ἔξεστι, ἐξόν

Matthew 12:2 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

Here: The language of legal permission. Is this act allowed under God's Law as properly understood? In Hebrew terms the question is whether the act is permitted or forbidden. Civil law is not in view.

Matthew 12:4 ἐξὸν lawful

He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

Here: "Permitted" under the Torah. It is the very word the Pharisees used in 12:2 ("doing what is not permitted on the Sabbath"). Jesus repeats their word on purpose.

Matthew 12:10 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Here: The standard word for a question of religious law: is this allowed under God's Torah as rightly interpreted? It is the same word as in 12:2 and 12:4 ('what is not lawful'). This is the third 'is it permitted' dispute in the chapter.

Matthew 12:12 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Matthew 14:4 ἔξεστίν it is lawful

because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Here: "It is permitted." Which authority does the permitting depends on context. Here it is God's law in the Torah (Lev 18:16; 20:21), not any civil or Roman law. Antipas was himself the civil authority.

Matthew 19:3 ἔξεστιν is it lawful

Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

Here: "Is it permitted?" This is the standard wording of a question about religious law: is this allowed under God's Law as rightly interpreted? It is not asking what the civil courts allow.

Matthew 20:15 ἔξεστίν it is lawful

Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Here: "It is allowed / within my rights." Matthew uses the same word in the debates over what the Law allows (Sabbath, divorce, taxes). Here the owner says that his generosity breaks no rule and no contract.

Matthew 22:17 ἔξεστιν Is it lawful

So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Here: 'Is it permitted?' In Matthew this is always a question about what God's Law (the Torah) allows: the sabbath, divorce, temple money. Nobody doubted that Roman law required the tax. The question is whether a faithful Jew may pay it before God.

Matthew 27:6 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver and said, “It is unlawful to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

Here: 'It is allowed' by God's law as the priests applied it. This is the word Matthew uses for Torah disputes (12:2, 10, 12; 19:3; 22:17). It is a religious ruling, not a civil one.

Mark 2:24 ἔξεστιν;¶ is lawful?

So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Here: Impersonal "it is allowed." Here it means allowed by God's Torah as rightly understood and practised. It does not mean allowed by a civil court. It belongs to the same word family as exousia, "authority," a theme Mark builds up across this chapter.

Mark 2:26 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

Here: "It is permitted" under God's law (Torah). Jesus deliberately reuses the Pharisees' own word from verse 24 ("why are they doing what is not *exestin* on the Sabbath?"). The present tense states a standing rule that still applies.

Mark 3:4 ἔξεστιν Is it lawful

And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

Mark 6:18 ἔξεστίν it is lawful

For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

Mark 10:2 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.

Here: 'Is it allowed?', meaning allowed under God's Torah as Jews of the period interpreted it, not under Roman civil law. It is the standard word in Gospel arguments over legal rulings (compare Sabbath, 3:4; tax, 12:14).

Mark 12:14 ἔξεστιν Is it lawful

“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

Here: A technical question about legality under God's law: 'Is it allowed by Torah?' It is the same word used in the Sabbath disputes (Mark 2:24; 3:4).

Luke 6:2 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Luke 6:4 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

Luke 6:9 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

Luke 14:3 ἔξεστιν Is it lawful

So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”

Luke 20:22 ἔξεστιν Is it lawful

Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

John 5:10 ἔξεστίν it is lawful

so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”

Here: 'It is allowed', meaning allowed under God's Torah as it was being interpreted. It is the standard word in the Gospels' Sabbath disputes.

John 18:31 ἔξεστιν it is permitted

“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.

Acts 2:29 ἐξὸν it is permitted [me]

Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Here: A neuter participle with 'is' understood: 'it is allowed' or 'one may'. It is a polite way of asking leave: 'I may say this, and you will allow me to.' Peter is about to state bluntly that the revered king is dead and decayed.

Acts 16:21 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

Acts 21:37 ἔξεστίν is it permitted

As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

Acts 22:25 ἔξεστιν it is lawful

But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”

1 Corinthians 6:12 ἔξεστιν ἔξεστιν are lawful

“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

Here: "Is permitted / is open to me." This is the ordinary impersonal word for something being allowed or within one's rights. It shares its root with exousia, "authority, right," and Paul plays on that root later in the verse.

1 Corinthians 10:23 ἔξεστιν ἔξεστιν are lawful

“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.

Here: An impersonal verb: "is allowed," "is within one's rights." The slogan claims freedom or authority to act, the same idea Paul calls "this right (exousia) of yours" in 8:9. The present tense states a standing principle.

2 Corinthians 12:4 ἐξὸν being permitted

was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.