How is ego eimi translated in the NWT?

Why is it that the WTS can translate this Greek phrase correctly 46x and mistranslate it just once? They translate this phrase 46 times in the present tense and just once in the past tense. Those two tenses have two completely different forms. So, here are two Koine Greek paradigms of two tenses for the word “to be” or “I am”:

Present tense singular paradigm of “I am”
Person	Greek	Transliteration	Meaning
1st sg.	ἐγώ εἰμί	ego eimi	I am
2nd sg.	σύ εἶ	su ei	you are
3rd sg.	αὐτός/αὐτή/αὐτό ἐστίν	autos/autē/auto estin	he/she/it is

Imperfect tense singular paradigm of “I am”
Person	Greek	Transliteration	Meaning
1st sg.	ἐγώ ἤμην	ego ēmēn	I was
2nd sg.	σύ ἦς	su ēs	you were
3rd sg.	αὐτός/αὐτή/αὐτό ἦν	autos/autē/auto ēn	he/she/it was

ἐγώ εἰμι = I am (present tense)
ἐγώ ἤμην = I was (past or imperfect tense)

Greek can and often omits the pronoun, so εἰμι still means “I am” and ἤμην by itself still means “I was.”

In Appendix A1 of the NWT (2013 edition) they provide their principles of translation:

Sanctify God’s name by restoring it to its rightful place in the Scriptures. — Matthew 6:9.

Accurately convey the original message that was inspired by God. — 2 Timothy 3:16.

Translate expressions literally when the wording and structure of the target language allow for such renderings of the original-language text.

Communicate the correct sense of a word or a phrase when a literal rendering would distort or obscure the meaning.

Use natural, easy-to-understand language that encourages reading. — Nehemiah 8:8,12.

NWT translation summary of “ego eimi”
#	%	Translation
40	85.1%	I am
4	8.5%	it is I
2	4.2%	it is not I (is it)
1	2.1%	I have been

There don't seem to be any textual variants for the passage in John 8:58, so the word “εγω ειμι” is in the present tense in all manuscripts.

