ἐπιτάσσω
epitássō
G2004 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To assign, allocate, or place upon; to give an authoritative order or command to someone; to appoint or prescribe what is to be done. The term denotes the act of formally directing someone to do or follow something, usually with the weight of authority or hierarchy. In various contexts, it can refer to administrative appointment, official decree, or the act of charging someone with a responsibility.
Semantic Range
to assign or appoint (formally place over), to command (issue an authoritative directive), to order (as a superior instructs a subordinate), to prescribe, to charge with a duty
Root / Etymology
From ἐπί ('upon, over') and τάσσω ('to arrange, order, appoint')—literally 'to place upon, to appoint over.' The compound construction intensifies the verbal action and specifies the recipient or context of the arrangement or command.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἐπιτάσσω frequently occurs in official, military, or administrative contexts, indicating the act of commanding, assigning positions, or instructing subordinates. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it continues to convey the sense of issuing authoritative instructions—often by rulers, governing authorities, or divine beings. The word emphasizes the weight of the instruction as not simply a suggestion but a binding or official directive. English translations often use 'command,' 'order,' or 'instruct,' but these may not always convey the nuance of hierarchical or formal authority embedded in the Greek. In the New Testament, it is commonly used where someone in a position of authority (human or divine) issues an explicit directive to another. It differs from more general verbs for speaking, requesting, or asking (e.g., λέγω, ἐρωτάω), as it inherently carries the sense of obligation and authority.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and τάσσω; to arrange upon, i.e. order:--charge, command, injoin.
Root Family
ἐπιτάσσω (epitassō) — to arrange, to appoint, to order
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2004-03 |
ἐπιτάσσει | epitassei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
he commands | he orders | 3 |
G2004-02 |
ἐπέταξεν | epetaxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
commanded | he ordered | 3 |
G2004-01 |
ἐπέταξας | epetaxas | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
you commanded | you ordered | 1 |
G2004-05 |
ἐπιτάσσω | epitasso | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
command | I authoritatively order | 1 |
G2004-04 |
ἐπιτάσσειν | epitassein | V PRS ACT INF |
to command | to authoritatively appoint | 1 |
G2004-06 |
ἐπιτάξῃ | epitaxe | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
he command | he may order | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2004-03 |
Mark 1:27 | ἐπιτάσσει | epitassei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
he commands | he orders |
G2004-02 |
Mark 6:27 | ἐπέταξεν | epetaxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
commanded | he ordered |
G2004-02 |
Mark 6:39 | ἐπέταξεν | epetaxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
He commanded | he ordered |
G2004-05 |
Mark 9:25 | ἐπιτάσσω | epitasso | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
command | I authoritatively order |
G2004-03 |
Luke 4:36 | ἐπιτάσσει | epitassei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
he commands | he orders |
G2004-03 |
Luke 8:25 | ἐπιτάσσει | epitassei | V PRS ACT IND 3P SG |
he commands | he orders |
G2004-06 |
Luke 8:31 | ἐπιτάξῃ | epitaxe | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
he command | he may order |
G2004-01 |
Luke 14:22 | ἐπέταξας | epetaxas | V AOR ACT IND 2P SG |
you commanded | you ordered |
G2004-02 |
Acts 23:2 | ἐπέταξεν | epetaxen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
commanded | he ordered |
G2004-04 |
Philemon 1:8 | ἐπιτάσσειν | epitassein | V PRS ACT INF |
to command | to authoritatively appoint |