What does ἐπιτάσσω (epitássō) mean in the Bible?
G2004 means to command, order, or direct. 27, Jesus commands unclean spirits and they obey, causing amazement at His teaching authority.
Greek · G2004
ἐπιτάσσω
To command
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ἐπιτάσσωG2004
Pronunciationepitássō
What does ἐπιτάσσω (epitássō) mean in the Bible?
G2004 means to command, order, or direct. 27, Jesus commands unclean spirits and they obey, causing amazement at His teaching authority.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἐπιτάσσω (G2004) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2004?
The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include He commands (3), to order (2), [Jesus] directed (1), command (1), commanded that (1).
Where does ἐπιτάσσω (epitássō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Mark 1:27. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (4), Mark (4), Acts (1), Philemon (1).
What This Word Actually Means
G2004 means to command, order, or direct. In Mark. 1. 27, Jesus commands unclean spirits and they obey, causing amazement at His teaching authority. In Mark. 6. 39, Jesus directs the crowd to sit in groups before the food is distributed. In Acts. 23. 2, the high priest orders bystanders to strike Paul on the mouth. G2004 opens teaching on Jesus' authority over oppressive powers and chaos, commands that organize care, apostolic persuasion, and office abused through unlawful violence.
It does not make every command godly, authorize hitting dissenters, or give Christian leaders Christ's direct authority over other adults. A command remains morally accountable to the commander, its purpose, the means used, and the people affected.
How the Bible Uses It
G2004 describes Jesus commanding spirits, wind, water, crowds, and their arrangement, a king ordering execution, a high priest ordering assault, a host's instruction, and Paul's choice to appeal rather than command.
- Mark.1.27
All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
Jesus' authoritative teaching is confirmed as unclean spirits obey His command and release people.
- Mark.6.39
Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.
Jesus directs the people to sit in groups on the grass, organizing the crowd before provision is shared.
- Acts.23.2
At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
Ananias abuses office by ordering those nearby to strike Paul before the council has heard his defense.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItHe commands3×Mark 1:27, Luke 4:36, Luke 8:25
to order2×Luke 8:31, Philemon 1:8
[Jesus] directed1×Mark 6:39
command1×Mark 9:25
commanded that1×Mark 6:27
ordered1×Acts 23:2
you ordered1×Luke 14:22
Show sample aligned rows
Mark 1:27ἐπιτάσσειtoHe commandsVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularMark 6:27ἐπέταξενtocommanded thatVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularMark 6:39ἐπέταξενto[Jesus] directedVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularMark 9:25ἐπιτάσσωtocommandVerb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularLuke 4:36ἐπιτάσσειtoHe commandsVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularLuke 8:25ἐπιτάσσειtoHe commandsVerb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularLuke 8:31ἐπιτάξῃtoto orderVerb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person SingularLuke 14:22ἐπέταξαςtoyou orderedVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularActs 23:2ἐπέταξενtoorderedVerb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularPhilemon 1:8ἐπιτάσσεινtoto orderVerb - Present Infinitive Active
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowMark 1:27
Aligned rows10
Books represented4
Mark4Luke4Acts1Philemon1
Source forms
ἐπέταξεν3xepetaxenMark 6:27, Mark 6:39, Acts 23:2
ἐπιτάσσει3xepitasseiMark 1:27, Luke 4:36, Luke 8:25
ἐπέταξας1xepetaxasLuke 14:22
ἐπιτάξῃ1xepitaxēLuke 8:31
ἐπιτάσσειν1xepitasseinPhilemon 1:8
ἐπιτάσσω1xepitassōMark 9:25
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular3xMark 6:27, Mark 6:39, Acts 23:2
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular3xMark 1:27, Luke 4:36, Luke 8:25
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular1xLuke 14:22
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular1xLuke 8:31
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular1xMark 9:25
Verb - Present Infinitive Active1xPhilemon 1:8
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not tell a person that a pastor's command is Jesus' command or that disagreement proves demonic resistance.
- Do not use deliverance language to restrain, strike, scream at, isolate, or deny medical care to a distressed person.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that every G2004 command is morally right or that office guarantees legitimate jurisdiction.
- Do not claim that Christians possess Jesus' sovereign authority to command adults' bodies, money, relationships, or medical decisions.
Evidence Summary
Messiah
Greek word. Command with authority, often in exorcism contexts; emphasizes the speaker's right to demand obedience.
