Greek | Meaning | Notes |
---|---|---|
ἁγιάζω | I sanctify | |
θέλω | I want, wish | |
οὖς, ὠτός, τό | ear | |
τίνω | I drink | |
σπείρω | I sow | |
ἄχρι + Gen | until | |
πρίν | before |
Imperative Mode
- The imperative mode expresses command
- It is found only in the second and third person.
- In the New Testament, it appears only in the Present and Aorist tenses.
- In the Aorist tense, there is no augment
Imperative forms
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | λῦε | λύετε |
3rd Person | λυέτω | λυέτωσαν |
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | λύου | λύεσθε |
3rd Person | λυέσθω | λυέσθωσαν |
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | λῦσον | λύσατε |
3rd Person | λυσάτω | λυσάτωσαν |
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | λῦσαι | λύσασθε |
3rd Person | λυσάσθω | λυσάσθωσαν |
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | λύθητι | λύθητε |
3rd Person | λυθήτω | λυθήτωσαν |
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | λίπε | λίπετε |
3rd Person | λιπέτω | λιπέτωσαν |
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | άποστάληθι | ἀποστάλητε |
3rd Person | ἀποσταλήτω | ἀποσταλήτωσαν |
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
2nd Person | ἴσθι | ἔστε |
3rd Person | ἔστω | ἔστωσαν |
Functions of the imperative
- In the second person, the imperative is a command similar to English
- λύε τὸν ἄνθρωπον could mean:
- Present Indicative: Yous are loosing the man
- Present Imperative: Loose the man !
- λύετε τὸν ἄνθρωπον could mean:
- Present Indicative: Youp are loosing the man
- Present Imperative: Loose the man !
- The context should reveal if it is indicative or imperative.
- λύε τὸν ἄνθρωπον could mean:
- In the third person, the imperative is a command that begins with "let"
- λυέτω τὸν ἄνθρωπον means let him loose the man
- λυέτωσαν τὸν ἄνθρωπον means let them loose the man
- The time of the action is lost in the imperative mode.
- The distinction between the present and aorist imperative is in the kind of action (on-going or punctilliar).
- The Present Imperative gives the sense of persisting in an action. Thus λῦε αὐτόν could be translated keep on loosing him.
- The Aorist Imperative gives the sense of beginning an action which has not yet started. Thus λῦσον αὐτόν means start loosing him.
Basic uses of the Imperative
- Cohortative: A positive command. These are the types used in the examples above.
- Prohibitive: A negative command.
- Only the present imperative is used in this construction.
- The negative particle μή is used and it prohibits the continuance of an act which is already in progress. Thus it urges someone to stop doing something.
- μὴ λέγετε ταῦτα means stop saying these things.
- Note the distinction we made when we studied the aorist subjunctive which is used to prohibit the beginning of an action.
- Entreaty:
- This is the use of the imperative to express a request rather than a direct command.
- When Jesus prayed in John 17:11, He requested something of God, He did not command God.
- πάτερ ἅγιε, τήρησον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου. Holy Father, keep them in Your name.
- Permissive:
- This imperative form uses the third person and it requires the word "let" to make the meaning clear in English.
- λυέτω τὸν ἄνθρωπον means Let him continue loosing the man.
- λυσάτω τὸν ἄνθρωπον means Let him start loosing the man.
Examples of the Imperative
ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν
love your enemies (Matt. 5:44)
ἐγώ εἰμι· μὴ φοβεῖσθε
It is I; stop being afraid (Matt. 14:27)
λάβετε φάγετε, τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ σῶμά μου.
Take, eat, this is my body (Matt. 26:26)
ἀσπάζου τοὺς φίλους κατ᾿ ὄνομα.
Greet the friends by name (3John 15)
σταύρωσον, σταύρωσον αὐτόν.
Crucify him! crucify him! (Luke 23:21)
πιστεύω· βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ.
I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)
ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου
Return into your home (Luke 8:39)
Ἀμήν, ἔρχου κύριε Ἰησοῦ.
Amen, come, Lord Jesus (Rev 22:20)
αἱ γυναῖκες, ὑποτάσσεσθε τοῖς ἀνδράσιν
wives, be subject to [your] husbands (Col 3:18)
Translate the following:
- ἁγίαζε τὸ ἱερὸν τοῦ θεοῦ.
- ἀκούσατε τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου καὶ σώθητε.
- μὴ λέγε πονηρὰ τοῖς τέκνοις καὶ εἶπε ἀγαθὰ αὐτοῖς.
- ἀκουέσθωσαν αἱ παραβολαὶ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ.
- κύριε, κατάβηθι πρίν ἀποθανεῖν τὸ παιδίον μου.
- εἰ ὁ ἄνθρωπος πιστεύει εἰς τὸν κύριον, βαπτισθήτω.
- πίνετε τὸ ὕδωρ τῆς ζωῆς καὶ ἐσθίετε τὸν ἄρτον τῆς ζωῆς.
- γίνου πιστὸς ἄχρι θανάτου.
- ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουσάτω.
- μὴ εἰσέλθῃς εἰς τὴν πόλιν τὴν οὖσαν ἐν τῷ ὄρει.
- ἴδετε τὰς χεῖράς μου.
- λαβὼν αὐτὸν ἄγε αὐτὸν πρὸς ἡμᾶς.