Imperative Morpheme Chart

Imperative Morpheme Chart V-IM-2
	Present Active, Aorist Active, and Aorist Passive Column 1	Middle/Passive Column 2
Single
2nd Person	Irregular	Irregular
3rd Person	τω	σθω
Plural
2nd Person	τε	σθε
3rd Person	τωσαν	σθωσαν

Note: The Second Singular imperative forms are irregular and will have to be learned for each verb or identified through the use of a lexicon.

Table V-IM-3 Formation of Present Active Imperative Verb

The Present Active Imperative Verb is formed by using:

the 1) Present Tense Stem and 2) adding a Connecting Vowel plus 3) the appropriate Imperative morpheme from column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.

Table V-IM-3 Present Active Imperative Verb
Present Tense Stem	+	Connecting Vowel	+	Imperative Morpheme
λυ	+	ε	+	τω	->	λυέτω
Let him loose  (them)

[Note]: by using the present tense, there is an implication to be continually loosing (or freeing) them.

V-IM-3a Present Active Imperative Verb

V-IM-3a Present Active Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	λῦε	You loose!
3 Person	λυέτω	Let him loose!
Plural
2 Person	λυέτε  *	You (all) loose!
3 Person	λυέτωσαν	Let them loose!

[* Note:] The Second Person plural λύετε is the same form for both the Second Person plural indicative and the Second Person plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.

Table V-IM-4 Formation of the 1st Aorist Active Imperative Verb

The Aorist Active Imperative Verb is formed by using:

1. the un-augmented Aorist Tense Stem, and 2) adding the aorist tense formative (σα), and 3) the appropriate Imperative Morpheme from column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.

Table V-IM-4 1st Aorist Active Imperative Verb
Unaugmented Aorist Tense Stem	+	Tense Formative	+	Imperative Morpheme
λυ	+	σα	+	τω	->	λυσάτω
Let him loose  (them)

V-IM-4a 1st Aorist Active Imperative Verb

V-IM-4a 1st Aorist* Active Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	λῦσον	You loose!
3 Person	λυσάτω	Let him loose!
Plural
2 Person	λύσατε **	You (all) loose!
3 Person	λυσάτωσαν	Let them loose!

[Note:]

* With the aorist tense there is no implication of repeated action.

** The Second Person plural λύσατε is the same form for both the Second Person plural indicative and the Second Person plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.

Table V-IM-5 Formation of the 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb

The 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb is formed just like the Present Tense Active Imperative Verb. The only difference is the use of the 2nd Aorist tense formative. There is no Aorist tense formative because the use of the 2nd aorist tense stem serves to notify the reader that this is an aorist verb. It is therefore formed by using:

1. the un-augmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem, and 2) adding a connecting vowel, and 3) the appropriate Imperative Morpheme from column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.

Table V-IM-5 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb
Unaugmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem	+	Connecting Vowel	+	Imperative Morpheme
λαβ	+	ε	+	τω	->	λαβέτω
Let him take/receive  (it)

V-IM-5a 2nd Aorist Active Imperative Verb

V-IM-5a 2ndt Aorist* Active Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	λάβε	You receive (it)!
3 Person	λαβέτω	Let him receive (it)!
Plural
2 Person	λαβέτε *	You (all) receive (it)!
3 Person	λαβέτωσαν	Let them receive (it)!

[* Note:] The Second Person plural λαβέτε is the same form for both the Second Person plural indicative and the Second Person plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.

Table V-IM-6 Formation of the Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb

Just like the Present Active Imperative Verb, the Present Middle Imperative Verb is formed by using:

the 1) Present Tense Stem and 2) adding a Connecting Vowel plus 3) and the appropriate Middle/Passive Imperative morpheme in column 2 of Table-V-IM-2 instead of the active imperative morpheme.

Table V-IM-6 Formation of the Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb
Present Tense Stem	+	Connecting Vowel	+	Imperative Middle/Passive Morpheme
λυ	+	ε	+	σθε	->	λύεσθε
You all be loosed (or loose yourselves)

V-IM-6a Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb

V-IM-6a Present Middle/Passive Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	λύου	You loose yourself!
3 Person	λυέσθω	Let him loose himself!
Plural
2 Person	λύεσθε *	You (all) loose yourselves!
3 Person	λυέσθωσαν	Let them loose themselves!

[* Note:] The Second Person Middle plural λύεσθε is the same form for both the Second Person Middle plural indicative and the Second Person Middle plural imperative. The translator must make a decision as to if it is to be interpreted as an indicative or imperative verb based on the context.

