ἐστί
estí
G2076
SILEX Entry
Definition
Third person singular present indicative form of 'to be'; denotes that someone or something exists, is present, or is identified as a particular thing. Used to state existence, presence, identity, condition, or equivalence. In compound or idiomatic constructions, can serve as a copula or link between subject and predicate, or express necessity or possibility, depending on context.
Semantic Range
to exist, to be present, to serve as, to constitute, to belong, to persist, to mean, to represent, to be identified with, to indicate state, to denote necessity or possibility (in idiomatic or periphrastic constructions)
Root / Etymology
From the root εἰμ- (to be, to exist); ἐστί is the third person singular present indicative active form of the verb εἰμί.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb ἐστί serves as the primary copulative verb ('to be') in Greek. It is rare in Homeric Greek (where alternative forms like ἔστι or ἐστί are found with movable nu), but becomes standard in Classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek. In the Koine and New Testament, ἐστί most commonly links subject to predicative complement (e.g., "God is love"), asserts existence (sometimes with no predicate), or identifies classification ("this is my body"). In some cases, it is implied rather than stated, with context supplying the verb. Third-person neuter plural subjects also regularly take ἐστί in New Testament Greek (as opposed to the classical ἐισί), following Koine simplification. English translations sometimes supply interpretive renderings (such as 'it must be' or 'it means'), but the basic function remains existential or copulative. In later Greek, ἐστί remains standard, though forms and uses shift with the development of the Greek language.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.