What does ἐάν (eán) mean in the Bible?
Ἐάν is a Greek conditional particle commonly translated if, whenever, or if ever. It introduces a condition or contingency, often with a subjunctive verb.
Greek · G1437
ἐάν
If
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ἐάν G1437
Pronunciation eán
What does ἐάν (eán) mean in the Bible?
Ἐάν is a Greek conditional particle commonly translated if, whenever, or if ever. It introduces a condition or contingency, often with a subjunctive verb.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἐάν (G1437) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1437?
The BSB source-word alignment has 338 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include if (195), . . . (36), vvv (34), unless (33), - (9).
Where does ἐάν (eán) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 4:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Matthew (62), John (59), 1 Corinthians (48), Mark (33).
What This Word Actually Means
Ἐάν is a Greek conditional particle commonly translated if, whenever, or if ever. It introduces a condition or contingency, often with a subjunctive verb.
Pastorally, this word matters because Scripture uses conditional clauses for warning, promise, assurance, abiding, obedience, confession, and dependence. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
A conditional word does not always mean uncertainty. Some conditions expose responsibility, some mark a real response, and some state a promised outcome under the condition named by the passage.
Lexical sourcegrammatical
How the Bible Uses It
Ean is currently counted about 331 times in the local Greek artifact. It introduces if, whenever, or if ever conditions, often with a subjunctive verb.
- John.8.36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
If the Son sets people free, they will be free indeed. The condition magnifies the Son's freeing authority.
- John.15.7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
If disciples remain in Jesus and His words remain in them, prayer is framed by abiding. The condition guards the promise.
- 1John.1.9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse. The condition names confession under God's faithful promise.
- John.14.15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. The condition relates love and obedience.
- 1John.4.15
If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
If anyone confesses Jesus as the Son of God, God abides in him. The condition marks confession and abiding.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It if 195× Matthew 4:9, Matthew 5:13, Matthew 5:23, Matthew 5:46
. . . 36× Matthew 5:32, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 11:6, Matthew 11:27
vvv 34× Matthew 5:19, Matthew 12:32, Matthew 15:5, Matthew 16:19
unless 33× Matthew 5:20, Matthew 12:29, Matthew 18:3, Matthew 18:35
- 9× Matthew 8:19, Mark 4:22, Mark 14:14, Luke 10:22
suppose 4× Matthew 24:48, Luke 12:45, James 2:2, James 2:15
when 4× John 12:32, 1 Corinthians 9:16, 1 John 2:28, 1 John 3:2
[but] if 2× John 5:43, 1 John 4:12
Even if 2× Mark 14:31, Acts 13:41
until 2× Mark 7:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:3
[after] 1× Romans 15:24
[and] 1× Luke 15:8
[and] if 1× 1 Corinthians 7:36
[but] 1× 1 Corinthians 5:11
{and} if 1× Matthew 21:24
a portion 1× 1 Corinthians 16:2
As for 1× John 12:47
as long as 1× 1 Thessalonians 3:8
but 1× Galatians 2:16
if [any] 1× 2 Corinthians 9:4
If only 1× Mark 5:28
in case 1× 1 Timothy 3:15
that if 1× Luke 20:28
Though 1× Romans 9:27
what 1× 2 Corinthians 8:12
what [ will happen ] if 1× John 6:62
whether 1× Romans 14:8
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 4:9 ἐὰν to if Conjunction Matthew 5:13 ἐὰν to if Conjunction Matthew 5:19 ἐὰν to vvv Conjunction Matthew 5:20 ἐὰν to unless Conjunction Matthew 5:23 Ἐὰν to if Conjunction Matthew 5:32 ἐὰν to . . . Conjunction Matthew 5:46 ἐὰν to If Conjunction Matthew 5:47 ἐὰν to if Conjunction Matthew 6:14 Ἐὰν to if Conjunction Matthew 6:15 ἐὰν to if Conjunction
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 4:9
Aligned rows 338
Books represented 21
Matthew 62 Mark 33 Luke 28 John 59 Acts 11 Romans 20 1 Corinthians 48 2 Corinthians 7 Galatians 7 Ephesians 1 Colossians 4 1 Thessalonians 2 2 Thessalonians 1 1 Timothy 3 2 Timothy 3 Hebrews 8 James 7 1 Peter 1 1 John 22 3 John 2 Revelation 9
Source forms
ἐὰν 251x ean Matthew 4:9, Matthew 5:13, Matthew 5:19, Matthew 5:20
ἐάν 40x ean Matthew 18:15, Matthew 21:3, Matthew 24:23, Mark 6:23
Ἐὰν 38x Ean Matthew 5:23, Matthew 6:14, Matthew 9:21, Matthew 18:15
Ἐάν 6x Ean Matthew 22:24, John 7:37, John 8:52, John 14:23
ἐάνπερ 2x eanper Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 6:3
ἐὰν* 1x ean John 5:19
Parsing patterns
Conjunction 337x Matthew 4:9, Matthew 5:13, Matthew 5:19, Matthew 5:20
Particle 1x Acts 2:21
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Read both halves of the condition: what is named in the if clause and what result the passage attaches to it.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim ean always means the outcome is doubtful.
- Do not claim conditional language makes God's promise depend on human merit unless the passage says that.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Conditional particle marking contingency as possible but uncertain, less definite than simple εἰ with indicative.
Strong's G1437
Lexical occurrences 331 verses Greek text appearances 336 times 16 shown below Word forms 2 forms 331 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
if
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 336 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 4:9 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 5:13 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 5:19 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 5:20 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 5:23 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 5:32 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 5:46 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 5:47 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 6:14 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 6:15 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 6:22 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 6:23 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 7:9 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 7:10 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 8:2 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verse Matthew 8:19 Conditional
ἐὰν ean
if
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 2 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 2 Aligned forms 331
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Matt 4:9 · Matt 5:13 · Matt 5:20 · Matt 5:23 · Matt 5:46 · Matt 5:47 · Matt 6:14 · Matt 6:15 · Matt 6:22 · Matt 6:23 · Matt 8:2 · Matt 9:21 · Matt 10:13 · Matt 12:11 · Matt 12:29 · Matt 15:14 269×
Matt 5:19 · Matt 5:32 · Matt 7:12 · Matt 8:19 · Matt 11:6 · Matt 11:27 · Matt 12:32 · Matt 14:7 · Matt 15:5 · Matt 16:19 · Matt 16:25 · Matt 18:5 · Matt 18:18 · Matt 18:19 · Matt 20:4 · Matt 22:9 62×
Word Origins
ἐάν is built from these roots:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Ean marks a condition. It tells readers to connect the condition and result without assuming uncertainty or merit.
Anchor passage
1John.1.9
Doctrinal connections
- ἐλευθερία: freedom, related to John 8:36.
- ὁμολογέω: confess, related to 1 John 1:9 and 4:15.
- μένω: abide, related to John 15:7.
- ἀγάπη: love, related to John 14:15.
Ean commonly introduces a conditional clause with the subjunctive. The grammar marks contingency or condition, while the passage defines the theological relation.
From Old to New Testament
Scripture often uses conditional language to summon response, expose unbelief, warn the careless, and strengthen assurance. ean marks the condition, while covenant and gospel context define its meaning.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain