ἦν
ēn
G2258
SILEX Entry
Definition
Imperfect active indicative of εἰμί ('to be'), meaning 'was' (first, second, third-person singular). Used to express a continuous or repeated state of being, existence, or condition in the past. Also used to denote ongoing identity, presence, state, or circumstance in narrative and reported speech. Commonly marks the background condition for other actions or events.
Semantic Range
was (past continuous state or existence), was present, existed, held a position, had (in idiomatic phrases), was situated, formed background situation
Root / Etymology
Imperfect active indicative form of εἰμί (to be). The root is ἐσ-/εἰ-/ἦ-/ἐν-, undergoing various vowel changes and augmentations in Greek verbs of being.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἦν is the third person singular imperfect indicative of εἰμί, denoting continuous or iterative action in the past ('he/she/it was'). While it is the direct equivalent of the English 'was,' its range is broader: it expresses states, situations, identities, or conditions persisting or recurring over time, not necessarily limited to factual existence but including sustained relationships or contexts. In narrative, ἦν frequently appears to establish setting or background ('there was...', 'it happened that...'). It is a function word in Greek syntax, with modal, existential, and copular uses. In the Septuagint and New Testament Greek, ἦν is preferred for describing ongoing states in the past, contrasting with the aorist ἐγένετο, which marks punctiliar or completed events. Standard English translations often render all imperfect forms as 'was/were,' but in Koine Greek, the imperfect implies continuity or non-completed action, which is not always explicit in English. Occasionally, in idiomatic expression, ἦν + participle may approach an auxiliary function, conveying 'was doing.' Distinguished from other forms (ἦσαν, ἦτε, etc.) by its singular reference; ἦν as a lexeme reflects Indo-European patterns for the verb 'to be,' with roots traceable to Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- ('to be').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
imperfect of εἰμί; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.
Root Family
ἐσ- (eî) — to be, to exist, to belong, to have an identity or state
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1488 | εἶ |
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.