Table V-IM-7 Formation of the First Aorist Middle Imperative Verb

The First Aorist Middle Imperative is formed with:

1. the un-augmented First Aorist tense stem plus 2) the Aorist tense formative + 3) the appropriate Imperative Middle/Passive morpheme from column 2 in Table-V-IM-2 .

Table V-IM-7 Formation of the First Aorist Middle Imperative Verb
Unaugmented Aorist Tense Stem	+	Tense Formative	+	Imperative Middle Morpheme
λυ	+	σα	+	σθε	->	λύσασθε
You all loose yourselves!

V-IM-7a 1st Aorist Middle Imperative Verb

V-IM-7a 1st Aorist Middle Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	λύσαι	You loose yourself!
3 Person	λυσάσθω	Let him loose himself!
Plural
2 Person	λύσασθε	You (all) loose yourselves!
3 Person	λυσάσθωσαν	Let them loose themselves!

Table V-IM-8 Formation of the Second Aorist Middle Imperative Verb

The 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb is formed just like the Present Tense Middle/Passive Imperative Verb. The only difference is the use of the 2nd Aorist tense formative. There is no Aorist tense formative because the use of the 2nd aorist tense stem serves to notify the reader that this is an aorist verb.

The Second Aorist Middle Imperative verb is therefore formed by using:

1. the un-augmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem, and 2) adding a connecting vowel, and 3) the appropriate Imperative Morpheme from Column 2 in Table-V-IM-2.

Table V-IM-8 Formation of the 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb
Unaugmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem	+	Connecting Vowel	+	Imperative Middle Morpheme
γεν	+	ε	+	σθω	->	γενέσθω
Let him become!

V-IM-8a 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb

V-IM-8a 2nd Aorist Middle Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	γένου	You become!  or Let yourself become!
3 Person	γενέσθω	Let him become!
Plural
2 Person	γένεσθε	You (all) become!
3 Person	γένεσθωσαν	Let them become!

Table V-IM-9 Formation of the First Aorist Passive Imperative Verb

The First Aorist Passive Imperative verb is formed with:

1. the un-augmented First Aorist Passive tense stem plus 2) the Aorist Tense formative + 3) the Imperative Active (and Aorist passive) morpheme found in column 1 of Table-V-IM-2 .

Table V-IM-9 Formation of the First Aorist Passive Imperative Verb
Unaugmented Aorist Tense Stem	+	Tense Formative	+	Imperative Active Morpheme
λυ	+	θε	+	τε	->	λύθετε
Let you all be loosed!

V-IM-9a 1st Aorist Passive Imperative Verb

V-IM-9a 1st Aorist Passive Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	λύθητι	Let you be loosed!
3 Person	λυθήτω	Let him be loosed!
Plural
2 Person	λύθητε	You (all) be loosed!
3 Person	λυθήτωσαν	Let them be loosed!

[Note] "Let them be loosed" could also be translated "Let them be freed" or "Let them be untied" depending on the context.

Table V-IM-10 Formation of the Second Aorist Passive Imperative Verb

The Second Aorist Passive Imperative verb is formed with:

1. the un-augmented Second Aorist tense stem plus + 2) the Tense Formative (η) + 3) Imperative Active (and Aorist Passive) morpheme found in column 1 of Table-V-IM-2.

As we saw with First and Second Aorist passive verbs the Theta (θ) is dropped from the tense formative θη and becomes just η.

Second Aorist Passive Imperatives are rare in the New Testament. There are only 80 Aorist Passive Imperatives and most are 1st Aorist. There are less than 10 Second Aorist Passive Imperative verbs in the New Testament.

Table V-IM-10 Formation of the Second Aorist Passive Imperative Verb
Unaugmented 2nd Aorist Tense Stem	+	Tense Formative	+	Imperative Active & Aorist Passive Morpheme
αποστραφ	+	η	+	τι	->	ἀποστράφητι
Be turned back1 / Return!

V-IM-10a 2nd Aorist Passive Imperative Verb

V-IM-10a 2nd Aorist Passive Imperative Verb
Single
2 Person	αποστράφητι	Be turned back! (Return!)
3 Person	ἀποστραφήτω	Be turned back! (Return!)
Plural
2 Person	ἀποστράφητε	You (all) be turned back! (Return!)
3 Person	ἀποστραφήτωσαν	You (all) be turned back! (Return!)

Example V-IM-11 - Simple command aorist tense

A simple command from a superior to a subordinate is indicated by use of a verb in the imperative mood with the aorist tense. The aorist tense is used to express action as a whole. It does not speak to the duration, repetition, or continuity of the action.

