The Imperativecommands, exhortations, prohibitions
The imperative is the mood of command and exhortation — "do this," "let him do this." This lesson covers what the imperative does, the present and aorist imperative (active and middle/passive) of λύω, the difference between present and aorist aspect (stated carefully, without overclaiming "continuous vs once-for-all"), prohibitions with μή + present imperative and μή + aorist subjunctive, 2nd- and 3rd-person imperatives, and common NT commands (πιστεύετε, μετανοεῖτε, ἀγαπᾶτε, πορεύθητε).
- Explain what the imperative mood does in 2nd and 3rd person
- Recognize the present and aorist imperative (active and M/P) of λύω and the -τω/-τωσαν 3rd-person endings
- State that the imperative carries aspect, not time, and takes no augment
- Describe the present/aorist aspect difference carefully, without overclaiming a continuous-vs-once-for-all rule
- Recognize both prohibition patterns: μή + present imperative and μή + aorist subjunctive
- Recognize common NT commands (πιστεύετε, μετανοεῖτε, ἀγαπᾶτε, πορεύθητε)
- Parse imperative forms and translate them, supplying “let…” for 3rd person
- Imperative = command (“do X”) or “let him do X” (3rd person).
- μή + imperative/subjunctive = prohibition.
- Present vs aorist = aspect, not time. Don’t overclaim.
- Do only the first 2–3 trainer sets today.
CorePart 1: What the Imperative Does
The imperative is the mood of command, request, and exhortation — "do this," "let him do this." It is the speaker telling someone to act.
Greek imperatives exist in the 2nd person ("you, do X") and the 3rd person ("let him/her/it do X" — there is no exact single-word English equivalent, so we use "let…"). Like the subjunctive, the imperative carries aspect, not time, and takes no augment even in the aorist.
The present and aorist imperatives differ in aspect: the present often presents the command as ongoing, general, or customary; the aorist often presents it as a single, summary action. Resist the popular overstatement that present = "keep on / never stop" and aorist = "once for all." That nuance is sometimes present, but context — not the tense by itself — carries the force.
ReferencePart 2: Imperative Forms — λύω
Surface forms first. The 2nd-person forms are the ones you will meet most. Note the 3rd-person endings in -τω / -τωσαν ("let him / let them").
| Pres act | Aor act | Pres M/P | Aor mid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 sg | λῦε | λῦσον | λύου | λῦσαι |
| 3 sg | λυέτω | λυσάτω | λυέσθω | λυσάσθω |
| 2 pl | λύετε | λύσατε | λύεσθε | λύσασθε |
| 3 pl | λυέτωσαν | λυσάτωσαν | λυέσθωσαν | λυσάσθωσαν |
CorePart 3: Prohibitions — Two Patterns
Greek forbids an action two ways, and the choice is aspectual.
μή + present imperative forbids with the ongoing aspect: μὴ φοβοῦ — "do not be afraid" (often where fear is already in view). μή + aorist subjunctive forbids with the summary aspect (Lesson 24): μὴ φοβηθῇς — "do not be afraid." Both translate the same in English; the aspect adds a nuance that context, not a rule, settles. Do not teach a rigid "stop doing" vs "never start" rule.
PracticeWorked Examples — Imperatives in the NT
Eighteen imperative forms from NT vocabulary, 2nd and 3rd person, present and aorist, active and middle/passive. Surface form first; for μι-verb and irregular imperatives, memorize the principal part. Attestation checked against the Greek NT.
PracticeTranslation Exercises
Translate, noting person (2nd/3rd) and aspect (present/aorist).
- μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.
- μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευε.
- ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν.
- ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου· γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου.
- ἔγειρε καὶ ἄρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου.
- ἀκολούθει μοι.
2. Do not be afraid; only believe. (μή + pres impv prohibition; cf. Mark 5:36.)
3. Love your enemies. (pres act impv 2 pl; cf. Matt 5:44.)
4. Let your kingdom come; let your will be done. (3rd-person aorist imperatives; Matt 6:10.)
5. Get up and take up your mat. (pres + aor impv; cf. Mark 2:9 area.)
6. Follow me. (pres act impv 2 sg; cf. Mark 2:14.)
ReferenceVocabulary Notes
High-frequency NT commands.
| πιστεύω | πιστεύετε | I believe; believe! (impv) |
| μετανοέω | μετανοεῖτε | I repent; repent! (impv) |
| ἀγαπάω | ἀγαπᾶτε | I love; love! (impv) |
| πορεύομαι | πορεύθητι/-θητε | I go; go! (aor pass impv, deponent) |
| ἀκολουθέω | ἀκολούθει | I follow; follow! (impv) — + dative |
| ἐγείρω | ἔγειρε | I raise; get up! (impv) |
| φοβέομαι | μὴ φοβοῦ | I fear; do not be afraid |
Deep DiveOptional Deep Dive — A Cultural Note — Commands and the Voice of Authority
In the Gospels the imperative is the grammar of authority. When Jesus says ἔγειρε to a paralytic or σιώπα, πεφίμωσο ("be silent, be muzzled") to a storm, the bare command — with no softening — is part of how the narrative presents his authority.
The 3rd-person imperatives of the Lord’s Prayer (ἁγιασθήτω, ἐλθέτω, γενηθήτω) are worth noting: English has no clean single word for them, so we say "let your name be hallowed." They are petitions in command form — asking God to bring about what is named. The grammar shapes the prayer; the theology of the kingdom fills it out.
- The imperative commands or exhorts, in the 2nd person ("do X") and 3rd person ("let him do X").
- It carries aspect, not time, and takes no augment even in the aorist.
- Present imperative often = ongoing/general; aorist often = summary. Do not overclaim "keep doing vs once-for-all" — context decides.
- Prohibitions: μή + present imperative, or μή + aorist subjunctive (Lesson 24).
- Memorize μι-verb and irregular imperatives (δός, στῆτε, πορεύθητι) as principal parts.