verb
exestinamō
Greekἔξεστι(ν) (exestin)
Strong’sG1832
it is permitted, lawful, possible
stem exestin-31 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books2 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
ἔξ-εστι
(< εἰμί),
impers. verb.,G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1832 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidex'-es-tee
so also ἐξόν neuter present participle of the same (with or without some form of G1510 expressed); impersonally, it is right (through the figurative idea of being out in public)
Fromthird person singular present indicative of a compound of G1537 and G1510;
King Jamesbe lawful, let, X may(-est).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Forms in the New Testament
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| exestinatōἔξεστιν | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | lawful | 28× |
| exestinarōtemἐξὸν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle direct singular neuter | may | 3× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 28 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | exestinamō | exestiname | exestinami | exestinama | exestinamē | exestinamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | exestinasō | exestinase | exestinasi | exestinasa | exestinasē | exestinaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | exestinatō28×ἔξεστιν | exestinate | exestinati | exestinata | exestinatē | exestinatelē |
| we 1st person plural | exestinanō | exestinane | exestinani | exestinana | exestinanē | exestinanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | exestinavō | exestinave | exestinavi | exestinava | exestinavē | exestinavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | exestinalō | exestinale | exestinali | exestinala | exestinalē | exestinalelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | exestinameiō | exestinameia | exestinameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | exestinaseiō | exestinaseia | exestinaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | exestinateiō | exestinateia | exestinateiē |
| we 1st person plural | exestinaneiō | exestinaneia | exestinaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | exestinaveiō | exestinaveia | exestinaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | exestinaleiō | exestinaleia | exestinaleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | exestinasōr | exestinasar | exestinasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | exestinatōr | exestinatar | exestinatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | exestinavōr | exestinavar | exestinavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | exestinalōr | exestinalar | exestinalēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | exestinamoiō | exestinamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | exestinasoiō | exestinasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | exestinatoiō | exestinatoia |
| we 1st person plural | exestinanoiō | exestinanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | exestinavoiō | exestinavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | exestinaloiō | exestinaloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | exestinarō | exestinari | exestinara | exestinarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 3 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | exestinarōtos3× | exestinaritos | exestinaratos | exestinarētos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
exestin is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
31 occurrences, every one of them listed
exestinatō“lawful”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular28×
Matthew 12:2“lawful”tois de Farisaiois horaratois legala auto; Idou tois mathētois su poialō hem ouk exestinatō poiarō en sabbate.When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:10“lawful”kai idou anthrōpos cheiran echarōtos xēran. kai eperōtala auton legarōtois; Ei exestinatō tei sabbatei therapeuarō? hina katēgoraleia autou.and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
Matthew 12:12“lawful”pose oun diaferatō anthrōpos probateu. hōste exestinatō tei sabbatei kalōs poiarō.How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Matthew 14:4“lawful”legate gar auto tos Iōannos; Ouk exestinatō si echarō autan;because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Matthew 19:3“lawful”Kai proserchala auto Farisaiois peirazarōtois auton kai legarōtois; Ei exestinatō anthrōpo apoluara tan gunaikan autou kata pantan aitian?Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Matthew 20:15“have the right”ouk exestinatō mi hem thelamō poiara en tei ēmei? ē tos ofthalmos su ponēros atō hoti mis agathos amō?Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
Matthew 22:17“lawful”legasar oun ni tinem si dokatō; exestinatō dōara kēnson Kaisaro ē ou?So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
Matthew 27:6“lawful”tois de archierevois lambaratois teim argurieim legala; Ouk exestinatō ballara auteim eis ton korbanaon, epei timas haimeu atō;The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”
Mark 2:24“lawful”kai tois Farisaiois legale auto; Ide tinem poialō tei sabbatei hem ouk exestinatō?So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Mark 2:26“lawful”pōs eiserchata eis ton oikon tou theou epi Abiathar archierevou kai toin artoin tau prothesiau esthiata, hoin ouk exestinatō esthiara ei mē toin hierevoin, kai dōata kai toi sun auto arōtoi?During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”
Mark 3:4“lawful”kai legatō autoi; Exestinatō tei sabbatei agathopoiara ē kakopoiara, psuchan sōzara ē apokteinara? tois de siōpale.And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.
