What does εἰς (eis) mean in the Bible?
Eis is a Greek preposition that often points toward movement, direction, aim, entry, result, or purpose. English may render it as into, to, toward, for, in, or with a view to, depending on the phrase.
Greek · G1519
εἰς
Toward
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
εἰς G1519
Pronunciation eis
What does εἰς (eis) mean in the Bible?
Eis is a Greek preposition that often points toward movement, direction, aim, entry, result, or purpose. English may render it as into, to, toward, for, in, or with a view to, depending on the phrase.
Reader summary
Full entry for εἰς (G1519) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1519?
The BSB source-word alignment has 1,768 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include to (467), into (296), . . . (199), in (177), for (127).
Where does εἰς (eis) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 2:1. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (301), Luke (227), Matthew (219), John (187).
What This Word Actually Means
Eis is a Greek preposition that often points toward movement, direction, aim, entry, result, or purpose. English may render it as into, to, toward, for, in, or with a view to, depending on the phrase. Because it often appears in baptism, faith, repentance, mission, and discipleship contexts, it must be handled with care. The word can mark direction toward a place, baptism into a name or death, faith directed toward Christ, or repentance related to forgiveness.
Yet eis does not settle every theological debate by itself. The whole phrase, verb, and passage decide its force. Pastorally, eis helps readers ask where an action is directed and what goal or relation the passage names.
How the Bible Uses It
Eis marks direction, aim, relation, or entry across repentance, baptism, faith, mission, and union-with-Christ language. Its force is governed by the verb and phrase that carry it.
- Matt.3.11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
John's baptism with water is connected with repentance, while the coming One will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
- Matt.28.19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Jesus commands baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as part of disciple-making among the nations.
- John.3.16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Believing in the Son is directed toward Him as the one given by God, so the phrase serves the verse's call to faith.
- Acts.2.38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter connects repentance, baptism in Jesus Christ's name, forgiveness, and the gift of the Spirit in the Pentecost response.
- Rom.6.4
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
Paul says believers were buried with Christ through baptism into death so that they may walk in newness of life.
- Gal.3.27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Paul uses baptized into Christ language to speak of belonging to Christ and being clothed with Christ in the argument of Galatians 3.
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 to 467× Matthew 2:8, Matthew 2:11, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:13
into 296× Matthew 3:10, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 4:1, Matthew 4:18
. . . 199× Matthew 5:20, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 8:5, Matthew 8:23
in 177× Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:23, Matthew 4:13, Matthew 8:28
for 127× Matthew 3:11, Matthew 5:13, Matthew 10:10, Matthew 20:1
vvv 96× Matthew 9:6, Matthew 9:7, Mark 2:11, Mark 3:3
- 65× Matthew 9:28, Matthew 10:11, Matthew 10:42, Mark 3:20
on 44× Matthew 5:1, Matthew 5:39, Matthew 8:28, Matthew 14:23
at 32× Matthew 6:26, Matthew 8:14, Matthew 12:41, Matthew 14:34
as 29× Matthew 8:4, Matthew 10:18, Matthew 21:46, Matthew 24:14
so that 19× Romans 1:20, Romans 6:12, Romans 8:29, Romans 15:13
against 18× Matthew 18:15, Matthew 18:21, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10
among 11× Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:7, Mark 4:18, Luke 8:14
of 6× Mark 14:8, Luke 10:36, Romans 13:4, 2 Corinthians 9:13
about 5× Matthew 6:34, Acts 2:25, Romans 16:19, Ephesians 5:32
[brought] 4× Romans 5:16, Romans 5:18
over 4× Matthew 4:24, Matthew 26:2, Mark 4:37, Revelation 14:19
that 4× Romans 7:4, 2 Corinthians 7:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, James 1:18
throughout 4× Matthew 9:26, Mark 1:39, Luke 4:37, Ephesians 3:21
until 4× Acts 4:3, Galatians 3:23, Ephesians 1:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:15
why 4× Matthew 14:31, Matthew 26:8, Mark 14:4, Mark 15:34
with 4× Romans 12:3, Romans 12:16, Ephesians 3:19, 2 Peter 3:9
[and] 3× Ephesians 4:12, Hebrews 10:39
[are] for 3× 2 Timothy 2:20, Revelation 22:2
