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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.

Translation Consistency

primary "order" 8 occurrences

epitássō most commonly carries the sense of giving an authoritative directive or placing someone under a charge; 'order' is the natural, everyday English verb that covers both commanding and formally assigning/appointing. It matches the attested P2 renderings ('ordered', 'orders') and will consistently render authoritative instruction, appointment, or charge across contexts.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"command" (1x) "authoritatively appoint" (1x)

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

Root τασσ- to arrange, to appoint, to order

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2004-03 ἐπιτάσσει epitassei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG he commands he orders he orders 3
G2004-02 ἐπέταξεν epetaxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG commanded he ordered he ordered 3
G2004-01 ἐπέταξας epetaxas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you commanded you ordered you ordered 1
G2004-05 ἐπιτάσσω epitasso V PRS ACT IND 1P SG command I authoritatively order command 1
G2004-04 ἐπιτάσσειν epitassein V PRS ACT INF to command to authoritatively appoint to authoritatively appoint 1
G2004-06 ἐπιτάξῃ epitaxe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he command he may order he may order 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2004-03 Mark 1:27 ἐπιτάσσει epitassei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG he commands he orders he orders
G2004-02 Mark 6:27 ἐπέταξεν epetaxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG commanded he ordered he ordered
G2004-02 Mark 6:39 ἐπέταξεν epetaxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG He commanded he ordered he ordered
G2004-05 Mark 9:25 ἐπιτάσσω epitasso V PRS ACT IND 1P SG command I authoritatively order command
G2004-03 Luke 4:36 ἐπιτάσσει epitassei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG he commands he orders he orders
G2004-03 Luke 8:25 ἐπιτάσσει epitassei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG he commands he orders he orders
G2004-06 Luke 8:31 ἐπιτάξῃ epitaxe V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he command he may order he may order
G2004-01 Luke 14:22 ἐπέταξας epetaxas V AOR ACT IND 2P SG you commanded you ordered you ordered
G2004-02 Acts 23:2 ἐπέταξεν epetaxen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG commanded he ordered he ordered
G2004-04 Philemon 1:8 ἐπιτάσσειν epitassein V PRS ACT INF to command to authoritatively appoint to authoritatively appoint
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