How is “εγω ειμι” (ego eimi) translated 47x in NWT?
Verse	Wescott & Hort Greek text	NWT 2013
Mat 14:27	ευθυς δε ελαλησεν ο ιησους αυτοις λεγων θαρσειτε εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε	But at once Jesus spoke to them, saying: “Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid.”
Mat 22:32	εγω ειμι ο θεος αβρααμ και ο θεος ισαακ και ο θεος ιακωβ ουκ εστιν ο θεος νεκρων αλλα ζωντων	‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’ He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living.”
Mat 24:5	πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι ο χριστος και πολλους πλανησουσιν	for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
Mat 26:22	και λυπουμενοι σφοδρα ηρξαντο λεγειν αυτω εις εκαστος μητι εγω ειμι κυριε	Being very much grieved at this, each and every one began to say to him: “Lord, it is not I, is it”
Mat 26:25	αποκριθεις δε ιουδας ο παραδιδους αυτον ειπεν μητι εγω ειμι ραββι λεγει αυτω συ ειπας	Judas, who was about to betray him, replied: “It is not I, is it, Rabbi” Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it.”
Mrk 6:50	παντες γαρ αυτον ειδον και εταραχθησαν ο δε ευθυς ελαλησεν μετ αυτων και λεγει αυτοις θαρσειτε εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε	For they all saw him and were troubled. But immediately he spoke to them and said: “Take courage! it is I; do not be afraid.”
Mrk 13:6	πολλοι ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες οτι εγω ειμι και πολλους πλανησουσιν	Many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will mislead many.
Mrk 14:62	ο δε ιησους ειπεν εγω ειμι και οψεσθε τον υιον του ανθρωπου εκ δεξιων καθημενον της δυναμεως και ερχομενον μετα των νεφελων του ουρανου	Then Jesus said: “I am; and you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Luk 1:19	και αποκριθεις ο αγγελος ειπεν αυτω εγω ειμι γαβριηλ ο παρεστηκως ενωπιον του θεου και απεσταλην λαλησαι προς σε και ευαγγελισασθαι σοι ταυτα	In reply the angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands near before God, and I was sent to speak with you and to declare this good news to you.
Luk 21:8	ο δε ειπεν βλεπετε μη πλανηθητε πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες εγω ειμι και ο καιρος ηγγικεν μη πορευθητε οπισω αυτων	He said: “Look out that you are not misled, for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time is near.’ Do not go after them.
Luk 22:70	ειπαν δε παντες συ ουν ει ο υιος του θεου ο δε προς αυτους εφη υμεις λεγετε οτι εγω ειμι	At this they all said: “Are you, therefore, the Son of God” He said to them: “You yourselves are saying that I am.”
Luk 24:39	ιδετε τας χειρας μου και τους ποδας μου οτι εγω ειμι αυτος ψηλαφησατε με και ιδετε οτι πνευμα σαρκα και οστεα ουκ εχει καθως εμε θεωρειτε εχοντα	See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.”
Jhn 4:26	λεγει αυτη ο ιησους εγω ειμι ο λαλων σοι	Jesus said to her: “I am he, the one speaking to you.”
Jhn 6:20	ο δε λεγει αυτοις εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε	But he said to them: “It is I; do not be afraid!”
Jhn 6:35	ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης ο ερχομενος προς εμε ου μη πειναση και ο πιστευων εις εμε ου μη διψησει πωποτε	Jesus said to them: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not get hungry at all, and whoever exercises faith in me will never get thirsty at all.
Jhn 6:41	εγογγυζον ουν οι ιουδαιοι περι αυτου οτι ειπεν εγω ειμι ο αρτος ο καταβας εκ του ουρανου	Then the Jews began to murmur about him because he had said: “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Jhn 6:48	εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης	“I am the bread of life.
Jhn 6:51	εγω ειμι ο αρτος ο ζων ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας εαν τις φαγη εκ τουτου του αρτου ζησει εις τον αιωνα και ο αρτος δε ον εγω δωσω η σαρξ μου εστιν υπερ της του κοσμου ζωης	I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and for a fact, the bread that I will give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.”
Jhn 8:12	παλιν ουν αυτοις ελαλησεν ο ιησους λεγων εγω ειμι το φως του κοσμου ο ακολουθων μοι ου μη περιπατηση εν τη σκοτια αλλ εξει το φως της ζωης	Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will by no means walk in darkness, but will possess the light of life.”
Jhn 8:18	εγω ειμι ο μαρτυρων περι εμαυτου και μαρτυρει περι εμου ο πεμψας με πατηρ	I am one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
Jhn 8:24	ειπον ουν υμιν οτι αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων εαν γαρ μη πιστευσητε οτι εγω ειμι αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων	That is why I said to you: You will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am the one, you will die in your sins.”
Jhn 8:28	ειπεν ουν ο ιησους οταν υψωσητε τον υιον του ανθρωπου τοτε γνωσεσθε οτι εγω ειμι και απ εμαυτου ποιω ουδεν αλλα καθως εδιδαξεν με ο πατηρ ταυτα λαλω	Jesus then said: “After you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me, I speak these things.
Jhn 8:58	ειπεν αυτοις ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν πριν αβρααμ γενεσθαι εγω ειμι According to the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament (3rd Edition) Critical Apparatus, there don't seem to be any textual variants for John 8:58, so the word “εγω ειμι” is in the present tense in all manuscripts, and none exist which have the imperfect or past tense ἐγώ ἤμην.	Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”
Jhn 9:9	αλλοι ελεγον οτι ουτος εστιν αλλοι ελεγον ουχι αλλα ομοιος αυτω εστιν εκεινος ελεγεν οτι εγω ειμι	Some were saying: “This is he.” Others were saying: “No, but he looks like him.” The man kept saying: “I am he.”
Jhn 10:7	ειπεν ουν παλιν ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εγω ειμι η θυρα των προβατων	So Jesus said again: “Most truly I say to you, I am the door for the sheep.
Jhn 10:9	εγω ειμι η θυρα δι εμου εαν τις εισελθη σωθησεται και εισελευσεται και εξελευσεται και νομην ευρησει	I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved, and that one will go in and out and find pasturage.