V-IM-11 Romans 13:7

ἀπόδοτε	πᾶσι	τὰς	ὀφειλάς
apodote	pasi	tas	opheilas
You give	to all/everyone	the	things owed

Pay back to everyone {your} obligations.

Example V-IM-12 - Simple command present tense

The present imperative refers to action that is to be repeated or continuous in nature. However, this should not be taken as a hard and fast rule. Jesus, as the superior, issues a command in the present tense to Phillip in the first example and Peter in the second example.

V-IM-12 John 1:43

καὶ	εὑρίσκει	Φίλιππον	καὶ	λέγει	αὐτῷ	ὁ	Ἰησοῦς	ἀκολούθει	μοι
kai	heuriskei	Philippon	kai	legei	autō	ho	Iēsous	akolouthei	moi
and	He finds	Phillip	and	He said	to him	the	Jesus	continually follow	me

and he finds Philip and says to him, “Follow me.”

[Note: It is difficult to pick up the nuance of the present tense in the English translation.]

Example V-IM-12a – continual action

In this case the "continual" aspect of the action would be in iterations. It would involve repeating the task on a regular basis.

John 21:15 – continual action

λέγει	αὐτῷ	ποίμαινε	τὰ	πρόβατά	μου
legei	autō	poimaine	ta	probata	mou
he says	to him	[repeatedly] feed	my	sheep

He says to him, Feed my lambs.

Example V-IM 13 Command reduced to direction

In this example the force of the command is reduced to simple direction. The command is in the present tense, but the impact of the present tense seems to reflect action as a whole. This reminds us that the translator must always be sensitive to take into account the overall context. Jesus is not asking Thomas to continually or repeatedly stick his finger into his side.

John 20:27 – action as a whole -simple direction

εἶτα	λέγει	τῷ	Θωμᾷ	φέρε	τὸν	δάκτυλόν	σου	ὧδε
eita	legei	tō	Thōma	phere	ton	daktylon	sou	hōde
then	he says	to	Thomas	put	the	finger	of you	here

Then he says to Thomas, “Place your finger here.

Example V-IM-14 – Imperative used to address a superior

The imperative may be directed to a superior, when there is an expectation that the request is something that the superior would grant.

John 4:31 –addressing a superior

ἠρώτων	αὐτὸν	οἱ	μαθηταὶ	λέγοντες	Ῥαββεί	φάγε.
ἠρώτων	αὐτὸν	hoi	mathētai	legontes	Rhabbei	phage.
They were asking	him	the	disciples	saying	Rabbi	eat.

The disciples were urging him, saying,Rabbi, eat.

[ Note: This verse uses an imperfect active verb ἠρώτων combined with a present active participle λέγοντες. This would imply repeated urging. ἐρωτἀω would normally be translated “asking” but in this case urging was used to pick up on the imperative φάγε and to reduce the force of the imperative in English to urging to reflect the tone of the request to be in accordance with the intent of the Greek imperative when addressing a superior.]

Example V-IM-15 – Imperative in prayers

In the same manner the Imperative is used to address a superior; prayers and petitions to a sovereign king (or to God) are often expressed in the imperative mood, with the understanding that the superior is still sovereign.

With this in mind, the imperative becomes more of a request or a request that can be expected to be answered in the affirmative because it is something the superior would be expected to normally grant.

Acts 1:24 – Imperative in prayer

εἶπαν	σὺ	Κύριε	καρδιογνῶστα	πάντων	ἀνάδειξον	ὃν	ἐξελέξω
eipan	sy	Kyrie	kardiognōsta	pantōn	anadeixon	hon	exelexō
They said	you	Lord	who knows	all	show	whom	you chose

They said, You, Lord, heart-knower of all, show which one …you have chosen.

Example V-IM-16 Third Person Imperative commands

Third person imperatives are generally translated as “Let us”, “Let them”, “Let him”, or “Let her” or “He must” or “They must.” The use of an exclamation mark in the English language may also be used to emphasize the force of the imperative. The use of the more permissive language of “Let Him/her” does not decrease the force of the imperative. It is still an imperative and should be understood as an imperative.

Mark 13:14

ὁ	ἀναγινώσκων	νοείτω	τότε	οἱ	ἐν	τῇ	Ἰουδαίᾳ	φευγέτωσαν
ho	anaginōskōn	noeitō	tote	hoi	en	tē	Ioudaia	pheugetōsan
The	one who reads	let him understand	then	those	(who are) in	the	Judea	must flee

let the reader understand, then let those {who are} in Judea flee

or

1 Corinthians 3:18

μηδεὶς	ἑαυτὸν	ἐξαπατάτω
mēdeis	heauton	exapatatō
(Let) noone	himself	he deceives

Let no one deceive himself

[Note: also later in the same verse there is the verb γενέσθω which is translated "Let him become."

