Mood imperative [U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N]¶
Glossary¶
The imperative mood is is a mood of direction. It includes commands, and orders, but also requests and directions. It expresses the intentions of the speaker and appeals to the will of the hearer.
Example V-IM- 1
λάβετε |
φάγετε |
τοῦτό |
ἐστιν |
τὸ |
σῶμά |
μου |
labete |
phagete |
touto |
estin |
to |
sōma |
mou. |
You take |
you eat |
this |
it is |
the |
body |
of me |
Take.Eat. This is my body.
Article [ U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N ]¶
Overview¶
The mood of a verb represents its relation to reality as portrayed by the speaker. An action (or an event) can be presented as being 1) real, or 2) potential.
If the action is being portrayed as real (or actual), the Indicative mood will be used. This is the most frequent mood used in the New Testament and it occurs 15,643 times.
The Subjunctive mood is used to portray an action that is probable or desired.
The degree of reality is further removed when the Optative mood is used to portray and action that is possible.
The Imperative mood is the mood of intention. It expresses the intention of the speaker rather than the reality of an event. The event may happen or not happen. It is an appeal from the will (the intention) of the speaker to the will of the hearer. As such it includes commands, orders, directions, prayers, and requests.
It is therefore used:
When a superior commands or orders a subordinate to carry out a specific action. [See Example V-IM-12]
This force may be reduced to directing someone to do something. [See Example V-IM-13 ]
It may be directed to a superior, when there is an expectation that the request is something that the superior would grant. [See Example V-IM-14]
3. Prayers and petitions to a superior are often expressed in the imperative mood, with the understanding that the superior is still sovereign. In this sense, it becomes more of a request or a request that can be expected to be answered in the affirmative because it is something the superior would be expected to normally grant. [ See Example V-IM-15]
The English language limits the use of the imperative to the second person. However, third person singular and third person plural imperatives occur in the New Testament. Third person imperatives are generally translated as “Let us”, “Let them”, “Let him”, or “Let her”. This does not decrease the force of the imperative. It is still an imperative and should be understood as an imperative. [See Example V-IM-16]
Because the Imperative mood expresses the intention of the speaker it always implies something that will incur in the future. The time is therefore future. Imperative verbs in the aorist tense are used to express action as a whole. It does not speak to the duration, repetition, or continuity of the action. [See Example V-IM-11]
Present imperative verbs refers to action that is to be repeated or continuous in nature. [See Example V-IM-12a]
Verbs in the imperative mood occur 1,877 times in the New Testament.
Imperatives may also be used as a prohibition and as such are preceded with the particle μη. Μη is used as the particle for negation in all moods except the indicative mood.
There are six ways to say no in the Greek. [ See Example V-IM-17]
Οὐ plus the indicative – simple negation
μή plus an aorist imperative - simple prohibition
μή plus a present imperative – continually prohibits and action
μή plus aorist subjunctive – stronger negation than option 1.
οὐ μή - no never – strongest way to say no
μή plus the optative mood – a negative wish… may it never be.
Form:¶
The basic form for a verb in the imperative mood is given in:
Table V-MT-1a Active Imperative Verbs (Thematic Uncontracted)
Table V-MT-1b Present Active Imperative Verbs (Thematic contracted)
Table V-MT-2a Middle/Passive uncontracted verbs¶
Table V-MT-2b Present Middle/Passive Contracted verbs
Table V-MT-3 Aorist Passive Imperative verbs
There are only 5 Perfect imperatives that occur in the New Testament.
πεφίμωσο – Perfect Passive Imperative second person singular – let it be quiet
ἔρρωσθε – Perfect Passive Imperative second person plural – may you all fare well or (May it go well with you) or may you all be strong – typical closing for a letter.
ἴστε – (occurs three times) Perfect Active Imperative second person plural – know! (know this and know it for sure!)
Imperative Morpheme Chart¶
| Imperative Morpheme Chart V-IM-2 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Present Active, Aorist Active, and Aorist Passive Column 1 |
Middle/Passive Column 2 |
|
| Single | ||
| 2nd Person | Irregular | Irregular |
| 3rd Person | τω | σθω |
| Plural | ||
| 2nd Person | τε | σθε |
| 3rd Person | τωσαν | σθωσαν |
Note: The Second Singular imperative forms are irregular and will have to be learned for each verb or identified through the use of a lexicon.
