in a conditional protasis, with the same sequence of moods and tenses as the simple εἰ 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 addition εἰ μή ἑκάστῳ κτλ. strives to prevent anyone in applying what had been said a little while before, viz. οὐ δεδούλωται ... ἐν τοιούτοις to his own case, from going too far); in ironical answers, unless perchance, save forsooth that, (Kühner, § 577, 7; (Jelf, § 860, 5 Obs.)): εἰ μή χρῄζομεν κτλ., 2 Corinthians 3:1 Rec. c. εἰ μή very often coalesce into one particle, as it were, which takes the same verb as the preceding negation: unless, equivalent to except, 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 for ἀλλά (i. e. as being not exceptive but adversative)), and can be rendered in Latinsed tantum, but only: Matthew 12:4 (οὐκ ἐξόν ἦν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν οὐδέ τοῖς μετ' αὐτοῦ, εἰ μή τοῖς ἱερεῦσι μόνοις, as if οὐκ ἐξόν ἦν φαγεῖν alone preceded); Luke 4:26; Romans 14:14; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 21:27 (ἐάν μή is so used in Galatians 2:16; on Galatians 1:19 see Ἰάκωβος, 3); cf. Fritzsche on Romans, vol. iii., p. 195; (see ἐάν, I. 3 c. and references). γ. when preceded by the interrogative τίς 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: εἰ μή ἵνα John 10:10; εἰ μή ὅταν, Mark 9:9; εἰ μή ὅτι etc., 2 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:9. ε. it has its own verb, and makes a phrase by itself: ὁ οὐκ ἐστιν ἄλλο, εἰ μή τινες εἰσιν οἱ ταράσσοντες ὑμᾶς which means nothing else, save that there are some who trouble you, Galatians 1:7 (so Winer (commentary at the passage) et al.; but see Meyer))

d. ἐκτός εἰ μή, arising from the blending of the two expressions εἰ μή and ἐκτός εἰ, 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 present 1 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 word ἐκτός εἰ μή).

9. εἰ μήν, assuredly, surely, in oaths: Hebrews 6:14 L T Tr WH (for R G ἤ μήν (which see)) and several times in the Sept. as Ezekiel 33:27; Ezekiel 34:8; (cf. ; 1 Kings 21:23 ()), etc.; here, if εἰ did not come from ἤ by itacism, εἰ μήν must be explained as confusion of the Hebraisic εἰ μή (see I. 5 above) and the Greek formula of asseveration ἤ μήν; 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. εἰ μή τί or μήτι, unless in some respect, unless perchance, unless indeed: ironically, with the present indicative, 2 Corinthians 13:5; hesitatingly, with the subjunctive aorist Luke 9:13; Meyer at the passage (also Winers Grammar, 294 (276); Buttmann, 221 (191)); τί ἄν: 1 Corinthians 7:5, see ἄν, IV.

11. εἰ οὐ (fully discussed by Winers Grammar, § 55, 2 c. and Buttmann, 345ff (297ff)), if not; this combination is used much more frequently in the N. T. than in the more elegant Greek authors; it differs from εἰ μή in this, that in the latter μή belongs to the particle εἰ, while in εἰ οὐ the οὐ refers to some following word and denies it emphatically, not infrequently even coalescing with it into a single idea.

a. when the idea to which οὐ belongs is antithetic a. to a positive term, either preceding or following: εἰ δέ οὐ μοιχεύεις φονεύεις δέ, James 2:11 (in R G the future); εἰ γάρ ὁ Θεός ... οὐκ ἐφείσατο, ... ἀλλά ... παρέδωκεν εἰς κρίσιν, 2 Peter 2:4f; εἰ καί οὐ δώσει ... διά γέ ... δώσει, Luke 11:8; εἰ οὐ ποιῶ ... εἰ δέ ποιῶ, John 10:37f; εἰ γάρ ἐπιστεύετε ..., εἰ δέ ... οὐ πιστεύετε, John 5:46f; add, Mark 11:26 R G L; 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 ... οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδέ ... πεισθήσονται, Luke 16:31; εἰ ... οὐκ ἐφείσατο, οὐδέ σου φείσεται (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. the οὐ denies with emphasis the idea to which it belongs: καλόν ἦν αὐτῷ εἰ οὐκ ἐγεννήθη, 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: εἰ σύ οὐκ εἰ ὁ Χριστός, John 1:25.

b. the οὐ coalesces, as it were, with the word to which it belongs into a single idea: εἰ δέ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται if they are incontinent, 1 Corinthians 7:9; εἰ τίς τῶν ἰδίων οὐ προνοεῖ (or προνοειται T Tr text WH marginal reading), "neglects, 1 Timothy 5:8; add, Luke 14:26; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelation 20:15, etc.

12. εἰ οὖν, 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. (On εἰ μέν οὖν see μέν II. 4.)

