ἐάω (eaō)
eaō
to allow
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb eaō simply means to allow or permit. It describes a situation where someone has the power to stop an action but chooses not to. In the New Testament, this word appears in contexts ranging from divine restraint to human decisions, always highlighting the choice to let something happen rather than preventing it.
Its usage often involves a clear object and an infinitive, specifying who is allowed to do what. For instance, Jesus permits his disciples to hear the demoniac’s story (Mark 5:19), and Paul allows a man to go free after he speaks for himself (Acts 23:30). In Acts 27:40, it takes on a nautical sense, meaning to let go of anchors so the ship can drift with the wind.
This word carries significant theological weight in passages about God’s sovereignty. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul writes that God will not allow believers to be tempted beyond what they can bear. Here, eaō emphasizes that God sets a boundary on suffering, permitting only what is survivable and purposeful.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eaō carries a quiet but profound weight in Scripture: to allow or permit. It suggests a deliberate choice by someone with the power to stop an event, yet choosing instead to let it unfold. This is not passive indifference but active restraint. When we read that God did not allow Jesus’ accusers to speak further (Luke 4:41), we see divine sovereignty carefully managing the narrative of redemption.
In our own lives, this concept offers deep comfort. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. This means our struggles are bounded by His faithful care. He permits challenges only within a scope where His grace is sufficient and a way of escape is always provided.
Understanding this word helps us trust the unseen boundaries God sets over our lives. Whether it is the Spirit preventing a journey (Acts 16:7) or allowing nations to walk their own paths (Acts 14:16), His permission is never arbitrary. It is part of a purposeful plan that ultimately leads to His glory and our good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- allowed3×
- will allow1×
- were allowing1×
- was He allowing1×
- they were leaving [them]1×
- having allowed1×
- has permitted.1×
- do allow1×
- did allow1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- εἴασεν3×
- εἴων2×
- ἐᾶτε1×
- ἐάσει1×
- ἐάσαντες1×
- εἴασεν.¶1×
- εἴασαν1×
- εἴα1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
This verse defines the theological core of the word, showing God’s active restraint on temptation to ensure believers are never overwhelmed beyond His provision for endurance.
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Luke 4:41
Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
Here, Jesus exercises authority by refusing to allow demons to speak, demonstrating that divine timing and control supersede even spiritual forces.
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Acts 16:7
When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them.
The Spirit’s refusal to allow entry into Bithynia illustrates how God uses this verb to redirect missionary paths according to His sovereign will.
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Matthew 24:43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Jesus uses a human analogy of a homeowner not allowing theft to explain the suddenness of His return, grounding divine mystery in everyday experience.