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

V-IM-1 Matthew 26:26

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:

  1. When a superior commands or orders a subordinate to carry out a specific action. [See Example V-IM-12]

  1. This force may be reduced to directing someone to do something. [See Example V-IM-13 ]

  1. 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]

  1. Οὐ plus the indicative – simple negation

  2. μή plus an aorist imperative - simple prohibition

  3. μή plus a present imperative – continually prohibits and action

  4. μή plus aorist subjunctive – stronger negation than option 1.

  5. οὐ μή - no never – strongest way to say no

  6. 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:

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:

  1. 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:

  1. 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:

  1. 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:

  1. 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:
  1. 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:
  1. 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.

V-IM-11 Romans 13:7

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.

V-IM-12 John 1:43

καὶ

εὑρίσκει

Φίλιππον

καὶ

λέγει

αὐτῷ

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.

John 21:15 – continual action

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.

John 20:27 – action as a whole -simple direction

εἶτα

λέγει

τῷ

Θωμᾷ

φέρε

τὸν

δάκτυλόν

σου

ὧδε

eita

legei

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.

John 4:31 –addressing a superior

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.

Acts 1:24 – Imperative in prayer

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.

Mark 13:14

ἀναγινώσκων

νοείτω

τότε

οἱ

ἐν

τῇ

Ἰουδαίᾳ

φευγέτωσαν

ho

anaginōskōn

noeitō

tote

hoi

en

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

1 Corinthians 3:18

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.

  1. 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

γυνὴ

καὶ

εἶπεν

αὐτῷ

οὐκ

ἔχω

ἄνδρα

apekrithē

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

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

  1. 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.

Matthew 10:26 μή plus an aorist imperative

μὴ

οὖν

φοβηθῆτε

αὐτούς

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

Matthew 5:39 – example with an infinitive

δὲ

λέγω

ὑμῖν

μὴ

ἀντιστῆναι

τῷ

πονηρῷ

de

legō

hymin

antistēnai

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

Matthew 3:10 – example with a participle

πᾶν

οὖν

δένδρον

μὴ

ποιοῦν

καρπὸν

καλὸν

ἐκκόπτεται

pan

oun

dendron

poioun

karpon

kalon

ekkoptetai

every

therefore

tree

not

producing

fruit

good

is cut down

every tree not producing good fruit is chopped down

  1. μή plus a present imperativecontinually prohibits an action

Matthew 6:19 μή plus a present imperative

μὴ

θησαυρίζετε

ὑμῖν

θησαυροὺς

ἐπὶ

τῆς

γῆς

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.”]

  1. μή plus aorist subjunctive – stronger negation than option 1.

Matthew 1:20 μή plus aorist subjunctive

μὴ

φοβηθῇς

παραλαβεῖν

Μαρίαν

τὴν

γυναῖκά

σου

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

  1. οὐ μή - no never – strongest way to say no

Matthew 18:3 οὐ μή

ἐὰν

μὴ

στραφῆτε

οὐ μὴ

εἰσέλθητε

εἰς

τὴν

Βασιλείαν

τῶν

Οὐρανῶν.

ean

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”

  1. μή plus the optative mood – a negative wish… may it never be.

Romans 3:31 μή plus the optative mood

νόμον

οὖν

καταργοῦμεν

διὰ

τῆς

πίστεως?

μὴ

γένοιτο!

nomon

oun

katargoumen

dia

tēs

pisteōs?

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!