Understanding ἐάω (eaō) Strong’s G1439: The Divine Permission That Reveals God’s Strategic Sovereignty

Pronunciation Guide: eh-ah’-o (with a soft breathing at the beginning)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1439: Ἐάω (eaō) essentially means “to allow, permit, let, or suffer” in the sense of granting permission or not hindering an action. It reflects the concept of deliberate non-interference, often implying a strategic choice to let something occur according to a larger plan. In Biblical contexts, when God “allows” something, it signifies His sovereign decision to permit certain circumstances for His ultimate purposes.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Found in: Primarily narrative passages in the New Testament, especially in Acts
• Register: Both formal instruction and narrative contexts
• Voice: Usually in active voice, occasionally passive
• Tense: Primarily found in aorist and present forms

Ἐάω Morphology:

• ἐάω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I allow/permit
• ἐᾷς (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you allow
• ἐᾷ (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it allows
• ἐῶμεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we allow
• ἐᾶτε (present active indicative, 2nd person plural) – you all allow
• ἐῶσι(ν) (present active indicative, 3rd person plural) – they allow
• ἐᾶν (present active infinitive) – to allow
• ἔασον (aorist active imperative, 2nd person singular) – allow!
• εἴασα (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I allowed

Origin & History

The verb ἐάω has deep roots in classical Greek literature, appearing as early as Homer’s works where it conveyed the basic notion of “letting be” or “leaving alone.” In Plato’s dialogues, it takes on more nuanced meanings of permitting or allowing someone to proceed with an action. The word evolved from Proto-Indo-European roots and became established in Greek as a common term for permission-giving.

In the Septuagint (LXX), ἐάω appears in contexts where God makes deliberate decisions to permit human actions, often as part of His larger redemptive plan. For instance, in 2 Maccabees 11:16, we find the term used in diplomatic contexts of “allowing” terms or conditions. The early Church Fathers, particularly Origen in his “Contra Celsum,” employed ἐάω when discussing God’s permissive will versus His active will—distinguishing between what God directly causes and what He strategically permits.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Strategic Permission – Allowing something to proceed according to a larger plan
• Non-Interference – Deliberately choosing not to prevent an action
• Tolerance – Putting up with or enduring something undesirable
• Release – Setting free or letting go
• Concession – Granting something requested or demanded

Ἐάω Translation Options:

• Permit – Emphasizes the authoritative nature of the allowance; best when the subject has power over the situation
• Allow – General term that works in most contexts; conveys simple non-interference
• Let – More informal; appropriate when the permission is casual rather than formal
• Suffer (archaic) – In older translations like KJV, conveys the sense of tolerating or bearing with something unfavorable
• Leave alone – Best when the context suggests abandonment or deliberate non-action

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἐάω appears 12 times, predominantly in Acts (8 occurrences) where it often relates to divine permission within the narrative of the early church’s expansion. Its first appearance in Matthew 24:43 occurs in Yeshua’s parable about watchfulness, where a homeowner would not have “allowed” (οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν) his house to be broken into had he known when the thief was coming. This usage reveals how the concept of permission often implies responsibility and authority.

The most theologically significant uses occur in Acts, where divine permission shapes the mission of the early believers. When Paul and his companions are “forbidden” (not allowed – οὐκ εἴασεν) by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia (Acts 16:6-7), we see divine sovereignty working through strategic permission and prohibition.

Key passages include:

• “But if he had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed [ἐάω] his house to be broken into.” Matthew 24:43
• “And he would not permit [ἐάω] the demons to speak, because they knew him.” Mark 1:34
• “When he had said these things, he dismissed [ἐάω] the assembly.” Acts 19:41
• “And when they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta… and the natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received [ἐάω] us all.” Acts 28:1-2
• “And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming [ἐάω] all who came to him.” Acts 28:30
• “And they said to the pilot and the captain of the ship, ‘Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved [ἐάω].'” Acts 27:31

Cultural Insights

In ancient Near Eastern culture, the concept of permission carried significant weight within hierarchical societies. Kings, masters, and patriarchs held the power to permit or forbid actions within their domains. When a superior “allowed” something to happen, it reflected not just passive acceptance but often strategic governance. The Jewish concept of God’s permissive will (as distinct from His perfect will) provides crucial background for understanding how New Testament writers employed ἐάω.

