Pronunciation Guide: ay-AYN (with the “ay” as in “may” and a long “ayn” sound)
Basic Definition
Strong’s G1498: Εἴην (eiēn) is the optative mood form of εἰμί (eimi, “to be”). It expresses a wish or possibility that could occur under certain conditions, often translated as “I might be” or “may I be.” This rare grammatical form appears just once in the New Testament, signifying something that is possible or wished for but not certain. It represents a nuanced expression of potential being or existence.
Etymology and Morphology
- Part of speech: Verb
- Root word: εἰμί (eimi) – “to be”
- Origin: Indo-European roots (es-/s-)
- Primary usage: In philosophical and contemplative contexts
- Mood: Optative (expressing wish or possibility)
- Tense: Present
- Voice: Active
- Person: First person singular
Εἴην Morphology:
- εἴην (1st person singular present optative active) – I might be/may I be
- εἴης (2nd person singular present optative active) – you might be/may you be
- εἴη (3rd person singular present optative active) – he/she/it might be/may he/she/it be
- εἴημεν or εἶμεν (1st person plural present optative active) – we might be/may we be
- εἴητε or εἶτε (2nd person plural present optative active) – you all might be/may you all be
- εἴησαν or εἶεν (3rd person plural present optative active) – they might be/may they be
Origin & History
The optative mood, represented in εἴην, has ancient roots in Indo-European languages. In classical Greek literature, this form was commonly used to express wishes, potential situations, and hypothetical scenarios. Plato frequently employed the optative mood in his dialogues to explore philosophical possibilities, such as in “The Republic” when discussing hypothetical scenarios of justice. Aristotle likewise used this form in “Nicomachean Ethics” when pondering what might constitute the good life.
In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, the optative mood appears in prayers and expressions of desire toward יהוה (Yahweh). For instance, in Psalm 108:13 (LXX 107:14), the phrase “may we do valiantly” employs the optative to express hope in divine enablement. By the Hellenistic period when the New Testament was written, the optative mood was already becoming less common in everyday Greek, making its appearance in Luke 1:29 particularly noteworthy as a deliberate stylistic choice with theological significance.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
- A wish or desire that might be fulfilled under certain conditions
- A hypothetical possibility dependent on certain circumstances
- An expression of potential rather than actual reality
- A contemplative consideration of what could be
Εἴην Translation Options:
- “I might be” – emphasizing possibility without certainty
- “May I be” – expressing a wish or aspiration
- “I would be” – suggesting conditionality
- “I could potentially be” – highlighting the hypothetical nature
- “I should be” – indicating appropriateness within a particular context
Biblical Usage
In the New Testament, εἴην appears only once, in Luke 1:29, where Mary is described as being greatly troubled at the angel’s greeting. The text states, “she was perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of greeting this might be.” The optative mood here conveys Mary’s internal questioning about the possible meaning and implications of the angel’s words. This usage perfectly captures the sense of contemplating possibilities in the face of divine encounter.
While rare in the New Testament, this grammatical form reflects the larger biblical theme of human response to divine revelation—questioning, wondering, and considering what God’s words might mean for one’s life. The Septuagint employs similar optative constructions in passages expressing human longing toward God or divine blessing upon humans.
- “But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be [εἴη].” Luke 1:29
Cultural Insights
In the Jewish thought-world of the first century, receiving a message from God through an angelic messenger was understood as a momentous, life-altering event. When Mary encounters Gabriel, her use of the optative mood (reflected in the narrative) demonstrates the typical Jewish approach to divine revelation—careful, thoughtful contemplation rather than impulsive reaction. This aligns with the rabbinic tradition of pilpul (careful analysis) when interpreting Torah.
The optative mood also connects to the Jewish concept of kavanah (כַּוָּנָה)—intentional, directed consciousness—especially in prayer and divine encounter. Mary’s pondering represents this deliberate mental engagement with divine communication. In Hellenistic culture, the optative was already declining in common usage by the first century, making Luke’s choice to use this form particularly significant—it elevates the narrative to a more formal, literary register appropriate for describing a sacred encounter.
