Εἴ

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 Εἴ

   EI

   If
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν,

   EI tis THE-lei o-PI-so moo el-THEIN

   If anyone wants to come after me
3. clause🔊 Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.

   EI tis THE-lei o-PI-so moo el-THEIN a-par-nê-SAS-thô he-au-TON KAI a-RA-tô TON stau-RON au-TOU KAI a-ko-loo-THEI-tô moi

   If anyone wants to come after me let him deny himself and let him take up his the cross and let him follow me
4. sentence🔊 Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.

   TO-te HO ee-ay-SOOS EI-pen TOIS ma-thê-TAIS au-TOU EI tis THE-lei o-PI-so moo el-THEIN a-par-nê-SAS-thô he-au-TON KAI a-RA-tô TON stau-RON au-TOU KAI a-ko-loo-THEI-tô moi

   Then {the} Jesus {He} said his to the disciples If anyone wants to come after me let him deny himself and let him take up his the cross and let him follow me

Exegesis

Direct speech follows in a first-class conditional: the protasis Ei tis thelei opiso mou elthein {Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν | Eí tis thé-lei o-pí-sō mou el-theîn} uses the present indicative thelei with the aorist infinitive elthein to express volitional action ‘desires to come after Me,’ and the phrase opiso mou functions as an improper prepositional expression marking position ‘after Me.’ The apodosis features a sequence of imperatives: aparnesasthō and aratō (aorist imperatives) demand decisive acts of self-denial and bearing the cross, while akoloutheitō (present imperative) conveys ongoing discipleship. The reflexive heauton emphasizes personal renunciation, and the coordinating kai links the commands as a unified response to the call to follow Jesus. English renderings reflect aspectual and force distinctions to preserve the original’s emphasis and flow.

Root and etymology

peirazo🔊 πειράζωpi–epsilon–iota–rho–alpha–zeta–omega

“to try, test, tempt”