BBG Chapter 33 — Imperative

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Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, Mounce, 4th Edition
Data: MACULA Greek TAGNT (~1,680 imperative tokens NT-wide)

1. The Imperative Mood — Overview

The imperative mood expresses commands, requests, or prohibitions. Key characteristics:

• Only 2nd and 3rd person forms exist (no 1st person imperative — Greek uses the hortatory subjunctive for "let us…")
• Both present and aorist imperatives exist — the aspect difference is significant
• The negative imperative uses μή (not οὐ)

2. Aspect in the Imperative

The present/aorist distinction in the imperative is one of the most practically important in Greek grammar:

Note: This distinction is real and exegetically significant, but do not overstate it. Context governs. The present imperative generally calls for ongoing or habitual action; the aorist calls for a specific act. Both are genuine commands.

Examples:

προσεύχεσθε ἀδιαλείπτως. (1 Thess 5:17) — present: "Keep on praying without ceasing."
κλεῖσον τὴν θύραν. (Matt 6:6) — aorist: "Shut the door [now]."

3. Present Active Imperative — Full Paradigm (λύω)

Note: The 2nd person singular present active imperative is simply the present stem + ε: λύ + ε = λῦε. This is one of the easiest forms to recognize.

4. Present Middle/Passive Imperative — Full Paradigm (λύω)

Note: The 2nd sg middle/passive imperative -ου is a contracted form (λύε + σο → λύου). The -εσθ- morpheme runs through the plural forms and the 3rd person — familiar from middle/passive participle endings.

5. Aorist Active Imperative

5.1 First Aorist Active Imperative (λύω)

Note: The 2nd sg 1st aorist active imperative ends in -σον: λῦσον. This is the most important form to memorize.

5.2 Second Aorist Active Imperative

The 2nd aorist imperative uses the 2nd aorist stem with the endings of the present imperative (but no connecting vowel change — the stem itself is different):

Common 2nd aorist imperatives:
| Verb | 2nd Aor. Imper. 2sg | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| λαμβάνω | λάβε | Take! |
| ἔρχομαι | ἐλθέ | Come! |
| λέγω | εἰπέ | Say! / Tell! |
| ὁράω | ἰδέ | See! / Look! |
| φέρω | ἐνέγκε | Bring! |

6. Aorist Passive Imperative (λύω)

Note: The aorist passive imperative 2sg marker is -θητι — the θη of the aorist passive stem plus -τι (the characteristic of the 2sg passive imperative). This is similar to the aorist passive infinitive -θῆναι and the aorist passive indicative -θην.

7. The Imperative of εἰμί

ἴσθι is the 2nd person singular present imperative of εἰμί — "Be!" or "Be [something]!"

8. Prohibition: μή + Imperative vs. μή + Aorist Subjunctive

The construction used for negative commands depends on aspect:

Note: The μή + aorist subjunctive form of prohibition is treated fully in Ch31 (subjunctive). Here the focus is on the present imperative prohibition.

9. Third Person Imperatives

The 3rd person imperative is used to command or permit someone other than the person being addressed directly — "Let him…", "Let them…", "He must…"

ἔστω δὲ ὑμῶν τὸ ναί, ναί. (Matt 5:37)
"Let your yes be yes."

ἄρατω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ.
"Let him take up his cross."

10. GNT Examples

ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν. (Matt 5:44) — Present active 2pl
"Love your enemies." (ongoing command — keep on loving)

μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ. (Mark 1:15) — Present 2pl
"Repent and believe in the gospel."

πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη. (Matt 28:19) — Aorist 2pl
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."

ὑπόστρεψον εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. (Luke 8:39) — Aorist 2sg
"Return to your house."

χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε. (Phil 4:4) — Present 2pl
"Rejoice in the Lord always." (ongoing)

11. Diagnostic Summary