The verb ἔξεστι is an impersonal verb in Greek, meaning “it is permitted,” “it is possible,” or “it is lawful.” It frequently appears in legal, ethical, and philosophical contexts, as well as in the Greek New Testament.
- Forms of ἔξεστι
Since ἔξεστι is impersonal, it primarily appears in the third-person singular or infinitive forms. It does not have full conjugations like personal verbs.
| Tense/Aspect | Form | Notes |
| Present | ἔξεστι(ν) | “It is permitted/possible” (main form in use) |
| Imperfect | ἐξῆν | “It was permitted/possible” (past tense) |
| Future | ἔξεσται | “It will be permitted/possible” |
| Aorist Infinitive | ἐξεῖναι | “To be permitted/possible” |
- The final -ν in ἔξεστι(ν) is movable and appears before vowels.
- The verb is often followed by an infinitive expressing what is permitted or possible.
- Syntax and Construction
(A) With an Infinitive
ἔξεστι is most commonly followed by an infinitive to indicate what is permitted or possible.
- Matthew 12:2 –
οὐκ ἔξεστιν ποιεῖν ἐν σαββάτῳ (ouk éxestin poieîn en sabbátōi)
“It is not lawful to do (this) on the Sabbath.” - Acts 22:25 –
ἔξεστιν ὑμῖν ἄνθρωπον Ῥωμαῖον μαστίζειν (éxestin hymîn ánthrōpon Rhōmaîon mastízein)
“Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman man?”
(B) With a Dative of the Person Concerned
Sometimes the dative case is used to indicate for whom something is lawful or possible.
- Mark 10:2 –
Εἰ ἔξεστιν ἀνδρὶ γυναῖκα ἀπολῦσαι (Ei éxestin andrì gynaîka apolûsai)
“Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
(C) With an Accusative Subject of the Infinitive
If the infinitive has its own subject, that subject is in the accusative case.
- Mark 2:24 –
Ἰδοὺ τί ποιοῦσιν τοῖς σαββάτοις ὃ οὐκ ἔξεστιν (Idoù tí poioûsin toîs sabbátois hò ouk éxestin)
“Look at what they are doing on the Sabbath, which is not lawful.”
(The subject of ‘doing’ is understood to be the disciples.)
- Uses of ἔξεστι
- Legal and Religious Permission
- Used frequently in discussions of Jewish Law and Roman legal matters.
- Example: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (ἔξεστιν θεραπεύειν ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ – Matthew 12:10)
- Moral or Ethical Possibility
- Used in philosophical or moral contexts to discuss what is acceptable or appropriate.
- Example: “It is right to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29, implied use)
- Practical Possibility
- Sometimes expresses what is physically or practically possible.
- Example: “It is not possible to stay here” (οὐκ ἔξεστι μένειν ὧδε).
- Interrogative Use (“Is it lawful…?”)
- Often appears in questions, especially in legal or moral discussions.
- Example: Ἔξεστι δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ (Éxestin doûnai kênson Kaísari ḕ ou?) – “Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:17)
- Conclusion
Ἔξεστι is an impersonal verb meaning “it is permitted” or “it is possible.” It is usually followed by an infinitive, often with a dative of the person affected or an accusative subject of the infinitive. It appears frequently in legal, moral, and philosophical discussions, especially in the Greek New Testament, where it is often used in debates about Jewish law and Roman authority.