Table V-IM-3 Formation of Present Active Imperative Verb¶
The Present Active Imperative Verb is formed by using:
the 1) Present Tense Stem and 2) adding a Connecting Vowel plus 3) the appropriate Imperative morpheme from column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.
| Table V-IM-3 Present Active Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present Tense Stem |
+ | Connecting Vowel |
+ | Imperative Morpheme |
||
| λυ | + | ε | + | τω | -> | λυέτω |
| Let him loose (them) | ||||||
[Note]: by using the present tense, there is an implication to be continually loosing (or freeing) them.
V-IM-3a Present Active Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-3a Present Active Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | λῦε | You loose! |
| 3 Person | λυέτω | Let him loose! |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | λυέτε * | You (all) loose! |
| 3 Person | λυέτωσαν | Let them loose! |
[* Note:] The Second Person plural λύετε is the same form for both the Second Person plural indicative and the Second Person plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.
Table V-IM-4 Formation of the 1st Aorist Active Imperative Verb¶
The Aorist Active Imperative Verb is formed by using:
the un-augmented Aorist Tense Stem, and 2) adding the aorist tense formative (σα), and 3) the appropriate Imperative Morpheme from column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.
| Table V-IM-4 1st Aorist Active Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaugmented Aorist Tense Stem |
+ | Tense Formative |
+ | Imperative Morpheme |
||
| λυ | + | σα | + | τω | -> | λυσάτω |
| Let him loose (them) | ||||||
V-IM-4a 1st Aorist Active Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-4a 1st Aorist* Active Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | λῦσον | You loose! |
| 3 Person | λυσάτω | Let him loose! |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | λύσατε ** | You (all) loose! |
| 3 Person | λυσάτωσαν | Let them loose! |
- [Note:]
* With the aorist tense there is no implication of repeated action.
** The Second Person plural λύσατε is the same form for both the Second Person plural indicative and the Second Person plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.
Table V-IM-5 Formation of the 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb¶
The 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb is formed just like the Present Tense Active Imperative Verb. The only difference is the use of the 2nd Aorist tense formative. There is no Aorist tense formative because the use of the 2nd aorist tense stem serves to notify the reader that this is an aorist verb. It is therefore formed by using:
the un-augmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem, and 2) adding a connecting vowel, and 3) the appropriate Imperative Morpheme from column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.
| Table V-IM-5 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaugmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem |
+ | Connecting Vowel |
+ | Imperative Morpheme |
||
| λαβ | + | ε | + | τω | -> | λαβέτω |
| Let him take/receive (it) | ||||||
V-IM-5a 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-5a 2ndt Aorist* Active Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | λάβε | You receive (it)! |
| 3 Person | λαβέτω | Let him receive (it)! |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | λαβέτε * | You (all) receive (it)! |
| 3 Person | λαβέτωσαν | Let them receive (it)! |
[* Note:] The Second Person plural λαβέτε is the same form for both the Second Person plural indicative and the Second Person plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.
Table V-IM-6 Formation of the Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb¶
Just like the Present Active Imperative Verb, the Present Middle Imperative Verb is formed by using:
the 1) Present Tense Stem and 2) adding a Connecting Vowel plus 3) and the appropriate Middle/Passive Imperative morpheme in column 2 of Table-V-IM-2 instead of the active imperative morpheme.
| Table V-IM-6 Formation of the Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present Tense Stem |
+ | Connecting Vowel |
+ | Imperative Middle/Passive Morpheme |
||
| λυ | + | ε | + | σθε | -> | λύεσθε |
| You all be loosed (or loose yourselves) | ||||||
V-IM-6a Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-6a Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | λύου | You loose yourself! |
| 3 Person | λυέσθω | Let him loose himself! |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | λύεσθε * | You (all) loose yourselves! |
| 3 Person | λυέσθωσαν | Let them loose themselves! |
[* Note:] The Second Person Middle plural λύεσθε is the same form for both the Second Person Middle plural indicative and the Second Person Middle plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.
