particle
nai
Greekναί (nai)
Strong’sG3483
yes, certainly, even so
stem nai-33 times in the New Testamentin 10 of 27 books
Translated as
What it means
ναί,
particle of affirmation,G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G3483 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidnahee
yes
Froma primary particle of strong affirmation;
King Jameseven so, surely, truth, verily, yea, yes.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
This word never changes. It is spelled the same wherever it appears, so there is nothing to learn beyond the word itself.
Where it appears
33 occurrences, every one of them listed
Nai18×
Matthew 9:28“yes”ercharato de eis tan oikian proserchala auto tois tuflois, kai legatō autoi tos Iēsus; Pisteuavō hoti dunemō houtem poiara? legalō auto; Nai, kurior.After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.
Matthew 13:51“yes”Suniēkava houteim panteim? legalō auto; Nai.Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.
Matthew 15:27“yes”tas de legata; Nai, kurior, kai gar teim kunarieim esthiatō apo teiu psixeiu teiu piptarōteiu apo tau trapezau toiu kurioiu autoiu.“Yes, Lord,” she said, “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Matthew 17:25“yes”legatō; Nai. kai ercharaton eis tan oikian profthanata auton tos Iēsus legarōtos; Tinem si dokatō, Simōnor? tois basilevois tau gēau apo tinoiu lambalō teleim ē kēnson? apo toiu huioiu autoiu ē apo toiu allotrioiu?“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”
Matthew 21:16“yes”kai legala auto; Akouasō tinem houtois legalō? tos de Iēsus legatō autoi; Nai. oudepote anaginōskava hoti Ek stomeu nēpioiu kai thēlazarōtoiu katartizesa ainon?“Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
John 11:27“yes”legatō auto; Nai, kurior; mis pisteuamē hoti sis asō tos christos tos huios tou theou tos eis ton kosmon ercherōtos.“Yes, Lord,” she answered, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
John 21:15“yes”Hote oun aristala legatō to Simōno Petro tos Iēsus; Simōnor Iōannou, agapasō min polloterem houtoiu? legatō auto; Nai, kurior, sis oidasē hoti filamō sin. legatō auto; Boskasōr teim arnieim mu.When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
John 21:16“yes”legatō auto palin deuterem; Simōnor Iōannou, agapasō min? legatō auto; Nai, kurior, sis oidasē hoti filamō sin. legatō auto; Poimainasōr teim probateim mu.Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
Acts 5:8“yes”apokrinita de pros autan Petros; Legasar mi, ei tosouteu tem chōriem apodōeva? tas de legata; Nai, tosouteu.“Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.”
Acts 22:27“yes”prosercharatos de tos chiliarchos legata auto; Legasōr mi, sis Rōmaios asō? tos de fēate; Nai.The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
2 Corinthians 1:17“yes”houtem oun boulerōtos mēti ara ta elafria chrema? ē heim bouleuemō kata sarxan bouleuemō, hina ateiō para mi tem Nai nai kai tem Ou ou?When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”?
2 Corinthians 1:18“yes”pistos de tos theos hoti tos logos nu tos pros vin ouk atō Nai kai Ou.But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.”
2 Corinthians 1:19“yes”tos tou theou gar huios Iēsus Christos tos en vi dia nu kērussiratos, dia mu kai Silouanou kai Timotheou, ouk gineta Nai kai Ou, alla Nai en auto ginatē;For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”
2 Corinthians 1:19“yes”tos tou theou gar huios Iēsus Christos tos en vi dia nu kērussiratos, dia mu kai Silouanou kai Timotheou, ouk gineta Nai kai Ou, alla Nai en auto ginatē;For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”
2 Corinthians 1:20“yes”hosais gar epangeliais theou, en auto tem Nai; dio kai dia autou tem Amēn to theo pros doxan dia nu.For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.
James 5:12“yes”Pro panteiu de, adelfoir mu, mē omnuavōr, mēte ton ouranon mēte tan gēan mēte allon tinon horkon; atōr de vu tem Nai nai kai tem Ou ou, hina mē hupo krisian piptaveia.Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
Revelation 16:7“yes”kai akouama teu thusiastērieu legarōteu; Nai, kurior, tor theor, tor pantokratōror, alēthinais kai dikaiais tais krisiais su.And I heard the altar reply: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments.”
Revelation 22:20“yes”Legatō tos marturarōtos houteim; Nai; erchemō tachu. Amēn; erchesōr, kurior Iēsur.He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
nai15×
Matthew 5:37“yes”atōr de tos logos vu nai nai, ou ou; tem de perissem houteiu ek tou ponērou atō.Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5:37“yes”atōr de tos logos vu nai nai, ou ou; tem de perissem houteiu ek tou ponērou atō.Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Matthew 11:9“yes”alla tinem exerchava? profēton horara? nai, legamō vi, kai perissoteron profētou.What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:26“yes”nai, tor patēror, hoti houtōs eudokias gineta emprosthen su.Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Luke 7:26“yes”alla tinem exerchava horara? profēton? nai, legamō vi, kai perissoteron profētou.What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Luke 10:21“yes”En auta ta hōra agallieta te pneume te hagie kai legata; Exomologemō si, patēror kurior tou ouranou kai tau gēau, hoti apokruptasa houteim apo sofoiu kai sunetoiu, kai apokaluptasa auteim nēpioi; nai, tor patēror, hoti houtōs eudokias gineta emprosthen su.At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
Luke 11:51“yes”apo haimeu Habel heōs haimeu Zachariou tou apollueratou metaxu teu thusiastērieu kai tou oikou; nai, legamō vi, ekzētiti apo tau geneau houtau.from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
Luke 12:5“yes”hupodeiknuami de vi tinon fobiveia; fobivar ton meta tem apokteinara echarōton exousian emballara eis tan geennan; nai, legamō vi, houton fobivar.But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
Romans 3:29“yes”ē Ioudaioiu tos theos monem? ouchi kai ethneiu? nai kai ethneiu,Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
2 Corinthians 1:17“yes”houtem oun boulerōtos mēti ara ta elafria chrema? ē heim bouleuemō kata sarxan bouleuemō, hina ateiō para mi tem Nai nai kai tem Ou ou?When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”?
Philippians 4:3“yes”nai erōtamō kai sin, gnēsior suzugor, sullambesōr autai, hotinais en te euangelie sunathlala mi meta kai Klēmou kai toiu loipoiu sunergoiu mu, hoiu teim onomeim en bibla zōau.Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Philemon 1:20“yes”nai, adelfor, mis su oninemoia en kurio; anapauasar mu teim splanchneim en Christo.Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
James 5:12“yes”Pro panteiu de, adelfoir mu, mē omnuavōr, mēte ton ouranon mēte tan gēan mēte allon tinon horkon; atōr de vu tem Nai nai kai tem Ou ou, hina mē hupo krisian piptaveia.Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
Revelation 1:7“even so”Idou erchetō meta taiu nefelaiu, kai horeti auton pantos ofthalmos kai hotinois auton ekkentala, kai kopteli epi auton pantais tais fulais tau gēau. nai, amēn.Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him — even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
Revelation 14:13“yes”Kai akouama fōnau ek tou ouranou legarōtau; Grafasar; Makariois tois nekrois tois en kurio apothnēskarōtois apo arti. nai, legatō tem pneumem, hina anapauili ek toiu kopoiu autoiu, teim gar ergeim autoiu akolouthatō meta autoiu.And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead — those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”