Epitasso denotes issuing an authoritative directive, whether to people, unclean spirits, or the winds and water.

The attested use shows authoritative direction addressed both to people carrying out specified actions and to unclean spirits or natural forces that are expected to obey. The clauses range from orders concerning meals, imprisonment, and a requested task to commands that spirits depart or that winds and water obey.

1. Authoritative direction to people · dominant

   In Acts 23:2 the aorist form introduces the high priest's direction to those standing nearby to strike a man. In Mark 6:39 the APB renders the clause "he commanded them to have everyone recline in groups," while Luke 14:22 refers to what a slave says has been carried out; Philemon 1:8 frames a proposed directive about what is fitting.

   Acts 23:2Luke 14:22Mark 6:27Mark 6:39Philemon 1:8
2. Authoritative command over spirits and forces · common

   In Luke 4:36 and Mark 1:27, the present form occurs in statements that unclean spirits come out or obey. Luke 8:25 extends the same pattern to winds and water, and Luke 8:31 concerns a feared command to depart into the abyss; in Mark 9:25 the first-person present form stands in a direct address requiring an unclean spirit to come out and not enter again.

   Luke 4:36Luke 8:25Luke 8:31Mark 1:27Mark 9:25

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across these verses, the APB commonly uses "commanded," "commands," or "I command you," and in Mark 6:27 presents an order as "with orders." These are whole-verse presentations of the clauses rather than definitions.