Strong'sG2004
Lexical occurrences10 versesGreek text appearances10 timesWord forms3 forms10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkLuke 8:26–39Source Gloss
to command
Extended definitionSource: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Command with authority, often in exorcism contexts; emphasizes the speaker's right to demand obedience.
to command, charge: with accusative of thing(s), Luk.14:22; with dative of person(s), Mrk.1:27 9:25, Luk.4:36 8:25; id. with accusative of thing(s), Phm 8; id. with inf., Mrk.6:39, Luk.8:31, Act.23:2; id. with imperat., Mrk.9:25; with accusative and inf., Mrk.6:27.
Synonymsκελεύω
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
10 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Mark 1:27Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ἐπιτάσσει,epitassei
I give order, command
Read verseMark 6:27Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐπέταξενepetaxen
I give order, command
Read verseMark 6:39Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐπέταξενepetaxen
I give order, command
Read verseMark 9:25Verb First Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ἐπιτάσσω,epitassw
I give order, command
Read verseLuke 4:36Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ἐπιτάσσειepitassei
I give order, command
Read verseLuke 8:25Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ἐπιτάσσειepitassei
I give order, command
Read verseLuke 8:31Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Subjunctive
ἐπιτάξῃepitaxh
I give order, command
Read verseLuke 14:22Verb Second Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐπέταξας,epetaxav
I give order, command
Read verseActs 23:2Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἐπέταξεepetaxen
I give order, command
Read versePhilemon 1:8Verb Present Active Infinitive
ἐπιτάσσεινepitassein
I give order, command
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 mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms10TensesPresent, AoristVoicesActive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality8×
Present ActiveMark 1:27 · Luke 4:36 · Luke 8:25 · Mark 9:254×
Aorist ActiveMark 6:27 · Mark 6:39 · Acts 23:2 · Luke 14:224×
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose1×
Aorist ActiveLuke 8:311×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract1×
Present ActivePhlm 1:81×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 10 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist5present5
Voice
active10
Mood
indicative8subjunctive1infinitive1
NT Occurrences
Mark 1:27ἐπιτάσσειpresent active indicativeongoingMark 6:27ἐπέταξενaorist active indicativecompletedMark 6:39ἐπέταξενaorist active indicativecompletedMark 9:25ἐπιτάσσωpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 4:36ἐπιτάσσειpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 8:25ἐπιτάσσειpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 8:31ἐπιτάξῃaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveLuke 14:22ἐπέταξαςaorist active indicativecompletedActs 23:2ἐπέταξενaorist active indicativecompletedPhilemon 1:8ἐπιτάσσεινpresent active infinitiveinfinitive
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
commands
Showing 1 selected witness from 10 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ἐπιτάσσω is built from these roots:
Why This Word Matters
Expresses Christ’s authoritative dominion over evil spirits.Luke 8:26–39
Canonical Themes
Messiah
For the Preacher and Teacher
G2004 reveals authority through what a command accomplishes. Jesus commands unclean spirits to leave and the afflicted person is freed. He commands wind and water and endangered disciples move toward safety. He directs a crowd to sit in groups so food can be distributed in an orderly way. His authority confronts chaos and serves life. Human orders in the same corpus expose sharp contrasts.
Herod commands John's execution under social pressure, and Ananias commands Paul struck before lawful examination. Office and decisiveness do not sanctify an order. Paul tells Philemon that he could command what is proper, yet he chooses an appeal grounded in love, modeling restraint in the use of recognized authority. Faithful application evaluates commands by truth, jurisdiction, consent, law, and fruit.
Christian leaders give clear direction where responsibility requires it, but they never claim Christ's sovereign voice to bypass conscience, due process, or protection from harm.
Anchor passage
Mark.1.27
Doctrinal connections
- G2004: Jesus' command over unclean spirits releases afflicted people and confirms His teaching authority.
- G2004: Jesus commands winds and water, displaying authority over creation in service of endangered disciples.
- G2004: practical direction can organize a crowd so provision is orderly and accessible.
- G2004: kings and priests can issue lethal or unlawful commands when office serves fear and self-protection.
- G2004: Paul can possess authority yet choose loving appeal rather than coercive command.
- G2004: Christian obedience to Christ includes testing human orders and refusing commands to harm.
G2004 is a Greek verb for placing an order upon someone, commanding, or charging. Dative recipients, infinitives, imperatives, and direct objects clarify who receives the order and what is commanded.
From Old to New Testament
God's word commands creation and confronts evil throughout Scripture, while Jesus embodies that authority and teaches leaders to serve rather than lord power over others. Jesus' authority serves truth, healing, and deliverance, and apostolic leaders are forbidden to domineer over those entrusted to them.