3483. nai

Strong's Lexicon

nai: Yes, truly, verily

Original Word: ναί
Part of Speech: Particle, Disjunctive Particle
Transliteration: nai
Pronunciation: nah-ee
Phonetic Spelling: (nahee)
Definition: Yes, truly, verily
Meaning: yes, certainly, even so.

Word Origin: A primary particle of strong affirmation

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often used in similar contexts is אָמֵן (H543), which means "truly" or "so be it," and is used to affirm truth or agreement.

Usage: The Greek particle "ναί" is used to express strong affirmation or agreement. It is often translated as "yes" or "truly" in English. In the New Testament, it is used to confirm statements, agree with questions, or emphasize the truth of a declaration. It serves as a verbal affirmation that underscores the certainty or truthfulness of a statement.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the context of ancient Greek and Jewish culture, verbal affirmations were significant in communication, especially in legal and religious settings. The use of "ναί" would have been understood as a binding affirmation, similar to taking an oath or making a solemn promise. In the Greco-Roman world, where rhetoric and public speaking were highly valued, such affirmations were crucial for establishing credibility and trustworthiness.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3483: ναί

ναί, a particle of assertion or confirmation (akin to νή; cf. Donaldson, Cratylus § 189), from Homer down, yea, verily, truly, assuredly, even so: Matthew 11:26; Luke 10:21; Philemon 1:20; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 16:7; Revelation 22:20; ναί, λέγω ὑμῖν κτλ., Matthew 11:9; Luke 7:26; Luke 11:51; Luke 12:5; ναί, λέγει τό πνεῦμα, Revelation 14:13; it is responsive and confirmatory of the substance of some question or statement: Matthew 9:28; Matthew 13:51; Matthew 15:27; Matthew 17:25; Matthew 21:16; Mark 7:28; John 11:27; John 21:15; Acts 5:8 (); ; Romans 3:29; a repeated ναί, most assuredly (A. V. yea, yea), expresses emphatic assertion, Matthew 5:37; ἤτω ὑμῶν τό ναί ναί, let your ναί be ναί, i. e. let your allegation be true, James 5:12 (Buttmann, 163 (142); Winer's Grammar, 59 (58)); εἶναι or γίνεσθαι ναί καί οὐ, to be or show oneself double-tongued, i. e. faithless, wavering, false, 2 Corinthians 1:18f; ἵνα παῥ ἐμοί τό ναί ναί καί τό οὐ οὐ, that with me should be found both a solemn affirmation and a most emphatic denial, i. e. that I so form my resolves as, at the dictate of pleasure or profit, not to carry them out, ibid. 17 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 460 (429)); ναί ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν, in him what was promised has come to pass, 2 Corinthians 1:19; ἐπαγγελίαι ἐν αὐτῷ τό ναί namely, γεγόνασιν, have been fulfilled, have been confirmed by the event, 2 Corinthians 1:20 (cf. Meyer at the passage). It is a particle of appeal or entreaty, like the (English yea) (German ja): with an imperative, ναί ... συλλαμβάνου αὐταῖς, Philippians 4:3 (where Rec. has καί for ναί); ναί ἔρχου, Revelation 22:20 Rec.; so ναί ναί, Judith 9:12. (A classification of the uses of ναί in the N. T. is given by Ellicott on Philippians 4:3; cf. Green, 'Grit. Note' on Matthew 11:26.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

truly, yes

A primary particle of strong affirmation; yes -- even so, surely, truth, verily, yea, yes.

Forms and Transliterations

ναι ναί ναὶ nai naí naì

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 5:37 Prtcl
GRK: λόγος ὑμῶν ναὶ ναί οὒ
NAS: But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes
KJV: communication be, Yea, yea; Nay,
INT: statement of you Yes yes no

Matthew 5:37 Prtcl
GRK: ὑμῶν ναὶ ναί οὒ οὔ
NAS: be, 'Yes, yes [or] 'No,
KJV: be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay:
INT: of you Yes yes no no

Matthew 9:28 Prtcl
GRK: λέγουσιν αὐτῷ Ναί κύριε
NAS: this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.
KJV: They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
INT: They say to him Yes Lord

Matthew 11:9 Prtcl
GRK: προφήτην ἰδεῖν ναί λέγω ὑμῖν
NAS: A prophet? Yes, I tell
KJV: A prophet? yea, I say
INT: a prophet to see Yes I say to you

