1439. eaó
Lexical Summary
eaó: Allow, permit, let, leave

Original Word: ἐάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: eaó
Pronunciation: eh-ah'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (eh-ah'-o)
KJV: commit, leave, let (alone), suffer
NASB: allow, allowed, let, leaving, left, permit, permitted
Word Origin: [of uncertain affinity]

1. to let be, i.e. permit or leave alone

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
permit, leave alone.

Of uncertain affinity; to let be, i.e. Permit or leave alone -- commit, leave, let (alone), suffer. See also ea.

see GREEK ea

HELPS Word-studies

1439 eáō – to permit, which implies misgiving that goes with the allowing – such as pointing to a lurking danger (see Ac 23:32) or "putting up with something" with reluctance.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. verb, see also ea
Definition
to let alone, leave
NASB Translation
allow (2), allowed (2), leaving (1), left (1), let (2), permit (1), permitted (1), stop (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1439: ἐάω

ἐάω, ἕω; imperfect εἴων; future ἐάσω; 1 aorist εἴασα; from Homer down;

1. to allow, permit, let: followed by the infinitive, οὐκ ἄν εἴασε διορυγῆναι (T Tr WH διορυχθῆναι), Matthew 24:43; by the accusative of the person and the infinitive, Luke 4:41 (οὐκ εἴα αὐτά λαλεῖν); Acts 14:16; Acts 23:32; Acts 27:32; Acts 28:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; by the accusative alone, when the infinitive is easily supplied from the context, οὐκ εἴασεν αὐτούς, namely, πορευθῆναι, Acts 16:7; οὐκ εἴων αὐτόν, namely, εἰσελθεῖν, Acts 19:30; (cf. Winer's Grammar, 476 (444)].

2. τινα, to suffer one to do what he wishes, not to restrain, to let alone: Revelation 2:20 Rec.; Acts 5:38 R G; ἐᾶτε namely, αὐτούς, is spoken by Christ to the apostles, meaning, 'do not resist them, let them alone,' (the following ἕως τούτου is to be separated from what precedes; (others connect the words closely, and render 'suffer them to go even to this extreme'; but cf. Meyer at the passage, Weiss edition)), Luke 22:51.

3. To give up, let go, leave: τάς ἀγκύρας ... εἴων εἰς τήν θάλασσαν, they let down into the sea (i. e., abandoned; cf. B. D. American edition, p. 3009{a} bottom), Acts 27:40. (Compare: προσεάω.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview of New Testament Usage

The verb occurs eleven times and always deals with the idea of permitting, leaving, or allowing. The contexts span the earthly ministry of Jesus, apostolic missionary journeys, practical seafaring decisions, and theological teaching on temptation. The action may be carried out by God, by Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, by human authorities, or by ordinary believers, yet in every case it underscores the interplay between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

Themes of Divine Permission

Acts 14:16 provides the clearest theological statement: “In past generations He let all nations go their own way”. Here the apostle Paul explains that God’s permitting of Gentile self-direction was not indifference but part of a redemptive timeline pointing to the gospel. Such permission highlights both God’s patience and His eventual summons to repentance (Acts 17:30). Similarly, 1 Corinthians 10:13 assures believers that God “will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear,” demonstrating divine control even when evil is temporarily allowed to test the faithful.

Human Responsibility and Watchfulness

Matthew 24:43 places the burden on the householder: “If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not allowed his house to be broken into.” Permission here is negative—failure to guard results in unauthorized entry. Jesus’ eschatological warning urges constant vigilance so that believers do not, by negligence, grant the enemy unwitting access.

Spiritual Conflict and Deliverance

Luke 4:41 shows Jesus refusing permission to demonic forces: “He rebuked them and did not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.” The Lord’s authority limits what demons may do or say, underscoring His messianic identity. Later, in Gethsemane, Jesus says, “Permit even this” (Luke 22:51, literal rendering), halting further violence and immediately healing the servant’s ear. The same verb reveals that evil is restrained or released only within boundaries set by God’s redemptive purpose.

Missionary Guidance and Providence

During the second missionary journey, “the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them” to preach in Bithynia (Acts 16:7), redirecting the team toward Europe and the Macedonian call. Likewise, when Paul longs to address the hostile mob in Ephesus, “the disciples would not let him” (Acts 19:30), illustrating that Spirit-guided prudence sometimes withholds a good desire for a greater strategic goal.

Judicial and Civil Settings

Roman soldiers guarding Paul “let the horsemen go on with him” (Acts 23:32), a tactical decision balancing duty and safety. Twice on the storm-tossed ship (Acts 27:32; Acts 27:40) sailors “let” ropes or anchors go, permitting events that ultimately fulfill God’s promise of rescue (Acts 27:24-25). Each occurrence portrays permission within human authority structures yet moving toward God’s ordained outcome.