Mark 6:18“lawful”legate gar tos Iōannos to Hērōdo hoti Ouk exestinatō si echarō tan gunaikan tou adelfou su.For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
Mark 10:2“lawful”Kai eperōtale auton ei exestinatō anēro gunaikan apoluara, peirazarōtois auton.Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.
Mark 12:14“lawful”kai ercharatois legalō auto; Didaskalor, oidanē hoti alēthos asō kai ouk meleiatō si peri oudenou, ouk gar blepasō eis prosōpem anthrōpoiu, alla epi alētheiau tan hodan tou theou didaskasō; exestinatō dōara kēnson Kaisaro ē ou? dōaneia ē mē dōaneia?“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”
Luke 6:2“lawful”tinois de toiu Farisaioiu legala; Tinem poiavō hem ouk exestinatō tei sabbatei?But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Luke 6:4“lawful”hōs eiserchata eis ton oikon tou theou kai toin artoin tau prothesiau lambaratos esthiata kai dōata toi meta autou, hoin ouk exestinatō esthiara ei mē monoin toin hierevoin?He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”
Luke 6:9“lawful”legata de tos Iēsus pros autoin; Eperōtamō vin, ei exestinatō te sabbate agathopoiara ē kakopoiara, psuchan sōzara ē apolluara?Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
Luke 14:3“lawful”kai apokriniratos tos Iēsus legata pros toin nomikoin kai Farisaioin legarōtos; Exestinatō te sabbate therapeuara ē ou?So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”
Luke 20:22“lawful”exestinatō nin Kaisaro foron dōara ē ou?Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
John 5:10“lawful”legale oun tois Ioudaiois to therapeuirēto; Sabbatem atō, kai ouk exestinatō si airara ton krabatton.so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”
John 18:31“permitted”legata oun autoi tos Pilatos; Lambavar auton vis, kai kata ton nomon vu krinavar auton. legala auto tois Ioudaiois; Ni ouk exestinatō apokteinara oudenon;“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
Acts 16:21“lawful”kai katangellalō etheim heim ouk exestinatō ni paradecherō oude poiarō Rōmaioi arōtoi.by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
Acts 21:37“may”Mellarōtos tē eisagirō eis tan parembolan tos Paulos legatō to chiliarcho; Ei exestinatō mi legara tinem pros sin? tos de fēate; Hellēnisti gnōskasō?As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.
Acts 22:25“lawful”hōs de proteinala auton toi himantoi legata pros ton histanarēton hekatontarchēon tos Paulos; Ei anthrōpon Rōmaion kai akatakriton exestinatō vi mastizarō?But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”
1 Corinthians 6:12“lawful”Panteim mi exestinatō; alla ouk panteim sumferatō. panteim mi exestinatō; alla ouk mis exousiazimi hupo tineu.“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:12“lawful”Panteim mi exestinatō; alla ouk panteim sumferatō. panteim mi exestinatō; alla ouk mis exousiazimi hupo tineu.“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 10:23“lawful”Panteim exestinatō; alla ouk panteim sumferatō. panteim exestinatō; alla ouk panteim oikodomatō.“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
1 Corinthians 10:23“lawful”Panteim exestinatō; alla ouk panteim sumferatō. panteim exestinatō; alla ouk panteim oikodomatō.“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
exestinarōtem“may”happening now · subjectpresent active participle direct singular neuter3×
Matthew 12:4“lawful”pōs eiserchata eis ton oikon tou theou kai toin artoin tau prothesiau esthiala, hem ouk exestinarōtem ate auto esthiara oude toi meta autou, ei mē toi hierevoi monoi?He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
Acts 2:29“may”Anēroir adelfoir, exestinarōtem legara meta parrēsiau pros vin peri tou patriarchou David, hoti kai teleutata kai thaptita, kai tem mnēmem autou atō en ni achri tau hēmerau houtau;Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
2 Corinthians 12:4“permitted”hoti harpazita eis ton paradeison kai akouata arrēteim rēmeim heim ouk exestinarōtem anthrōpo lalara.was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.