Matthew 11:26 Prtcl
GRK: ναί ὁ πατήρ
NAS: Yes, Father, for this way
KJV: Even so, Father: for
INT: Yes Father

Matthew 13:51 Prtcl
GRK: λέγουσιν αὐτῷ Ναί
NAS: They said to Him, Yes.
KJV: They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
INT: They say to him Yes

Matthew 15:27 Prtcl
GRK: δὲ εἶπεν Ναί κύριε καὶ
NAS: But she said, Yes, Lord; but even
KJV: And she said, Truth, Lord: yet
INT: moreover she said Yes master even

Matthew 17:25 Prtcl
GRK: λέγει Ναί καὶ ἐλθόντα
NAS: He said, Yes. And when he came
KJV: He saith, Yes. And when
INT: He says Yes And when he having entered

Matthew 21:16 Prtcl
GRK: λέγει αὐτοῖς Ναί οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε
NAS: said to them, Yes; have you never
KJV: unto them, Yea; have ye never
INT: says to them Yes never did you read

Mark 7:28 Prtcl
GRK: λέγει αὐτῷ Ναί κύριε καὶ
NAS: and said to Him, Yes, Lord,
KJV: said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet
INT: says to him Yes Lord for even

Luke 7:26 Prtcl
GRK: ἰδεῖν προφήτην ναί λέγω ὑμῖν
NAS: A prophet? Yes, I say
KJV: A prophet? Yea, I say
INT: to see a prophet Yes I say to you

Luke 10:21 Prtcl
GRK: αὐτὰ νηπίοις ναί ὁ πατήρ
NAS: them to infants. Yes, Father,
KJV: them unto babes: even so, Father; for
INT: them to little children yes Father

Luke 11:51 Prtcl
GRK: τοῦ οἴκου ναί λέγω ὑμῖν
NAS: and the house [of God]; yes, I tell
KJV: and the temple: verily I say unto you,
INT: the house yes I say to you

Luke 12:5 Prtcl
GRK: τὴν γέενναν ναί λέγω ὑμῖν
NAS: into hell; yes, I tell
KJV: into hell; yea, I say unto you,
INT: hell yes I say to you

John 11:27 Prtcl
GRK: λέγει αὐτῷ Ναί κύριε ἐγὼ
NAS: She said to Him, Yes, Lord;
KJV: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I
INT: She says to him Yes Lord I

John 21:15 Prtcl
GRK: λέγει αὐτῷ Ναί κύριε σὺ
NAS: He said to Him, Yes, Lord;
KJV: He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
INT: He says to him Yes Lord you

John 21:16 Prtcl
GRK: λέγει αὐτῷ Ναί κύριε σὺ
NAS: Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord;
KJV: He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
INT: He says to him Yes Lord you

Acts 5:8 Prtcl
GRK: δὲ εἶπεν Ναί τοσούτου
NAS: And she said, Yes, that was the price.
KJV: And she said, Yea, for so much.
INT: and she said Yes for so much

Acts 22:27 Prtcl
GRK: δὲ ἔφη Ναί
NAS: And he said, Yes.
KJV: He said, Yea.
INT: moreover he said Yes

Romans 3:29 Prtcl
GRK: καὶ ἐθνῶν ναὶ καὶ ἐθνῶν
NAS: also? Yes, of Gentiles
KJV: of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles
INT: also of Gentiles Yes also of Gentiles

2 Corinthians 1:17 Prtcl
GRK: ἐμοὶ τό Ναί ναὶ καὶ
NAS: so that with me there will be yes, yes
KJV: me there should be yea yea, and
INT: me yes yes and

2 Corinthians 1:17 Prtcl
GRK: τό Ναί ναὶ καὶ τό
NAS: that with me there will be yes, yes and no,
KJV: there should be yea yea, and nay
INT: yes yes and

2 Corinthians 1:18 Prtcl
GRK: οὐκ ἔστιν Ναί καὶ Οὔ
NAS: our word to you is not yes and no.
KJV: was not yea and nay.
INT: not was yes and no

2 Corinthians 1:19 Prtcl
GRK: οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναί καὶ Οὔ
NAS: and Timothy-- was not yes and no,
KJV: was not yea and nay,
INT: not was yes and no

2 Corinthians 1:19 Prtcl
GRK: Οὔ ἀλλὰ Ναί ἐν αὐτῷ
NAS: was not yes and no, but is yes in Him.
KJV: him was yea.
INT: no but yes in him

Strong's Greek 3483
34 Occurrences

ναὶ — 34 Occ.