Historical Insight

In the Greco-Roman world, permitting or withholding permission was a hallmark of authority—whether imperial, military, or domestic. The New Testament writers adopt the term to show that ultimate authority belongs to God: earthly rulers may “allow,” but their freedom operates inside divine limits (compare John 19:11). Early church fathers cited these passages to defend God’s justice in permitting evil temporarily while preserving final accountability.

Pastoral and Practical Application

1. Temptation: Believers draw comfort from knowing that no trial exceeds God-granted capacity to endure (1 Corinthians 10:13).
2. Guidance: Closed doors, such as the Spirit’s prohibition in Acts 16:7, should be read not as defeat but as providential redirection.
3. Spiritual warfare: Following Jesus’ example, pastors must discern when to forbid demonic influence and when to permit hardship that refines faith.
4. Leadership: Elders may need to restrain impulsive zeal, as the disciples did with Paul in Ephesus, safeguarding both the individual and the mission.

Theological Implications

The verb illumines the mystery of concurrence: God’s sovereign will unfolds through permissions granted or withheld, yet human agents remain fully responsible for their choices. Scripture presents no contradiction between divine control and authentic human action; rather, it displays a dynamic partnership whereby God permits certain events to manifest His glory, test His people, and advance His saving purposes.

Forms and Transliterations
εά εάσαι εασαντες εάσαντες ἐάσαντες εάσατε εασει εάσει ἐάσει εάσεις εασόν έασόν Εατε εάτε Ἐᾶτε εβδομάδας εβδομάδες εβδομάδος εβδομάδων εβδομάς εια εία εἴα είασα ειασαν είασαν εἴασαν είασε ειασεν είασεν εἴασεν ειων είων εἴων easantes eásantes easei eásei Eate Eâte eia eía eiasan eíasan eiasen eíasen eion eiōn eíon eíōn
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Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 24:43 V-AIA-3S
GRK: οὐκ ἂν εἴασεν διορυχθῆναι τὴν
NAS: he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house
KJV: would not have suffered his house
INT: not anyhow have allowed to be dug through the

Luke 4:41 V-IIA-3S
GRK: ἐπιτιμῶν οὐκ εἴα αὐτὰ λαλεῖν
NAS: But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak,
KJV: he rebuking [them] suffered them
INT: rebuking not he allowed them to speak

Luke 22:51 V-PMA-2P
GRK: Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν Ἐᾶτε ἕως τούτου
NAS: and said, Stop! No more
KJV: answered and said, Suffer ye thus far.
INT: Jesus said allow you as far as thus

Acts 14:16 V-AIA-3S
GRK: παρῳχημέναις γενεαῖς εἴασεν πάντα τὰ
NAS: gone by He permitted all
KJV: times past suffered all nations
INT: past generations allowed all the

Acts 16:7 V-AIA-3S
GRK: καὶ οὐκ εἴασεν αὐτοὺς τὸ
NAS: of Jesus did not permit them;
KJV: but the Spirit suffered them not.
INT: and not did let them the

Acts 19:30 V-IIA-3P
GRK: δῆμον οὐκ εἴων αὐτὸν οἱ
NAS: the disciples would not let him.
KJV: the disciples suffered him
INT: people not did let him the

Acts 23:32 V-APA-NMP
GRK: δὲ ἐπαύριον ἐάσαντες τοὺς ἱππεῖς
NAS: But the next day, leaving the horsemen
KJV: On the morrow they left the horsemen
INT: moreover next day having allowed the horsemen

Acts 27:32 V-AIA-3P
GRK: σκάφης καὶ εἴασαν αὐτὴν ἐκπεσεῖν
NAS: of the [ship's] boat and let it fall away.
KJV: of the boat, and let her fall off.
INT: [life] boat and let her fall

Acts 27:40 V-IIA-3P
GRK: ἀγκύρας περιελόντες εἴων εἰς τὴν
NAS: the anchors, they left them in the sea
KJV: the anchors, they committed [themselves] unto
INT: anchors having cut away they left in the

Acts 28:4 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ζῇν οὐκ εἴασεν
NAS: justice has not allowed him to live.
KJV: yet vengeance suffereth not
INT: to live not permitted

1 Corinthians 10:13 V-FIA-3S
GRK: ὃς οὐκ ἐάσει ὑμᾶς πειρασθῆναι
NAS: who will not allow you to be tempted
KJV: will not suffer you to be tempted
INT: who not will allow you to be tempted

Strong's Greek 1439
11 Occurrences


ἐάσαντες — 1 Occ.
ἐάσει — 1 Occ.
Ἐᾶτε — 1 Occ.
εἴα — 1 Occ.
εἴασαν — 1 Occ.
εἴασεν — 4 Occ.
εἴων — 2 Occ.

1438
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