Theological Significance
The appearance of εἴην in the Annunciation narrative has profound theological implications. It reveals the divine-human interaction pattern where God’s revelation is met with human contemplation. Mary’s pondering—expressed through the optative—demonstrates the appropriate human response to divine mystery: not immediate comprehension but reverent consideration of possibilities.
This grammatical form beautifully illustrates the tension between divine certainty and human uncertainty. While Gabriel brings an absolute message from יהוה (Yahweh), Mary processes it through the lens of human limitation—considering what it might mean. This interplay between divine declaration and human reception foreshadows the incarnation itself, where the eternal Word enters the contingency of human experience. The optative mood thus becomes a grammatical icon of the incarnational mystery, where divine certainty embraces human possibility.
Moreover, the optative mood in this context illuminates the Messianic pattern of divine promise meeting human faith. Mary’s contemplation of what “might be” becomes the doorway through which what “will be” enters human history. Her openness to divine possibility, expressed through her pondering, ultimately leads to her fiat: “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Personal Application
The optative mood of εἴην invites us to adopt Mary’s contemplative posture when encountering God’s word in our lives. Instead of rushing to conclusion or presuming immediate understanding, we are called to ponder what God’s messages “might mean” for us. This cultivates a spirituality of holy possibility—holding space for divine mystery while remaining anchored in faith.
In practical terms, this means approaching Scripture with both reverence and wonder, asking not just “What does this say?” but “What might this mean for me?” The optative mood encourages us to live in the creative tension between confident faith and humble openness to new understanding. When we embrace this posture, like Mary, we create space for the Word to become incarnate in our own lives, transforming possibility into reality through our faithful response.
Related Words
- δοκέω (dokeō, dok-EH-oh) – to think, suppose, seem; relates to εἴην in expressing mental consideration of possibilities rather than certainties. While εἴην expresses potential being, δοκέω addresses potential appearance or impression. See G1380
- γένοιτο (genoito, geh-NOY-toh) – may it be/become; the optative form of γίνομαι (ginomai), often used in the phrase μὴ γένοιτο (“may it never be!”). Both express possibility, but where εἴην refers to state of being, γένοιτο addresses becoming or happening. See G1096
- διαλογίζομαι (dialogizomai, dee-ah-log-ID-zom-ahee) – to consider, reason, debate with oneself; connects with εἴην as it describes the mental process Mary was engaged in while considering what the greeting “might be.” See G1260
- συμβάλλω (symballō, soom-BAHL-lo) – to bring together, consider, ponder; like εἴην in Luke’s narrative, it describes deep contemplation (used of Mary in Luke 2:19). See G4820
- θαυμάζω (thaumazō, thou-MAD-zo) – to wonder, marvel, be amazed; accompanies the mental state that would employ the optative εἴην, expressing astonishment at divine possibilities. See G2296
Did you Know?
- Did you know that the optative mood represented by εἴην was already becoming rare in common Greek by the time of the New Testament? Luke’s use of this literary form suggests his intentional elevation of the narrative language to match the profound theological moment of the annunciation. This demonstrates how grammar itself can carry theological weight in Scripture.
- Did you know that while εἴην appears only once in the New Testament, the optative mood occurs about 68 times total? Most instances appear in Luke’s writings and Paul’s letters, reflecting their more sophisticated Greek style. This grammatical feature represents one of the ways biblical Greek preserves nuances of meaning that are difficult to fully capture in English translation.
- Did you know that modern Greek has completely lost the optative mood? This grammatical form preserved in εἴην no longer exists in contemporary Greek language, making it a linguistic fossil that preserves an ancient way of conceptualizing possibility and potential. When we study words like εἴην, we’re not just learning vocabulary but recovering entire patterns of thought that shaped how the biblical authors expressed theological concepts.
Remember This
The εἴην of Mary’s pondering heart teaches us that divine certainty often enters our lives through the door of human possibility—and faith means creating space for what “might be” to become what is.