Table V-IM-7 Formation of the First Aorist Middle Imperative Verb¶
The First Aorist Middle Imperative is formed with:
the un-augmented First Aorist tense stem plus 2) the Aorist tense formative + 3) the appropriate Imperative Middle/Passive morpheme from column 2 in Table-V-IM-2 .
| Table V-IM-7 Formation of the First Aorist Middle Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaugmented Aorist Tense Stem |
+ | Tense Formative |
+ | Imperative Middle Morpheme |
||
| λυ | + | σα | + | σθε | -> | λύσασθε |
| You all loose yourselves! | ||||||
V-IM-7a 1st Aorist Middle Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-7a 1st Aorist Middle Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | λύσαι | You loose yourself! |
| 3 Person | λυσάσθω | Let him loose himself! |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | λύσασθε | You (all) loose yourselves! |
| 3 Person | λυσάσθωσαν | Let them loose themselves! |
Table V-IM-8 Formation of the Second Aorist Middle Imperative Verb¶
The 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb is formed just like the Present Tense Middle/Passive Imperative Verb. The only difference is the use of the 2nd Aorist tense formative. There is no Aorist tense formative because the use of the 2nd aorist tense stem serves to notify the reader that this is an aorist verb.
The Second Aorist Middle Imperative verb is therefore formed by using:
the un-augmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem, and 2) adding a connecting vowel, and 3) the appropriate Imperative Morpheme from Column 2 in Table-V-IM-2.
| Table V-IM-8 Formation of the 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaugmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem |
+ | Connecting Vowel |
+ | Imperative Middle Morpheme |
||
| γεν | + | ε | + | σθω | -> | γενέσθω |
| Let him become! | ||||||
V-IM-8a 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-8a 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | γένου | You become! or Let yourself become! |
| 3 Person | γενέσθω | Let him become! |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | γένεσθε | You (all) become! |
| 3 Person | γένεσθωσαν | Let them become! |
Table V-IM-9 Formation of the First Aorist Passive Imperative Verb¶
- The First Aorist Passive Imperative verb is formed with:
the un-augmented First Aorist Passive tense stem plus 2) the Aorist Tense formative + 3) the Imperative Active (and Aorist passive) morpheme found in column 1 of Table-V-IM-2 .
| Table V-IM-9 Formation of the First Aorist Passive Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaugmented Aorist Tense Stem |
+ | Tense Formative |
+ | Imperative Active Morpheme |
||
| λυ | + | θε | + | τε | -> | λύθετε |
| Let you all be loosed! | ||||||
V-IM-9a 1st Aorist Passive Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-9a 1st Aorist Passive Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | λύθητι | Let you be loosed! |
| 3 Person | λυθήτω | Let him be loosed! |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | λύθητε | You (all) be loosed! |
| 3 Person | λυθήτωσαν | Let them be loosed! |
[Note] “Let them be loosed” could also be translated “Let them be freed” or “Let them be untied” depending on the context.
Table V-IM-10 Formation of the Second Aorist Passive Imperative Verb¶
- The Second Aorist Passive Imperative verb is formed with:
the un-augmented Second Aorist tense stem plus + 2) the Tense Formative (η) + 3) Imperative Active (and Aorist Passive) morpheme found in column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.
As we saw with First and Second Aorist passive verbs the Theta (θ) is dropped from the tense formative θη and becomes just η.
Second Aorist Passive Imperatives are rare in the New Testament. There are only 80 Aorist Passive Imperatives and most are 1st Aorist. There are less than 10 Second Aorist Passive Imperative verbs in the New Testament.
| Table V-IM-10 Formation of the Second Aorist Passive Imperative Verb |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaugmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem |
+ | Tense Formative |
+ | Imperative Active & Aorist Passive Morpheme |
||
| αποστραφ | + | η | + | τι | -> | ἀποστράφητι |
| Be turned back1 / Return! | ||||||
V-IM-10a 2nd Aorist Passive Imperative Verb¶
| V-IM-10a 2nd Aorist Passive Imperative Verb |
||
|---|---|---|
| Single | ||
| 2 Person | αποστράφητι | Be turned back! (Return!) |
| 3 Person | ἀποστραφήτω | Be turned back! (Return!) |
| Plural | ||
| 2 Person | ἀποστράφητε | You (all) be turned back! (Return!) |
| 3 Person | ἀποστραφήτωσαν | You (all) be turned back! (Return!) |
Examples:¶
Example V-IM-11 - Simple command aorist tense¶
A simple command from a superior to a subordinate is indicated by use of a verb in the imperative mood with the aorist tense. The aorist tense is used to express action as a whole. It does not speak to the duration, repetition, or continuity of the action.
ἀπόδοτε |
πᾶσι |
τὰς |
ὀφειλάς |
apodote |
pasi |
tas |
opheilas |
You give |
to all/everyone |
the |
things owed |
Pay back to everyone {your} obligations.
Example V-IM-12 - Simple command present tense¶
The present imperative refers to action that is to be repeated or continuous in nature. However, this should not be taken as a hard and fast rule. Jesus, as the superior, issues a command in the present tense to Phillip in the first example and Peter in the second example.
