ἤμεθα

eimí

we were

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').

G1510

Ephesians 2:3 · Word #23

Lexicon G1510

Lemmaεἰμί
Transliterationeimí
Strong'sG1510
DefinitionTo 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').

Morphology V IMPF MID IND 1P PL All morphology codes

Part of Speech V — Verb — An action or state of being
Tense IMPF — Imperfect — Continuous or repeated past action
Voice MID — Middle — The subject acts on itself or in its own interest
Mood IND — Indicative — States a fact or reality
Person 1P — 1st person — The speaker ("I" / "we")
Number PL — Plural — More than one

Common Translation

Phrasewe were
Literalwe-were

Lexical Info

Lemmaεἰμί
Strong'sG1510

SIBI-P1 Translation G1510-08

we were

Morphological NotesVerb; imperfect tense (past ongoing), indicative mood, middle form (deponent in sense), 1st person plural.
Rendering RationaleThe imperfect indicative first person plural denotes a past ongoing state of being: "we were." Although morphologically middle, εἰμί functions with active meaning, expressing continued existence or identity in past time.

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