Present Imperative
The **present imperative** = present stem + imperative endings: **λῦε** (2 sg.), **λυέτω** (3 sg.), **λύετε** (2 pl.), **λυόντων** (3 pl.). It presents the action with **imperfective viewpoint**. Context may yield continuing, habitual, customary, or progressive interpretations, but such readings are not encoded automatically by the present imperative itself.
Aorist Imperative
The **aorist imperative** = aorist stem + imperative endings: **λῦσον** (2 sg.), **λυσάτω** (3 sg.), **λύσατε** (2 pl.), **λυσάντων** (3 pl.). It presents the action with **perfective viewpoint**, viewing it as a bounded whole without by itself implying one-time, decisive, or completed action.
**Matt 28:19 (PT1904)** — πορευθέντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ('…having gone, make disciples of all nations') — μαθητεύσατε = 2 pl. aorist imperative.
Perfect Imperative
The **perfect imperative** is rare. Perfect morphology may contribute a state-oriented or anterior perspective in context, but the perfect imperative should not be defined universally as commanding a 'resultant state.' Its interpretation depends on the lexeme, construction, and discourse context.
Active Imperative
The **active imperative** is an active-voice directive form. Endings: 2 sg. -ε / -ον, 3 sg. -έτω / -άτω, 2 pl. -ετε / -ατε, 3 pl. -όντων / -άντων. The semantic role of the grammatical subject depends on the verb and construction rather than on a universal agentive rule.
Middle/Passive Imperative
**Middle and passive imperative forms** must be interpreted according to the lexeme and construction. Middle semantics are broader than 'on or for oneself,' while passive syntax is distinct; in the present system many middle and passive forms are morphologically syncretic. Examples include **λύου** (2 sg.) and **λυέσθω** (3 sg.). **γίνεσθε** is a lexical-middle form of γίνομαι and should not be used as a generic definition of middle/passive meaning; **βαπτίζεσθε** may be interpreted according to voice and context.
Second-Person Commands
**2nd-person imperatives** directly command the addressee: **ἀγάπα** ('love!', sg.), **ἀγαπᾶτε** ('love!', pl.). The 2 pl. is common in NT instruction addressed to congregations.
**Matt 6:9** — Οὕτως οὖν προσεύχεσθε ὑμεῖς ('Pray then like this') — προσεύχεσθε = 2 pl. present imperative.
Third-Person Commands
**3rd-person imperatives** are jussive/directive forms whose grammatical subject is a non-addressee: 'let him loose' (**λυέτω**), 'let them loose' (**λυόντων**). English may paraphrase them with expressions such as 'let him/her/them …' or, in some contexts, 'must …'; these are translations, not grammatical equivalences.
**Matt 5:16** — λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ('Let your light shine') — λαμψάτω = 3 sg. aorist active imperative.
Positive Commands
Positive commands use the imperative mood directly: **ἀκολούθει** ('follow!', Mark 2:14). The imperative is the standard way to command positively.
Prohibitions
Prohibitions are expressed especially with **μὴ + present imperative** and **μὴ + aorist subjunctive**. The present-system prohibition presents the prohibited activity **imperfectively**; a contextual translation such as 'stop/continue no longer' may fit some situations, but is **not encoded by the present imperative itself**. The aorist-subjunctive prohibition presents the prohibited event perfectively, likewise without an inherent 'do not start' meaning.
**Matt 6:25** — μὴ μεριμνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν ('Do not be anxious about your life') — μὴ + pres. impv.
**Matt 5:17** — Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ('Do not think that I came to abolish …') — μὴ + aor. subj.
Present Imperative versus Aorist Imperative
The present-system and aorist imperatives contrast **imperfective** and **perfective viewpoint**. The contrast can contribute to interpretation, but theological conclusions must not be derived mechanically from the morphology. Context may support renderings such as continuation, habituality, summary presentation, or a bounded directive; these are contextual construals rather than invariant meanings of the forms.
**John 15:9** — …καθὼς ἠγάπησέ με ὁ πατὴρ κἀγὼ ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς· μείνατε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐμῇ ('…just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love') — μείνατε = 2 pl. aorist imperative.
Imperative and Aspect
The present-system/aorist contrast in the imperative is primarily **aspectual**. The present imperative presents the action with imperfective viewpoint; the aorist imperative presents it with perfective viewpoint. Temporal interpretation normally comes from lexical meaning, syntax, and discourse context rather than from this contrast alone.
Commands Expressed without the Imperative
Greek can express directives without the imperative mood. A **future indicative** may have directive or jussive force in context while remaining morphologically indicative (e.g., **ἀγαπήσεις**, Matt 22:37). The **subjunctive** can be hortatory (**ἀγαπῶμεν**, 'let us love'). Infinitival directives occur rarely. Some participles, especially in Pauline material, have been analyzed as **imperatival**, but individual cases are syntactically disputed and may instead depend on a finite verb or larger construction.
Paradigms
Present and Aorist Active Imperative of λύω
2nd and 3rd persons only (no 1st). Present-system forms present imperfective viewpoint; aorist forms present perfective viewpoint. Context, not morphology alone, determines whether English naturally suggests continuation, habituality, summary, or a bounded directive.
| Person | Present active | Aorist active |
| 2 sg. | λῦε loose! | λῦσον loose! [aorist] |
|---|---|---|
| 3 sg. | λυέτω let him loose | λυσάτω let him loose |
| 2 pl. | λύετε loose! [pl.] | λύσατε loose! [pl.] |
| 3 pl. | λυόντων let them loose | λυσάντων let them loose |
Chapter glossary
- μαθητεύσατε — make disciples! (aor. impv.)
mathēteusate
verb
2 pl. aorist imperative; the Great Commission (Matt 28:19).- προσεύχεσθε — pray! (pres. impv.)
proseuchesthe
verb
2 pl. present imperative; 'pray then like this' (Matt 6:9).- ἀκολούθει — follow! (pres. impv.)
akolouthei
verb
2 sg. present imperative of ἀκολουθέω; 'follow me' (Mark 2:14).- — imperative
verb
Directive mood used for commands, requests, and related functions; it has 2nd- and 3rd-person forms. Its present-system and aorist forms primarily contrast imperfective and perfective viewpoint; temporal interpretation normally comes from context.- — prohibition
verb
Negative command commonly using μὴ + present imperative or μὴ + aorist subjunctive; the aspect contrast does not inherently encode STOP vs. DO-NOT-START meanings.- — imperatival future
verb
Future indicative used with directive or jussive force in context while remaining morphologically indicative; e.g. ἀγαπήσεις in Matt 22:37.