ἔξεστι
éxesti
G1832
SILEX Entry
Definition
Impersonal verb indicating that something is permitted, allowed, or possible within a given context; used to express that an action is authorized, legal, or within the bounds of accepted practice. In broader usage, it can denote what is possible or appropriate, especially under law, custom, or circumstances.
Semantic Range
to be permitted, to be allowed, to be possible, to be lawful, to be fitting or appropriate, to be authorized
Root / Etymology
Formed from the preposition ἐκ ('out of') and the verb εἰμί ('to be'). The compound captures the idea of being 'out in the open' or 'permitted to occur' in the sense of social or legal acceptance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἔξεστι is an impersonal expression common from classical through Koine Greek, typically translated as 'it is permitted' or 'it is lawful.' While classical authors sometimes use it in reference to general possibility or appropriateness, in the Hellenistic and New Testament periods, it most often refers to what is legally or morally permitted, especially in judicial or religious discourse. In New Testament contexts, ἔξεστι appears in legal debates (e.g., 'is it lawful to...'), reflecting both Greco-Roman and Israelite/Judean conceptions of law and custom. English translations often render it as 'it is lawful,' 'it is permitted,' or 'it is allowed,' but the term's range can also encompass 'it is possible' depending on circumstance. Related to ἐπιτρέπω ('to permit'), but ἔξεστι is typically more impersonal and formal. The participial form ἔξον has similar semantic function. The translation 'X may(-est)' (Strong's) reflects the permissive, not the possible, aspect of the term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
third person singular present indicative of a compound of ἐκ and εἰμί; so also neuter present participle of the same (with or without some form of εἰμί expressed); impersonally, it is right (through the figurative idea of being out in public):--be lawful, let, X may(-est).
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.