OlivePress
Pressing the Word of God for Deeper Understanding.
Greek · G3756, G2192, G935, G1508, G2541 · unreviewed

Οὐκ ἔχομεν βασιλέα εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα

The absolute negative (compare ) adverb; no or not · to have/be · a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively) · if not · Cæsar, a title of the Roman emperor

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

οὐ G3756 the absolute negative (compare ) adverb; no or not
Pronunciation ou
Absolute negation of fact, typically with indicative mood; contrasts with μή which negates possibility or commands
Open lexicon entry →
ἔχω G2192 to have/be
Pronunciation échō
Possesses or holds; in periphrasis expresses qualities, relationships, or states more vividly than simple verbs alone
Open lexicon entry →
βασιλεύς G935 a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
Pronunciation basileús
Sovereign ruler holding absolute authority; applied to God, Christ, earthly monarchs, and Roman emperors throughout NT.
Open lexicon entry →
εἰ μή G1508 if not
Pronunciation ei mḗ
Conjunction marking exception or exclusion; introduces what would otherwise be universal or absolute
Open lexicon entry →
Καῖσαρ G2541 Cæsar, a title of the Roman emperor
Pronunciation Kaîsar
Open lexicon entry →

What does Οὐκ ἔχομεν βασιλέα εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα (Ouk echomen basilea ei mē Kaisara) mean in the Bible?

οὐ · ἔχω · βασιλεύς · εἰ μή · Καῖσαρ is a Greek word meaning "We have no king except Caesar".

Full entry for Οὐκ ἔχομεν βασιλέα εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα (G3756, G2192, G935, G1508, G2541) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

We have no king except Caesar
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Matt 1:25 · Matt 2:18 · Matt 3:11 · Matt 4:4 · Matt 4:7 · Matt 5:14 · Matt 5:17 · Matt 5:18 · Matt 5:20 · Matt 5:21 · Matt 5:26 · Matt 5:27 · Matt 5:33 · Matt 5:36 · Matt 6:1 · Matt 6:5 1537×
Matt 6:26 · Matt 6:30 · Matt 7:22 · Matt 12:3 · Matt 12:5 · Matt 13:55 · Matt 15:17 · Matt 17:24 · Matt 18:33 · Matt 19:4 · Matt 20:15 · Matt 22:31 · Matt 24:2 · Mark 4:21 · Mark 4:38 · Mark 6:3 68×
1605 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 697 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 11 ongoing 296 prospective 12 resultant 4 imperative 11 background 51 subjunctive 44 infinitive 28 participle 238 optative 2
Tense
present 610 imperfect 51 aorist 19 future 12 perfect 5
Voice
active 692 middle 5
Mood
indicative 374 participle 238 subjunctive 44 infinitive 28 imperative 11 optative 2
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:18 ἔχουσα present active participle participle Matthew 1:23 ἕξει future active indicative prospective Matthew 3:14 ἔχω present active indicative ongoing Matthew 3:4 εἶχεν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 3:9 ἔχομεν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 4:24 ἔχοντας present active participle participle Matthew 5:23 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 5:46 ἔχετε present active indicative ongoing Matthew 6:1 ἔχετε present active indicative ongoing Matthew 6:8 ἔχετε present active indicative ongoing Matthew 7:29 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 8:16 ἔχοντας present active participle participle Matthew 8:20 ἔχουσιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 8:20 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 8:9 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 9:12 ἔχουσιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 9:12 ἔχοντες present active participle participle Matthew 9:36 ἔχοντα present active participle participle Matthew 9:6 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 11:15 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 11:18 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 12:10 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 12:11 ἕξει future active indicative prospective Matthew 13:12 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:12 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:12 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:21 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:27 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:43 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 13:44 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:46 εἶχεν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 13:5 εἶχεν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 13:5 ἔχειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 13:6 ἔχειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 13:9 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 14:16 ἔχουσιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 14:17 ἔχομεν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 14:35 ἔχοντας present active participle participle Matthew 14:4 ἔχειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 14:5 εἶχον imperfect active indicative background +657 more occurrences

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)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 5 — Purge the Evil, Keep the Feast, and Guard the Holiness of the Church 1 Corinthians 8 — Knowledge, Love, and the Weak Brother in a World of Idols Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 25 — Paul Appeals to Caesar and Is Set Before Agrippa John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 18 — The Arrested King: Betrayal, Sovereign Surrender, Denial, Trial, and the Kingdom Not of This World John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship Luke 19 — The Son of Man Seeks the Lost, Receives the Kingly Kingdom, and Weeps over Jerusalem Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Mark 2 — The Son of Man Has Authority: Forgiveness, Fellowship, and Lordship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 2 — The Messiah Worshiped, Threatened, Preserved, and Called Out of Egypt Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 27 — Jesus Condemned, Crucified, Dead, Buried, and Guarded Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details