and so 3× Romans 4:18, 1 Corinthians 9:18, 2 Thessalonians 1:5
before 3× Luke 4:35, Acts 6:12, Acts 22:30
in order that 3× Romans 4:11, Ephesians 1:12, Philippians 2:16
so 3× Acts 7:19, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 8:6
the 3× Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:16
to the 3× Romans 16:26, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Corinthians 16:15
toward 3× Luke 12:21, Luke 13:22, 1 Peter 3:21
[and are] 2× Romans 10:10
[and gone] into 2× Mark 7:17, Luke 2:15
[and] into 2× Acts 7:4, 1 Peter 1:4
[leading] to 2× Romans 6:16
back in 2× Matthew 26:52, John 18:11
back to 2× Acts 7:34, Acts 11:26
because he is 2× Matthew 10:41
by 2× Matthew 5:35, Acts 7:53
forever 2× 2 Corinthians 9:9, Revelation 20:10
in dealing with 2× Luke 16:8, 2 Corinthians 13:3
leading to 2× Romans 6:19, 2 Timothy 2:25
on to 2× Acts 16:11, Acts 21:1
onto 2× Matthew 10:5, Revelation 2:22
so as 2× Romans 3:26, Galatians 3:17
to bring 2× Romans 5:21, Romans 10:4
to please 2× Galatians 6:8
under 2× John 5:24, 1 Timothy 3:6
[ the promise ] 1× Acts 26:7
[actually brought] 1× Romans 7:10
[and are turning] to 1× Galatians 1:6
[and brought] into 1× Romans 8:21
[and came] to 1× Mark 11:1
[and went] into 1× Mark 11:11
[as] 1× Romans 6:16
[but] to [bring] 1× Hebrews 9:28
[doing] 1× Acts 17:21
[endures] forever 1× Hebrews 1:8
[entered] 1× Hebrews 9:7
[extends] 1× Luke 1:50
[for] to 1× Colossians 3:15
[goes back] to [her] 1× 2 Peter 2:22
[He entered] 1× Hebrews 9:24
[is destined for] 1× Revelation 13:10
[is] for 1× Romans 10:1
[it goes] into 1× Mark 7:19
[leads to] 1× Romans 6:22
[out of] 1× Ephesians 2:15
[should use] 1× 1 Peter 4:10
[to be] 1× Luke 2:34
[to cause] 1× Luke 2:34
[to look] into 1× John 20:11
[to preach] 1× 2 Corinthians 2:12
[we went] to 1× Acts 16:12
[where] 1× John 20:25
[will suffer] 1× Revelation 2:22
{away} to 1× Acts 17:10
{bound} for 1× Jude 1:6
{down} into 1× Acts 27:30
{My} purpose 1× 2 Corinthians 2:9
{off} into 1× Acts 28:5
ahead 1× Hebrews 11:26
and 1× Luke 24:47
are inclined to 1× 1 Peter 3:12
As a result 1× 1 Thessalonians 2:16
as to 1× Hebrews 7:14
concerning 1× 2 Corinthians 13:4
Consequently 1× 1 Peter 4:2
escalating 1× Romans 6:19
filled with 1× Colossians 2:2
for [God’s own] 1× 1 Peter 2:9
for the 1× Acts 2:38
how 1× Hebrews 10:24
in [Him] 1× 1 Peter 1:8
in [your] 1× 1 Peter 2:2
in leading 1× Romans 15:18
in order 1× Romans 3:25
in order to 1× Hebrews 2:17
in order to bring 1× Romans 15:7
in order to lead 1× Romans 16:26
in order to meet 1× Titus 3:14
inside 1× Mark 10:10
led you to 1× 2 Corinthians 7:9
meant to bring 1× Romans 7:10
meet 1× 2 Corinthians 8:14
on my way to 1× 2 Corinthians 1:16
over to 1× Matthew 24:9
serves as 1× Hebrews 6:16
so that you may have 1× Colossians 1:11
So then 1× Romans 4:11
straight 1× Luke 13:11
that is why 1× Mark 1:38
that leads to 1× 2 Corinthians 7:10
that would have 1× 2 Thessalonians 2:10
Then 1× Romans 12:2
This is why 1× 1 John 3:8
to [advance] 1× Philippians 2:22
to [be] 1× 1 Peter 2:5
to [its] 1× Revelation 17:8
to [speak] 1× Revelation 13:6
to [win] 1× Philippians 3:14
to bring [you] 1× Jude 1:21
to call 1× Romans 1:5
to come 1× 1 Peter 1:10
to keep 1× 1 Corinthians 10:6
to lead us 1× Galatians 3:24
to make 1× James 3:3
to the increase 1× Romans 3:7
to this 1× 1 Peter 2:21
To this end 1× 2 Thessalonians 1:11
unto 1× Acts 11:18
up on 1× Mark 6:46
upon 1× Revelation 8:7
where 1× John 7:35
will meet 1× 2 Corinthians 8:14
with her perpetual requests 1× Luke 18:5
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 2:1 εἰς to in Preposition Matthew 2:8 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:11 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:12 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:13 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:14 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:20 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:21 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:22 εἰς to to Preposition Matthew 2:23 εἰς to in Preposition
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 2:1
Aligned rows 1,768
Books represented 27
Matthew 219 Mark 168 Luke 227 John 187 Acts 301 Romans 119 1 Corinthians 38 2 Corinthians 78 Galatians 30 Ephesians 37 Philippians 23 Colossians 19 1 Thessalonians 26 2 Thessalonians 14 1 Timothy 19 2 Timothy 18 Titus 2 Philemon 2 Hebrews 74 James 15 1 Peter 42 2 Peter 11 1 John 9 2 John 3 3 John 1 Jude 6 Revelation 80
Source forms
εἰς 1,744x eis Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:8, Matthew 2:11, Matthew 2:12
Εἰς 20x Eis Matthew 10:5, Matthew 10:11, Matthew 12:44, Matthew 26:8
〈εἰς 1x eis Luke 10:38
〈εἰς〉 1x eis Matthew 20:18
εἴς 1x eis Luke 17:12
εἰς* 1x eis Acts 12:25
Parsing patterns
Preposition 1,768x Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:8, Matthew 2:11, Matthew 2:12
