εἰμί (G1510) — Greek Lexicon

εἰμί

eimí

G1510 verb

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "be" 13 occurrences

‘Be’ is the natural, neutral base form of the copulative verb that covers existence, identity, presence, and occurrence. It allows regular, idiomatic English inflections (is/are/was/were/am/being/been) to render the full SILEX semantic range while keeping a single consistent core verb across all forms.

Alternatives (37 occurrences):

"is" (21x) "are" (8x) "was" (3x) "being" (2x) "existing" (1x) "am" (1x) "were" (1x)

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

εἰμ- (eíēn) — to be, to exist

Root εἰμ- to be, to exist, to live

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1498	εἴην
G1511	εἶναι
G1526	εἰσί
G1751	ἔνειμι	things being within
G2070	ἐσμέν
G2071	ἔσομαι
G2075	ἐστέ
G2076	ἐστί
G2077	ἔστω
G2252	ἤμην
G2277	ἤτω
G2468	ἴσθι
G4895	σύνειμι	they were together with
G548	ἄπειμι	I am away
G5607	ὤν

Word Forms

47 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1510-24`	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is	893
`G1510-09`	ἦν	en	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was	was existing	was	317
`G1510-06`	εἰσίν	eisin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	are	they are	they are	157
`G1510-04`	εἰμὶ	eimi	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	am	I am	I am	138
`G1510-05`	εἶναι	einai	`V PRS ACT INF`	to be	to be	to be	124
`G1510-20`	ἔσται	estai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will be	will be	he/she/it will be	116
`G1510-11`	ἦσαν	esan	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	were	they were	they were	95
`G1510-02`	εἶ	ei	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	are	you are	you are	92
`G1510-21`	ἐστε	este	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you are	you are	you are	91
`G1510-15`	ἐσμεν	esmen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we are	we are	we are	52
`G1510-32`	ὢν	on	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	being	being	being	45
`G1510-01`	ᾖ	e	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	may be	the	may be	43
`G1510-19`	ἔσονται	esontai	`V FUT MID IND 3P PL`	will be	they will be	they will be	31
`G1510-35`	ὄντες	ontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	being	being	being	26
`G1510-07`	ἤμην	emen	`V IMPF MID IND 1P SG`	I was	I was	I was	23
`G1510-27`	ἦτε	ete	`V IMPF ACT IND 2P PL`	you were	years	you were	19
`G1510-33`	ὄντα	onta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	being	being	being	18
`G1510-38`	ὄντος	ontos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	being	of the one being	being	15
`G1510-16`	ἔσομαι	esomai	`V FUT MID IND 1P SG`	I will be	I will be	I will be	13
`G1510-03`	εἴη	eie	`V PRS ACT OPT 3P SG`	be	may it be	might be	12
`G1510-14`	ἔσεσθε	esesthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will be	you (plural) will be	you (plural) will be	12
`G1510-25`	ἔστω	esto	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let be	let it be	let it be	12
`G1510-34`	ὄντας	ontas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	being	those being	those being	11
`G1510-39`	ὦσιν	osin	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they may be	they may be	they may be	11
`G1510-12`	ἔσῃ	ese	`V FUT MID IND 2P SG`	you will be	you will be	you will be	8
`G1510-10`	ἦς	es	`V IMPF ACT IND 2P SG`	you were	you were	you were	7
`G1510-46`	οὖσιν	ousin	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	being	to those being	being	7
`G1510-23`	ἐστι	esti	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	he/she/it is	is	6
`G1510-37`	ὄντων	onton	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL`	being	of those being	of those being	6
`G1510-40`	οὖσα	ousa	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG`	being	being	being	6
`G1510-42`	οὖσαν	ousan	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	being	being	being	6
`G1510-44`	οὔσης	ouses	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F SG`	being	of being	being	6
`G1510-08`	ἤμεθα	emetha	`V IMPF MID IND 1P PL`	we were	we were	we were	5
`G1510-29`	ἴσθι	isthi	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG`	be	Be	Be	5
`G1510-13`	ἔσεσθαι	esesthai	`V FUT MID INF`	to be	to be hereafter	to be	4
`G1510-18`	ἐσόμεθα	esometha	`V FUT MID IND 1P PL`	we shall be	we will be	we will be	4
`G1510-36`	ὄντι	onti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	being	to the one being	to the one being	4
`G1510-43`	οὔσῃ	ouse	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT F SG`	is	to a being one	to the one who is	4
`G1510-31`	ὦμεν	omen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	may be	we may be	we may be	3
`G1510-22`	ἦσθα	estha	`V IMPF MID IND 2P SG`	were	you were	you were	2
`G1510-26`	ἔστωσαν	estosan	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P PL`	Let be	let them be	let them be	2
`G1510-28`	ἤτω	eto	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him be	let him be	let him be	2
`G1510-30`	ὦ	o	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I am	the	am	2
`G1510-45`	οὖσι	ousi	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	being	to those who are	to those who are	2
`G1510-17`	ἐσόμενον	esomenon	`V FUT MID PTCP ACC N SG`	was going to happen	about to be	about to be	1
`G1510-41`	οὖσαι	ousai	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F PL`	that be	being	being	1
`G1510-47`	οὐσῶν	ouson	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN F PL`	being	of those being	being	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2460 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1510-09`	Matthew 1:18	ἦν	en	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was	was existing	was existing
`G1510-32`	Matthew 1:19	ὢν	on	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	being	being	being
`G1510-24`	Matthew 1:20	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-24`	Matthew 1:23	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-24`	Matthew 2:2	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-02`	Matthew 2:6	εἶ	ei	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	are	you are	you are
`G1510-09`	Matthew 2:9	ἦν	en-2	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was	was existing	was
`G1510-29`	Matthew 2:13	ἴσθι	isthi	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG`	remain	Be	Be
`G1510-09`	Matthew 2:15	ἦν	en	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he was	was existing	was
`G1510-06`	Matthew 2:18	εἰσίν	eisin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	are they	they are	they are
`G1510-24`	Matthew 3:3	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-09`	Matthew 3:4	ἦν	en	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	was	was existing	was
`G1510-24`	Matthew 3:11	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-04`	Matthew 3:11	εἰμὶ	eimi	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	am	I am	am
`G1510-24`	Matthew 3:15	ἐστὶν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-24`	Matthew 3:17	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-02`	Matthew 4:3	εἶ	ei-2	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you are	you are	you are
`G1510-02`	Matthew 4:6	εἶ	ei-2	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you are	you are	you are
`G1510-11`	Matthew 4:18	ἦσαν	esan	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they were	they were	they were
`G1510-24`	Matthew 5:3	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-24`	Matthew 5:10	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-21`	Matthew 5:11	ἐστε	este	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	are	you are	you are
`G1510-21`	Matthew 5:13	ἐστε	este	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	are	you are	you are
`G1510-21`	Matthew 5:14	ἐστε	este	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	are	you are	you are
`G1510-20`	Matthew 5:21	ἔσται	estai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	shall be	will be	he/she/it will be
`G1510-20`	Matthew 5:22	ἔσται	estai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will be	will be	he/she/it will be
`G1510-20`	Matthew 5:22	ἔσται	estai-2	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will be	will be	he/she/it will be
`G1510-20`	Matthew 5:22	ἔσται	estai-3	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will be	will be	he/she/it will be
`G1510-29`	Matthew 5:25	ἴσθι	isthi	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG`	Be	Be	Be
`G1510-02`	Matthew 5:25	εἶ	ei	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you are	you are	you are
`G1510-24`	Matthew 5:34	ἐστὶν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-24`	Matthew 5:35	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-24`	Matthew 5:35	ἐστὶν	estin-2	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-25`	Matthew 5:37	ἔστω	esto	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let be	let it be	let it be
`G1510-24`	Matthew 5:37	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-14`	Matthew 5:48	ἔσεσθε	esesthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will be	you (plural) will be	you (plural) will be
`G1510-24`	Matthew 5:48	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-01`	Matthew 6:4	ᾖ	e	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	may be	the	may be
`G1510-14`	Matthew 6:5	ἔσεσθε	esesthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you shall be	you (plural) will be	you (plural) will be
`G1510-24`	Matthew 6:21	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-20`	Matthew 6:21	ἔσται	estai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will be	will be	he/she/it will be
`G1510-24`	Matthew 6:22	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-01`	Matthew 6:22	ᾖ	e	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	be	the	is
`G1510-20`	Matthew 6:22	ἔσται	estai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will be	will be	he/she/it will be
`G1510-01`	Matthew 6:23	ᾖ	e	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	is	the	is
`G1510-20`	Matthew 6:23	ἔσται	estai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	will be	will be	he/she/it will be
`G1510-24`	Matthew 6:23	ἐστίν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is
`G1510-23`	Matthew 6:25	ἐστι	esti	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	he/she/it is	is
`G1510-33`	Matthew 6:30	ὄντα	onta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	being	being	being
`G1510-24`	Matthew 7:9	ἐστιν	estin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	is	is	is

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