Greek word · G2004

ἐπιτάσσω

epitassō

to command

To give an order, command or instruct, usually from a superior to a subordinate. In the New Testament it is used of Jesus commanding unclean spirits and wind and waves (Mark 1:27; Luke 8:25), of a king or master giving orders (Mark 6:27), and of Paul's apostolic authority (Philemon 8).

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-τάσσω

[in LXX for אָמַר, צָוָה, etc. ;]

to command, charge: with accusative of thing(s), Luke 14:22; with dative of person(s), Mark 1:27 9:25, Luke 4:36 8:25; id. with accusative of thing(s), Phm 8; id. with inf., Mark 6:39, Luke 8:31, Acts 23:2; id. with imperat., Mark 9:25; with accusative and inf., Mark 6:27.†

SYN.: κελεύω (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 23:2

Range of meaning

To give an order, command or instruct, usually from a superior to a subordinate. In the New Testament it is used of Jesus commanding unclean spirits and wind and waves (Mark 1:27; Luke 8:25), of a king or master giving orders (Mark 6:27), and of Paul's apostolic authority (Philemon 8).

Against the English

'Commanded' (KJV, WEB) and 'ordered' (BSB) are both accurate. Neither drifts.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in the Septuagint and in documentary papyri for official instructions (BDAG s.v. ἐπιτάσσω).

From the study of Luke 14:22

Range of meaning

To give an order or instruction to someone under one's authority.

Against the English

'Commanded' or 'ordered' are both accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Luke, Jesus orders unclean spirits (4:36; 8:31), wind and water (8:25), and Herod orders executions (Mark 6:27). BDAG s.v. ἐπιτάσσω.

From the study of Luke 4:36

Range of meaning

To give an order, command, instruct, especially from a superior to someone under him. It is used of masters, officers and kings.

Against the English

'Commands' is accurate. NIV's 'gives orders to' brings out the military, chain-of-command flavour well.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 8:25: 'he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him'; Luke 8:31: the demons beg him not to 'order' them into the abyss; Luke 14:22: a master's order. Mark 1:27 has the same verb in the parallel. In the Greek magical papyri, by contrast, exorcists usually 'adjure' (ὁρκίζω), swearing the spirit by a more powerful name.

Where it appears

Mark · 4

  1. Mark 1:27 ἐπιτάσσει, He commands,

    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!”

    Here: The language of a master or officer giving orders. The present tense states a pattern: he gives orders to such beings, and does not negotiate or plead.

  2. Mark 6:27 ἐπέταξεν he commanded

    So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

  3. Mark 6:39 ἐπέταξεν He commanded

    Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.

    Here: A word for an authoritative order. Mark also uses it for Jesus commanding unclean spirits (1:27; 9:25) and for Herod's order to the executioner (6:27). Jesus is not suggesting a seating plan. He is taking charge as the host and leader of this crowd.

  4. Mark 9:25 ἐπιτάσσω command

    When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”

    Here: The word a superior uses to give orders to someone under him. It is the verb used in 1:27: “he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

Luke · 4

  1. Luke 4:36 ἐπιτάσσει He commands

    All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

    Here: To give orders as a superior gives them to a subordinate. Present tense: 'he gives orders.' The spirits are treated as underlings, not negotiated with.

  2. Luke 8:25 ἐπιτάσσει He commands

    “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

    Here: To give orders as someone in authority. Luke uses the same verb for Jesus ordering unclean spirits (4:36; 8:29). The present tense presents it as what he does: he gives orders to the wind.

  3. Luke 8:31 ἐπιτάξῃ he would command

    And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

  4. Luke 14:22 ἐπέταξας, you did command,

    ‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’

    Here: 'You ordered'. The word for an order given by someone in authority to someone under him. Luke uses it for Jesus ordering demons, wind and waves (4:36; 8:25). The slave stresses that he did exactly what he was told.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 23:2 ἐπέταξεν commanded

    At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

    Here: An order from someone with authority to those under him. The single past-tense form presents it as one curt order given on the spot.

Philemon · 1

  1. Philemon 1:8 ἐπιτάσσειν to order

    So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper,

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.