καὶ |
εὑρίσκει |
Φίλιππον |
καὶ |
λέγει |
αὐτῷ |
ὁ |
Ἰησοῦς |
ἀκολούθει |
μοι |
kai |
heuriskei |
Philippon |
kai |
legei |
autō |
ho |
Iēsous |
akolouthei |
moi |
and |
He finds |
Phillip |
and |
He said |
to him |
the |
Jesus |
continually follow |
me |
and he finds Philip and says to him, “Follow me.”
[Note: It is difficult to pick up the nuance of the present tense in the English translation.]
Example V-IM-12a – continual action¶
In this case the “continual” aspect of the action would be in iterations. It would involve repeating the task on a regular basis.
λέγει |
αὐτῷ |
ποίμαινε |
τὰ |
πρόβατά |
μου |
legei |
autō |
poimaine |
ta |
probata |
mou |
he says |
to him |
[repeatedly] feed |
my |
sheep |
He says to him, Feed my lambs.
Example V-IM 13 Command reduced to direction¶
In this example the force of the command is reduced to simple direction. The command is in the present tense, but the impact of the present tense seems to reflect action as a whole. This reminds us that the translator must always be sensitive to take into account the overall context. Jesus is not asking Thomas to continually or repeatedly stick his finger into his side.
εἶτα |
λέγει |
τῷ |
Θωμᾷ |
φέρε |
τὸν |
δάκτυλόν |
σου |
ὧδε |
eita |
legei |
tō |
Thōma |
phere |
ton |
daktylon |
sou |
hōde |
then |
he says |
to |
Thomas |
put |
the |
finger |
of you |
here |
Then he says to Thomas, “Place your finger here.
Example V-IM-14 – Imperative used to address a superior¶
The imperative may be directed to a superior, when there is an expectation that the request is something that the superior would grant.
ἠρώτων |
αὐτὸν |
οἱ |
μαθηταὶ |
λέγοντες |
Ῥαββεί |
φάγε. |
ἠρώτων |
αὐτὸν |
hoi |
mathētai |
legontes |
Rhabbei |
phage. |
They were asking |
him |
the |
disciples |
saying |
Rabbi |
eat. |
The disciples were urging him, saying,Rabbi, eat.
[ Note: This verse uses an imperfect active verb ἠρώτων combined with a present active participle λέγοντες. This would imply repeated urging. ἐρωτἀω would normally be translated “asking” but in this case urging was used to pick up on the imperative φάγε and to reduce the force of the imperative in English to urging to reflect the tone of the request to be in accordance with the intent of the Greek imperative when addressing a superior.]
Example V-IM-15 – Imperative in prayers¶
In the same manner the Imperative is used to address a superior; prayers and petitions to a sovereign king (or to God) are often expressed in the imperative mood, with the understanding that the superior is still sovereign.
With this in mind, the imperative becomes more of a request or a request that can be expected to be answered in the affirmative because it is something the superior would be expected to normally grant.
εἶπαν |
σὺ |
Κύριε |
καρδιογνῶστα |
πάντων |
ἀνάδειξον |
ὃν |
ἐξελέξω |
eipan |
sy |
Kyrie |
kardiognōsta |
pantōn |
anadeixon |
hon |
exelexō |
They said |
you |
Lord |
who knows |
all |
show |
whom |
you chose |
They said, You, Lord, heart-knower of all, show which one …you have chosen.
Example V-IM-16 Third Person Imperative commands¶
Third person imperatives are generally translated as “Let us”, “Let them”, “Let him”, or “Let her” or “He must” or “They must.” The use of an exclamation mark in the English language may also be used to emphasize the force of the imperative. The use of the more permissive language of “Let Him/her” does not decrease the force of the imperative. It is still an imperative and should be understood as an imperative.
ὁ |
ἀναγινώσκων |
νοείτω |
τότε |
οἱ |
ἐν |
τῇ |
Ἰουδαίᾳ |
φευγέτωσαν |
ho |
anaginōskōn |
noeitō |
tote |
hoi |
en |
tē |
Ioudaia |
pheugetōsan |
The |
one who reads |
let him understand |
then |
those |
(who are) in |
the |
Judea |
must flee |
let the reader understand, then let those {who are} in Judea flee
or
μηδεὶς |
ἑαυτὸν |
ἐξαπατάτω |
mēdeis |
heauton |
exapatatō |
(Let) noone |
himself |
he deceives |
Let no one deceive himself
[Note: also later in the same verse there is the verb γενέσθω which is translated “Let him become.”
