BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Ei (εἰ) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
εἰ is a Greek conditional particle translated 'if,' used to introduce conditional clauses throughout the New Testament.
Meaning of the word
εἰ (ei, Strong's G1487) is a Greek conditional conjunction. The standard lexical gloss is "if, whether, that, etc.," reflecting its primary use in introducing conditional clauses. It can also appear in indirect questions meaning "whether."
The word belongs to a small set of Greek particles that frame conditional statements. The lexicon entry defines it simply as "if, whether, that, etc." The basic sense is to set up a condition — either a real, assumed-for-argument situation or, depending on the mood and tense of the verb that follows, a contrary-to-fact or hypothetical one.
Usage in Scripture
In the Gospels, εἰ introduces the conditional clauses of Jesus' teaching. Matthew 5:29 and 5:30 use εἰ with verbs of causing to stumble to set up vivid hypotheticals about the eye and hand. Matthew 6:30 and 7:11 use εἰ to draw comparisons from lesser to greater — if God clothes the grass, how much more will He clothe you; if evil parents give good gifts, how much more will the Father.
In John, εἰ frames statements about knowing the Father and about the world's hatred. John 14:7 reads "If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also." John 15:18–24 contains a series of εἰ clauses: if the world hates you, if you were of the world, if I had not come and spoken to them, if I had not done the works. John 1:25 contains the question "Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet?" — here εἰ introduces a conditional assumption.
The word in detail
- G1487 εἰ is the standard Greek conditional particle (G1487). The provided lexicon defines it as 'if, whether, that, etc.' It introduces conditional clauses and can also appear in indirect questions meaning 'whether.' The exact count of occurrences given in the provided data is 50 across 45 distinct verses.
Example verses
- Matthew 5:29 εἰ introduces a vivid conditional about the right eye causing one to stumble, framing a hypothetical warning.
- Matthew 7:11 εἰ frames a lesser-to-greater argument: if evil parents give good gifts, how much more will the heavenly Father.
- John 14:7 εἰ introduces Jesus' statement that knowing Him is tied to knowing the Father.
- John 15:22 εἰ sets up the counterfactual: if Jesus had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin in the same way.
Common questions
What does εἰ mean in Greek?
According to the provided lexicon, εἰ (G1487) is defined as 'if, whether, that, etc.' It is primarily a conditional particle used to introduce conditional clauses.
How many times does εἰ occur in the New Testament according to the data provided?
The provided occurrence data lists 50 total occurrences across 45 distinct verses for Strong's G1487.
Can εἰ mean 'whether' as well as 'if'?
Yes. The lexicon entry includes 'whether' in its gloss list, reflecting the use of εἰ to introduce indirect questions, alongside its primary conditional use introducing 'if'-clauses.