Lexical Summary ei: if, whether Original Word: εἰ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance art, be. Second person singular present of eimi; thou art -- art, be. see GREEK eimi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsecond pers. sing. pres. of eimi, q.v. Topical Lexicon OverviewAlthough the form numbered 1488 does not appear inside the canonical Greek New Testament, it stands in the lexicons as a spelling variant of the common conditional particle that Scripture translates “if.” Its absence from the printed text does not diminish the importance of the idea it represents, for conditional language pervades both Testaments, shaping doctrine, exhortation, warning, promise, and worship. Function in Koine Greek 1. Introduces a direct condition whose fulfillment is open (first-class), doubtful (second-class), hypothetical (third-class), or remote (fourth-class). The particle therefore supplies precision: it does not create uncertainty in divine revelation but clarifies the human response required or the certainty of the stated result. Conditionality in Biblical Theology • Covenant structure: “If you will indeed obey My voice… you will be My treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5). Throughout, the particle upholds both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The conditions never imply uncertainty in God but call hearers to live within the covenantal framework He established. Septuagint and Intertestamental Background The Greek Old Testament employs the particle thousands of times, giving Jewish readers of the first century a well-developed sense of conditionality before encountering the apostolic writings. Classic examples include: • Deuteronomy 8:19 These passages form the backdrop for New Testament appeals such as Hebrews 3:7-15, where the preacher quotes Psalm 95 and warns, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Relation to Other Conditional Particles εἰ (1487) – the ordinary “if,” definite or assumed true for argument’s sake. ἐάν (1437) – “if ever / whenever,” introducing more open or general conditions. ἄν – enclitic that, when combined with verbs, highlights contingency (“would,” “might”). Strong’s 1488 represents an accentual spelling variation, reminding translators and students to consult context rather than rely only on numbering. Ministerial and Pastoral Significance • Preaching: Conditions proclaim both promise and peril. An evangelistic sermon draws on texts like 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Doctrinal Implications 1. Perseverance: Conditional warnings encourage true saints to endure, yet do not threaten loss of God’s ultimate purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). Summary The unused variant form cataloged as Strong’s Greek 1488 points to the ubiquitous conditional particle that Scripture wields to reveal covenant terms, gospel invitations, sober warnings, and sure promises. Studying its function deepens appreciation for the precision with which God speaks, the urgency of human response, and the coherence of biblical revelation from Genesis to Revelation. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance ἔθνος — 18 Occ.ἔθνους — 7 Occ. ἔθη — 2 Occ. ἔθει — 1 Occ. ἔθεσι — 1 Occ. ἔθεσιν — 1 Occ. ἐθῶν — 1 Occ. ἔθος — 6 Occ. εἰώθει — 2 Occ. εἰωθὸς — 2 Occ. μή¦γε — 8 Occ. εἴδει — 1 Occ. εἶδος — 2 Occ. εἴδους — 2 Occ. ᾔδει — 14 Occ. ᾔδειν — 5 Occ. ᾔδεις — 3 Occ. ᾔδεισαν — 8 Occ. ᾔδειτε — 3 Occ. εἰδῇς — 1 Occ. |
    |