Example V-IM-17 Examples of ways to say no

[Note:] The indicative tense is used with οὐ. All other tenses use μή for negation.

1. Simple no - Οὐ plus the indicative – simple negation

[We would also include a noun with οὐ in this category.]

Simple no - John 4:17

ἀπεκρίθη	ἡ	γυνὴ	καὶ	εἶπεν	αὐτῷ	οὐκ	ἔχω	ἄνδρα
apekrithē	hē	gynē	kai	eipen	autō	ouk	echō	andra
She answered	the	woman	and	she said	to him	not	I have	a husband

The woman answered and said to him, I do not have a husband.

or example 1(b)

noun with ού

Mathew 4:4 - Noun with οὐ

γέγραπται	οὐκ	ἐπ’ ἄρτῳ	μόνῳ	ζήσεται	ὁ	ἄνθρωπος
gegraptai	ouk	ep’ artō	monō	zēsetai	ho	anthrōpos
It is written	not	on bread	alone	he will live	the	man

It is written, Man will not live by bread alone

2. μή plus an aorist imperative - simple prohibition Matt 10:26

[Note]: We would also include μή with an infinitive (a verbal noun) or participle (a verbal adjective) in this category.

Matthew 10:26 μή plus an aorist imperative

μὴ	οὖν	φοβηθῆτε	αὐτούς
mē	oun	phobēthēte	autous
not	therefore	you (all) fear	them

Therefore, do not fear them… (for there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.)

or example 2(b) example with an infinitive

Matthew 5:39 – example with an infinitive

δὲ	λέγω	ὑμῖν	μὴ	ἀντιστῆναι	τῷ	πονηρῷ
de	legō	hymin	mē	antistēnai	tō	ponērō
but	I say	to you	not	to resist	the	evil (man)

But I tell you not to resist the evil person

or Example 2(c) example with a participle

Matthew 3:10 – example with a participle

πᾶν	οὖν	δένδρον	μὴ	ποιοῦν	καρπὸν	καλὸν	ἐκκόπτεται
pan	oun	dendron	mē	poioun	karpon	kalon	ekkoptetai
every	therefore	tree	not	producing	fruit	good	is cut down

every tree not producing good fruit is chopped down

3. μή plus a present imperative – continually prohibits an action

Matthew 6:19 μή plus a present imperative

μὴ	θησαυρίζετε	ὑμῖν	θησαυροὺς	ἐπὶ	τῆς	γῆς
mē	thēsaurizete	hymin	thēsaurous	epi	tēs	gēs
not	You (all) store up	for yourself	treasures	on	the	earth

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth

Note: [ or to emphasize the continual prohibition, this verse could be translated “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth now or in the future.”]

4. μή plus aorist subjunctive – stronger negation than option 1.

Matthew 1:20 μή plus aorist subjunctive

μὴ	φοβηθῇς	παραλαβεῖν	Μαρίαν	τὴν	γυναῖκά	σου
mē	phobēthēs	paralabein	Marian	tēn	gynaika	sou
**not**you be afraid	to take	Mary	the	wife	of you

you should not fear to take Mary as your wife

5. οὐ μή - no never – strongest way to say no

Matthew 18:3 οὐ μή

ἐὰν	μὴ	στραφῆτε	…	οὐ μὴ	εἰσέλθητε	εἰς	τὴν	Βασιλείαν	τῶν	Οὐρανῶν.
ean	mē	straphēte	…	ou mē	eiselthēte	eis	tēn	Basileian	tōn	Ouranōn
if	not	you (all) repent	...	no never	will you (all)	enter	into	the	kingdom	of	heaven

unless you would turn, you may certainly not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

[ This could also be translated “Unless you change (your manner of life) you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. ]

[Note:] ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε is similar to the example preceding this example “μή plus an aorist subjunctive”

6. μή plus the optative mood – a negative wish… may it never be.

Romans 3:31 μή plus the optative mood

νόμον	οὖν	καταργοῦμεν	διὰ	τῆς	πίστεως?	μὴ	γένοιτο!
nomon	oun	katargoumen	dia	tēs	pisteōs?	mē	genoito!
(the) law	therefore	do we nullify	through	the	faith	May it never	be!

Do we then nullify {the} law through the {same} faith? May it never be!