Particularly fascinating is how ἐάω functions within the narrative of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27. When the sailors attempted to escape the ship, Paul warned the centurion, “Unless these men stay [μείνωσιν] in the ship, you cannot be saved [σωθῆναι οὐ δύνασθε]” (Acts 27:31). The centurion then ordered his soldiers to cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat, not “allowing” (οὐκ εἴασεν) the sailors to leave. This vividly illustrates how divine sovereignty often works through human decisions about what to permit or prevent—a concept deeply embedded in Jewish understanding of how Yahweh governs history.

Theological Significance

The concept of divine permission embedded in ἐάω offers profound insights into God’s governance of His creation. Unlike capricious pagan deities who manipulated humans like puppets, Yahweh works through a complex interplay of permission and prohibition that respects human agency while accomplishing His sovereign purposes. When Scripture speaks of God “allowing” certain circumstances, it reveals His strategic wisdom rather than weakness or indifference.

This understanding helps resolve the apparent tension between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. When God does not permit Paul and his companions to enter Bithynia (Acts 16:7), but instead redirects them to Macedonia, we witness divine guidance operating through permissions and prohibitions. Similarly, when Yeshua refuses to permit (οὐκ ἀφῆκεν, a synonym of ἐάω) demons to speak in Mark 1:34, He demonstrates His authority over the spiritual realm through strategic permission-giving.

The theological implications extend to God’s relationship with evil. He does not cause evil but may permit it within His larger redemptive purposes—a concept captured in Joseph’s declaration that “what you meant for evil, God meant for good” (Genesis 50:20). This nuanced understanding prevents both the error of making God the author of evil and the opposite error of limiting His sovereignty.

Personal Application

Understanding ἐάω challenges us to discern between what God actively causes and what He strategically permits in our lives. When facing difficult circumstances, rather than immediately asking “Why did God do this?” we might instead ask, “What might God be accomplishing through allowing this situation?” This subtle shift acknowledges both God’s sovereignty and the complex reality of living in a fallen world.

The concept also invites us to examine our own permission-giving patterns. Are we discerning about what we allow into our lives, homes, and minds? Just as the centurion in Acts 27 saved lives by not allowing the sailors to abandon ship, our decisions about what to permit or prohibit often carry significant consequences. As followers of Yeshua, we are called to strategically “allow” that which aligns with God’s purposes and to “forbid” that which undermines them.

Related Words

• ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) [ah-FEE-ay-mee] – More commonly used for “forgive” or “release,” it overlaps with ἐάω in the sense of “letting go” but carries stronger connotations of dismissal or abandonment. See G863
• ἐπιτρέπω (epitrepō) [eh-pee-TREP-oh] – Specifically refers to giving permission or entrusting authority to someone; more formal than ἐάω and implies delegated authority rather than simple non-interference. See G2010
• συγχωρέω (sygchōreō) [soong-kho-REH-oh] – Conveys “conceding” or “consenting,” with emphasis on coming together in agreement; unlike ἐάω, it implies active agreement rather than passive allowing. See G4794
• παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi) [par-ad-ID-oh-mee] – Means “to give over” or “deliver up,” sometimes connoting permission but with emphasis on transferring something from one party to another. See G3860
• κωλύω (kōlyō) [ko-LOO-oh] – The semantic opposite of ἐάω, meaning “to hinder” or “prevent”; helps define the boundaries of what ἐάω means by showing its contrast. See G2967

Did You Know?

• The verb ἐάω appears in ancient maritime contexts to describe “letting” a ship drift or be carried by the wind—a usage that perfectly fits its appearance in Acts 27 where Paul’s ship is caught in a storm. This nautical background adds vivid color to Luke’s narrative, suggesting that when God “permits” circumstances in our lives, He may be directing us to unexpected destinations, just as the storm ultimately brought Paul to Malta where he performed miracles.
• In modern Greek, derivatives of ἐάω have evolved into words expressing tolerance and acceptance. The contemporary Greek expression «Άσε με» (ase me), meaning “leave me alone,” preserves the ancient sense of permitting through non-interference. This linguistic continuity shows how fundamental the concept of permission is to human social interactions across millennia.
• The Hebrew concept most closely aligned with ἐάω is נָתַן (natan), which means “to give” but often carries the connotation of “allowing” or “permitting.” When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek in the Septuagint, translators frequently chose ἐάω to render passages where God “gives” people over to their own desires as a form of judgment—revealing that divine permission can sometimes serve as discipline to bring people back to faithfulness.

Remember This

When God permits rather than prevents, He isn’t absent or powerless—He’s orchestrating circumstances within His perfect wisdom to accomplish purposes we may not yet see or understand.