13. εἴπερ (so T WH (except in 2 Corinthians 5:3 marginal reading), but L Tr εἰ περ; cf. Winers Grammar, 45; Lipsius, Gram. Unters., p. 123) (εἰ and περ, and this apparently from περί), properly, if on the whole; if only, provided that, is used of a thing which is assumed to be, but whether rightly or wrongly is left in doubt (Herm. ad Vig., p. 831 (so Winers Grammar, 448 (417); but cf. Bäumlein, Griech. Partikeln, p. 202 (cf. 64 bottom); Klotz ad Devar. 2:2, p. 528, and especially under the word εἴγε (in γέ, 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 (where L T Tr WH εἰ); by a species of rhetorical politeness it is used of that about which there is no doubt: 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Romans 3:30 L T Tr WH; 2 Corinthians 5:3 L Tr WH marginal reading

14. εἰ πῶς (LTr WH) or εἴπως (G T), 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 before εἰ the word σκοπῶν or πειρωμενος 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; εἴτε οὖν ... 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 present 1 Thessalonians 5:10, where the use of the subjunctive was occasioned by the subjunctive ζήσωμεν 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 in Matthiae, p. 1476f): after οὐκ οἶδα, 2 Corinthians 12:2f.

16. εἰ τίς, εἰ τί: examples of this combination have already been given among the preceding; here may be added εἰ τίς ἕτερος, εἰ τί ἕτερον and 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 classics εἰ τίς ἄλλος, εἰ καί τίς ἄλλος, καί εἰ τί ἄλλο, etc., in Herodotus, Xenophon, Plato, others): Romans 13:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; εἰ τίς with subjunctive present Revelation 11:5 Rec.; with the subjunctive aorist, ibid. T Tr WH text

Abbott-Smith Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament

εἰ ,

conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions.

I. Conditional, if;

1. c. indic., expressing a general assumption;

(a) pres.: seq. indic. pres., Matthew 11:14, Romans 8:25, al.; seq. imperat., Mark 4:23; Mark 9:22, John 15:18, 1 Corinthians 7:9, al.; seq. fut. indic., Luke 16:31, Romans 8:11, al.; seq. pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Matthew 12:26, Romans 4:14, al.; similarly, seq. impf., Luke 17:6, John 8:39; seq. quæst., Matthew 6:23 John 5:47; John 7:23; John 8:46, 1 Peter 2:20;

(b) fut.: Matthew 26:33, 1 Peter 2:20;

(d) aor.: Luke 16:11; Luke 19:8, John 13:32; John 18:23, Revelation 20:15, al.

2. Where the assumption is certain = ἐπεί : Matthew 12:28, John 7:4, Romans 5:17, al.

3. Of an unfulfilled condition, c. indic. impf., aor. or plpf., seq. ἄν , c. imp. or aor. (see ἄν , I, i).

4. C. indic., after verbs denoting wonder, etc., sometimes, but not always, coupled with an element of doubt: Mark 15:44, 1 John 3:13, al.

5. C. indic., as in LXX (Numbers 14:30, 1 Samuel 14:45, al. = Heb. H518), in oaths, with the formula of imprecation understood in a suppressed apodosis (WM, 627; Burton, § 272): Mark 8:12, Hebrews 3:11 (LXX) Hebrews 4:3 (LXX),

6. Rarely (cl.) c. optat., to express a merely possible condition: Acts 24:19; Acts 27:39, 1 Corinthians 14:10; 1 Corinthians 15:37, 1 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 3:17

II. Interrogative, if, whether.

1. As in cl., in indir. questions after verbs of seeing, asking, knowing, saying, etc: c. indic. Pres., Matthew 26:63, Mark 15:36, Acts 19:2, 2 Corinthians 13:5, al.; fut., Mark 3:2, Acts 8:22, al.; aor., Mark 15:44, 1 Corinthians 1:16, al.; c. subjc. aor. (M, Pr., 194), Philippians 3:12.

2. As in LXX (= Heb. H518 and interrog. הֲ , Genesis 17:17, al.; v. W M, 639 f.; Viteau, i, 22), in direct questions: Mark 8:23 (Tr., WH, txt.), Luke 13:23; Luke 22:49, Acts 19:2, al.

III. With other particles.

1. εἰ ἄρα , εἴγε , εἰ δὲ μήγ s, see ἄρα , γε .

2. εἰ δὲ καί , but if also: Luke 11:18; but even of, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 4:3; 2 Corinthians 11:6.

3. εἰ δὲ μή , but if not, but if otherwise: Mark 2:21-22, John 14:2, Revelation 2:5, al.

4. εἰ καί , if even, if also, although: Mark 14:29, Luke 11:8, 1 Corinthians 7:21, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 2:17, al.

5. καί εἰ , even if see καί .

6. εἰ μή , if not, unless, except, but only: Matthew 24:22, Mark 2:26; Mark 6:5, John 9:33, 1 Corinthians 7:17 (only), Galatians 1:19 (cf. ἐὰν μή , 216; v. Hort., Ja., xvi); ἐκτὸς εἰ μή , pleonastic (Bl., § 65, 6), 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 15:2, 1 Timothy 5:19..

7. εἰ μήν = cl. ἦ μήν (M, Pr., 46), in oaths, surely (Ezekiel 33:27, al.): Hebrews 6:14.

8. εἴ πως , if haply: Acts 27:12, Romans 1:10.

9. εἴτε . . . εἴτε , whether . . . or: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 13:8, al.

εἴ -περ , see εἰ

εἴ -ιτως , see εἰ

Abbott-Smith Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament.
Copyright © 1922 by G. Abbott-Smith, D.D., D.C.L.. T & T Clarke, London.

List of Word Forms

Ει Εἰ Εἴ εις ἔτι Ei Eí eti éti