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- When teaching baptism or faith texts with eis, keep the verb, object, and sentence in view before making doctrinal claims.
- Use direction language carefully: the word often shows where an action is aimed, but the passage defines the theological result.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that eis always means into in a way that proves the same doctrine in every passage.
- Do not claim that the preposition alone settles the relation between repentance, baptism, forgiveness, and faith.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Expresses motion toward an endpoint, result, or purpose; can indicate entrance, direction, limit, or intended outcome.
Strong's G1519
Lexical occurrences 1,754 verses Greek text appearances 1,773 times 16 shown below Word forms 1 form 1,754 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Luke 15:11-32 Source Gloss
toward
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 1,773 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 2:1 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:8 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:11 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:12 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:13 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:14 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:20 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:21 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:22 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 2:23 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 3:10 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 3:11 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 3:12 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 4:1 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 4:5 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
Read verse Matthew 4:8 Preposition
εἰς eiv
into, in, among, till, for
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 1 case and number pattern. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 1 Aligned forms 1754
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Matt 2:1 · Matt 2:8 · Matt 2:11 · Matt 2:12 · Matt 2:13 · Matt 2:14 · Matt 2:20 · Matt 2:21 · Matt 2:22 · Matt 2:23 · Matt 3:10 · Matt 3:11 · Matt 3:12 · Matt 4:1 · Matt 4:5 · Matt 4:8 1754×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Direction of motion toward a destination, the prodigal son going into a far country
Purpose or end result, salt that has lost savor and is fit for casting into the ground
Entrance into or approach toward a location, traveling toward Jerusalem
Relation or regard, grace being extended toward believers in Christ
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 1,754 lexical occurrence verses.
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
The core insight of eis is that the New Testament often speaks directionally. Disciples are baptized in the triune name. Believers trust in the Son. Repentance is ordered toward forgiveness in the apostolic summons. Baptism can be described as into Christ or into His death in passages that explain union and newness of life. These uses are weighty, but the preposition is not a shortcut around exegesis.
Eis points, directs, and relates; the verb, object, and argument tell us what the pointing means. Faithful teaching follows the line of movement in the passage and refuses to make one lexical value do all the theological work.
Anchor passage
Matt.28.19
Doctrinal connections
- Matt.28.19 joins eis with the triune name in baptism, placing the phrase inside disciple-making mission.
- Rom.6.4 uses into death language to explain burial with Christ and the walk in newness of life.
- Gal.3.27 connects being baptized into Christ with being clothed with Christ within Paul's argument about faith and sonship.
- John.3.16 uses believing in Him language to direct faith toward the Son given by God.
- G1722 En contrasts sphere or location with eis as direction, entry, or aim.
- G1537 Ek contrasts source or origin with eis as movement toward or relation to a goal.
Eis most often governs an accusative phrase and commonly marks movement toward, entry into, aim, or result. The same English in may translate either en or eis, so the Greek phrase should be checked before drawing theological conclusions.
From Old to New Testament
The canonical pattern moves from God directing His people toward His name, dwelling, promise, and ways to the New Testament's Christ-centered direction of faith, baptism, mission, and belonging. Eis can serve those lines of movement, but the theology rests on the passages, not on the preposition alone.
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