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εἰμί

eimí

G1510 verb

SILEX Entry

Root εἰμ- to be, to exist, to live

Definition

To be, to exist, to live; the core copulative verb indicating existence, presence, or identity. Functions as the primary verb for expressing 'being' or existence, used to connect a subject with a predicate or to indicate presence in a particular state or condition. Semantic range includes factual existence ('to exist, to be'), locative or situational presence ('to be present, to be in a place or condition'), identity statements ('to be [something/someone]'), and, at times, expressing equivalence, belonging, or occurrence ('to mean, to signify, to occur, to take place').

Semantic Range

to be, to exist, to live, to be present, to belong, to indicate identity or equivalence, to happen or occur, to remain, to stand, to signify

Root / Etymology

From the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁es-, 'to be.' The verb εἰμί is irregular and defective, lacking many forms in the active voice, and is supplemented in various tenses by forms from other roots. Cognate with Latin 'sum,' Sanskrit 'asmi.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

εἰμί is the primary copula in Greek, equivalent to English 'to be.' In classical usage, it functions both as an existential and equational verb, rarely requiring a predicate when denoting existence or presence. In Koine Greek of the New Testament and Septuagint, εἰμί continues to serve as the standard verb of existence and identity, appearing in statements of fact, self-identification, states of being, equivalence, location, and even as an auxiliary with participles to form periphrastic expressions. The verb has a wide semantic scope; context determines whether it indicates mere existence, a location, a state/condition, or identity. English versions often render it as 'am, is, are, was, were,' but these may obscure nuances around presence and being. Some English translations use 'I am' in ways that suggest theological interpretation, especially in phrases such as ἐγώ εἰμι; however, lexically, the phrase simply means 'I am' or 'It is I,' not a divine title. εἰμί combines with adverbs and prepositions to specify presence (e.g., ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ εἰμί = 'I am in the house'). The verb is defective; other forms supplement its paradigm (e.g., ἦν for imperfect, ἔσομαι for future). No passive or aorist active forms exist. Attested from Homeric Greek onwards; semantic range remains largely stable through Koine and later periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic):--am, have been, X it is I, was. See also εἶ, εἴην, εἶναι, εἰσί, ἦν, ἔσομαι, ἐσμέν, ἐστέ, ἐστί, κέρδος, ἴσθι, ὦ.

Root Family

εἰμί (eimi) — to be, to exist, to live

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2476 ἵστημι you are
G3739 ὅς being

Word Forms

47 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1510-24 ἐστιν estin V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is is 893
G1510-09 ἦν en V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was was existing 317
G1510-06 εἰσίν eisin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL are they are 157
G1510-04 εἰμὶ eimi V PRS ACT IND 1P SG am I am 138
G1510-05 εἶναι einai V PRS ACT INF to be to be 124
G1510-20 ἔσται estai V FUT MID IND 3P SG will be will be 116
G1510-11 ἦσαν esan V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL were they were 95
G1510-02 εἶ ei V PRS ACT IND 2P SG are you are 92
G1510-21 ἐστε este V PRS ACT IND 2P PL are you are 91
G1510-15 ἐσμεν esmen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we are we are 52

Occurrences in Scripture

2460 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1510-09 Matthew 1:18 ἦν en V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was was existing
G1510-32 Matthew 1:19 ὢν on V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG being being
G1510-24 Matthew 1:20 ἐστιν estin V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is is
G1510-24 Matthew 1:23 ἐστιν estin V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is is
G1510-24 Matthew 2:2 ἐστιν estin V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is is
G1510-02 Matthew 2:6 εἶ ei V PRS ACT IND 2P SG are you are
G1510-09 Matthew 2:9 ἦν en-2 V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was was existing
G1510-29 Matthew 2:13 ἴσθι isthi V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG remain Be
G1510-09 Matthew 2:15 ἦν en V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG he was was existing
G1510-06 Matthew 2:18 εἰσίν eisin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL are they they are
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