εἰ

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 εἰ

   ei

   if
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 εἰ δὲ μή,

   ei DE MÊ

   but if not
3. clause🔊 εἰ δὲ μή, διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτὰ ⸀πιστεύετε.

   ei DE MÊ di-A TA ER-ga au-TA pi-STEU-e-te

   but if not Believe because of the works themselves
4. sentence🔊 πιστεύετέ μοι ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί· εἰ δὲ μή, διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτὰ ⸀πιστεύετε.

   pi-steu-e-TE moi HO-ti e-GO en TOI pa-TRI kai ho pa-TÊR en e-MOI ei DE MÊ di-A TA ER-ga au-TA pi-STEU-e-te

   Believe me that I in the Father and the Father in me but if not Believe because of the works themselves

Exegesis

The conditional sequence ei de mē {εἰ δὲ μή | ei de mē} introduces a fallback basis for belief: if Jesus’ own statement is not enough, dia ta erga auta {διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτὰ | diá ta erga auta} supplies the evidential ground by placing the works themselves at the center of the appeal.

Root and etymology

es🔊 epsilon sigma

“to be, exist”