eite · whether, or

What it means

eite (εἴτε) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “whether, or”.

"Whether ... or", "if".

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Presents two or more possibilities: “whether this or that.”

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

A conjunction that sets out two or more possibilities: whether… or, if… or. It is formed from εἰ (if) and τέ (and). It appears almost only in Paul's letters and in 1 Peter.

• This or that: all counts the same 1 Corinthians 3:221 Corinthians 15:11
• “Whether you eat or drink” 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Living or dead, at home or away 2 Corinthians 5:91 Thessalonians 5:10
• “Whether in the body… or out of the body I do not know” 2 Corinthians 12:22 Corinthians 12:3
• Whether to the king, or to governors 1 Peter 2:131 Peter 2:14

How we translate it

According to the construction: “or” 30 times, “whether” 24, “if” 11. In 2 Corinthians 8:23 it introduces topics: “Whether it is about Titus… or our brothers”.

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• or ×30
• whether ×24
• if ×11

Where it appears

• Romans×4
• 1 Corinthians×27
• 2 Corinthians×14
• Ephesians×2
• Philippians×6
• Colossians×6
• 1 Thessalonians×2
• 2 Thessalonians×2
• 1 Peter×2

• Romans 12:6

  And having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, if it is prophecy, let it be according to the proportion of faith;

• Romans 12:7

  if service, in serving; if the one who teaches, in teaching;

• Romans 12:8

  if the one who encourages, in encouragement; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who leads, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

• 1 Corinthians 3:22

  whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come, all things are yours,

• 1 Corinthians 8:5

  For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),

• 1 Corinthians 10:31

  So whether you eat or drink or do anything, do all things for the glory of God.

• 1 Corinthians 12:13

  For indeed in one Spirit we all were immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all were given one Spirit to drink.

• 1 Corinthians 12:26

  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if a member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.

• 1 Corinthians 13:8

  Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they will be done away with; whether tongues, they will cease; whether knowledge, it will be done away with.

• 1 Corinthians 14:7

  Even lifeless things that give a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not give a distinction in the notes, how will it be known what is played on the flute or what is played on the lyre?

• 1 Corinthians 14:27

  If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two or at the most three, and in turn, and let one interpret.

• 1 Corinthians 15:11

  Whether then it was I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.

• 2 Corinthians 1:6

  If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is at work in perseverance in the same sufferings that we also suffer.

• 2 Corinthians 5:9

  Therefore we also make it our aim, whether at home or away, to be pleasing to him.

• 2 Corinthians 5:10

  For we all must be made manifest before the judgment seat of the Messiah, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or bad.

• 2 Corinthians 5:13

  For if we were out of our mind, it was for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

• 2 Corinthians 8:23

  Whether it is about Titus, he is my partner and co-worker for you; or our brothers, they are envoys of the assemblies, the glory of the Messiah.

• 2 Corinthians 12:2

  I know a man in the Messiah fourteen years ago —whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows— that such a one was caught up to the third heaven.

• 2 Corinthians 12:3

  And I know such a man —whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know; God knows—

• Ephesians 6:8

  knowing that each one, whatever good he does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

• Philippians 1:18

  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, the Messiah is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

• Philippians 1:20

  according to my eager expectation and hope that I will be put to shame in nothing, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also the Messiah will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

• Philippians 1:27

  Only live as citizens in a manner worthy of the good news of the Messiah, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of the things concerning you: that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul striving side by side for the faith of the good news,

• Colossians 1:16

  because in him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

• Colossians 1:20

  and through him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:10

  who died for us, so that whether we keep watch or sleep we may live together with him.

• 2 Thessalonians 2:15

  So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast the traditions that you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.

• 1 Peter 2:13

  Submit to every human institution for the sake of the Lord, whether to the king as the one in authority,

• 1 Peter 2:14

  or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good.

And 36 more times.