Example V-IM-17 Examples of ways to say no¶
[Note:] The indicative tense is used with οὐ. All other tenses use μή for negation.
Simple no - Οὐ plus the indicative – simple negation
[We would also include a noun with οὐ in this category.]
Simple no - John 4:17¶ ἀπεκρίθη
ἡ
γυνὴ
καὶ
εἶπεν
αὐτῷ
οὐκ
ἔχω
ἄνδρα
apekrithē
hē
gynē
kai
eipen
autō
ouk
echō
andra
She answered
the
woman
and
she said
to him
not
I have
a husband
The woman answered and said to him, I do not have a husband.
or example 1(b)
noun with ού
Mathew 4:4 - Noun with οὐ¶ γέγραπται
οὐκ
ἐπ’ ἄρτῳ
μόνῳ
ζήσεται
ὁ
ἄνθρωπος
gegraptai
ouk
ep’ artō
monō
zēsetai
ho
anthrōpos
It is written
not
on bread
alone
he will live
the
man
It is written, Man will not live by bread alone
μή plus an aorist imperative - simple prohibition Matt 10:26
[Note]: We would also include μή with an infinitive (a verbal noun) or participle (a verbal adjective) in this category.
μὴ |
οὖν |
φοβηθῆτε |
αὐτούς |
mē |
oun |
phobēthēte |
autous |
not |
therefore |
you (all) fear |
them |
Therefore, do not fear them… (for there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.)
or example 2(b) example with an infinitive
δὲ |
λέγω |
ὑμῖν |
μὴ |
ἀντιστῆναι |
τῷ |
πονηρῷ |
de |
legō |
hymin |
mē |
antistēnai |
tō |
ponērō |
but |
I say |
to you |
not |
to resist |
the |
evil (man) |
But I tell you not to resist the evil person
or Example 2(c) example with a participle
πᾶν |
οὖν |
δένδρον |
μὴ |
ποιοῦν |
καρπὸν |
καλὸν |
ἐκκόπτεται |
pan |
oun |
dendron |
mē |
poioun |
karpon |
kalon |
ekkoptetai |
every |
therefore |
tree |
not |
producing |
fruit |
good |
is cut down |
every tree not producing good fruit is chopped down
μή plus a present imperative – continually prohibits an action
μὴ |
θησαυρίζετε |
ὑμῖν |
θησαυροὺς |
ἐπὶ |
τῆς |
γῆς |
mē |
thēsaurizete |
hymin |
thēsaurous |
epi |
tēs |
gēs |
not |
You (all) store up |
for yourself |
treasures |
on |
the |
earth |
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth
Note: [ or to emphasize the continual prohibition, this verse could be translated “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth now or in the future.”]
μή plus aorist subjunctive – stronger negation than option 1.
μὴ |
φοβηθῇς |
παραλαβεῖν |
Μαρίαν |
τὴν |
γυναῖκά |
σου |
mē |
phobēthēs |
paralabein |
Marian |
tēn |
gynaika |
sou |
**not**you be afraid |
to take |
Mary |
the |
wife |
of you |
you should not fear to take Mary as your wife
οὐ μή - no never – strongest way to say no
ἐὰν |
μὴ |
στραφῆτε |
… |
οὐ μὴ |
εἰσέλθητε |
εἰς |
τὴν |
Βασιλείαν |
τῶν |
Οὐρανῶν. |
|
ean |
mē |
straphēte |
… |
ou mē |
eiselthēte |
eis |
tēn |
Basileian |
tōn |
Ouranōn |
|
if |
not |
you (all) repent |
… |
no never |
will you (all) |
enter |
into |
the |
kingdom |
of |
heaven |
unless you would turn, you may certainly not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
[ This could also be translated “Unless you change (your manner of life) you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. ]
[Note:] ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε is similar to the example preceding this example “μή plus an aorist subjunctive”
μή plus the optative mood – a negative wish… may it never be.
νόμον |
οὖν |
καταργοῦμεν |
διὰ |
τῆς |
πίστεως? |
μὴ |
γένοιτο! |
nomon |
oun |
katargoumen |
dia |
tēs |
pisteōs? |
mē |
genoito! |
(the) law |
therefore |
do we nullify |
through |
the |
faith |
May it never |
be! |
Do we then nullify {the} law through the {same} faith? May it never be!