Jhn 10:11	εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος ο ποιμην ο καλος την ψυχην αυτου τιθησιν υπερ των προβατων	I am the fine shepherd; the fine shepherd surrenders his life in behalf of the sheep.
Jhn 10:14	εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος και γινωσκω τα εμα και γινωσκουσιν με τα εμα	I am the fine shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me,
Jhn 11:25	ειπεν αυτη ο ιησους εγω ειμι η αναστασις και η ζωη ο πιστευων εις εμε καν αποθανη ζησεται	Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life;
Jhn 13:19	απ αρτι λεγω υμιν προ του γενεσθαι ινα πιστευητε οταν γενηται οτι εγω ειμι	From this moment on, I am telling you before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe that I am he.
Jhn 14:6	λεγει αυτω ιησους εγω ειμι η οδος και η αληθεια και η ζωη ουδεις ερχεται προς τον πατερα ει μη δι εμου	Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jhn 15:1	εγω ειμι η αμπελος η αληθινη και ο πατηρ μου ο γεωργος εστιν	“I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator.
Jhn 15:5	εγω ειμι η αμπελος υμεις τα κληματα ο μενων εν εμοι καγω εν αυτω ουτος φερει καρπον πολυν οτι χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν	I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in union with me and I in union with him, this one bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing at all.
Jhn 18:5	απεκριθησαν αυτω ιησουν τον ναζωραιον λεγει αυτοις εγω ειμι ειστηκει δε και ιουδας ο παραδιδους αυτον μετ αυτων	They answered him: “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them: “I am he.” Now Judas, his betrayer, was also standing with them.
Jhn 18:6	ως ουν ειπεν αυτοις εγω ειμι απηλθον εις τα οπισω και επεσαν χαμαι	However, when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Jhn 18:8	απεκριθη ιησους ειπον υμιν οτι εγω ειμι ει ουν εμε ζητειτε αφετε τουτους υπαγειν	Jesus answered: “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.”
Act 9:5	ειπεν δε τις ει κυριε ο δε εγω ειμι ιησους ον συ διωκεις	He asked: “Who are you, Lord” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Act 10:21	καταβας δε πετρος προς τους ανδρας ειπεν ιδου εγω ειμι ον ζητειτε τις η αιτια δι ην παρεστε	Then Peter went downstairs to the men and said: “Here I am, the one you are looking for. Why are you here”
Act 18:10	διοτι εγω ειμι μετα σου και ουδεις επιθησεται σοι του κακωσαι σε διοτι λαος εστιν μοι πολυς εν τη πολει ταυτη	for I am with you and no man will assault you to harm you; for I have many people in this city.”
Act 22:3	εγω ειμι ανηρ ιουδαιος γεγεννημενος εν ταρσω της κιλικιας ανατεθραμμενος δε εν τη πολει ταυτη παρα τους ποδας γαμαλιηλ πεπαιδευμενος κατα ακριβειαν του πατρωου νομου ζηλωτης υπαρχων του θεου καθως παντες υμεις εστε σημερον	“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but educated in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strictness of the ancestral Law, and zealous for God just as all of you are this day.
Act 22:8	εγω δε απεκριθην τις ει κυριε ειπεν τε προς εμε εγω ειμι ιησους ο ναζωραιος ον συ διωκεις	I answered: ‘Who are you, Lord’ And he said to me: ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’
Act 26:15	εγω δε ειπα τις ει κυριε ο δε κυριος ειπεν εγω ειμι ιησους ον συ διωκεις	But I said: ‘Who are you, Lord’ And the Lord said: ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Act 26:29	ο δε παυλος ευξαιμην αν τω θεω και εν ολιγω και εν μεγαλω ου μονον σε αλλα και παντας τους ακουοντας μου σημερον γενεσθαι τοιουτους οποιος και εγω ειμι παρεκτος των δεσμων τουτων	At this Paul said: “I wish to God that whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who hear me today would become men such as I am, with the exception of these prison bonds.”
Rev 1:8	εγω ειμι το αλφα και το ω λεγει κυριος ο θεος ο ων και ο ην και ο ερχομενος ο παντοκρατωρ	“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says Jehovah God, “the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.”
Rev 1:17	και οτε ειδον αυτον επεσα προς τους ποδας αυτου ως νεκρος και εθηκεν την δεξιαν αυτου επ εμε λεγων μη φοβου εγω ειμι ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος	When I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet.And he laid his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
Rev 2:23	και τα τεκνα αυτης αποκτενω εν θανατω και γνωσονται πασαι αι εκκλησιαι οτι εγω ειμι ο εραυνων νεφρους και καρδιας και δωσω υμιν εκαστω κατα τα εργα υμων	And I will kill her children with deadly plague, so that all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches the innermost thoughts and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds.
Rev 22:16	εγω ιησους επεμψα τον αγγελον μου μαρτυρησαι υμιν ταυτα επι ταις εκκλησιαις εγω ειμι η ριζα και το γενος δαυιδ ο αστηρ ο λαμπρος ο πρωινος	“‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you about these things for the congregations. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star.’”

The 10 times “ego eimi” is used without a predicate in John.

John 4:26 Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He [ego eimi].”
John 6:20 But He *said to them, “It is I [ego eimi]; do not be afraid.”
John 8:24 “I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am [ego eimi], you shall die in your sins.”
John 8:28 Jesus therefore said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [ego eimi]”
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am. [ego eimi]”
John 9:9 He [man born blind] kept saying, “I am [ego eimi] the one.”
John 13:19 “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am” [ego eimi].
John 18:5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am [ego eimi].” And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them.
John 18:6 When therefore He said to them, “I am,” [ego eimi] they drew back, and fell to the ground.
John 18:8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am [ego eimi]; if therefore you seek Me, let these go their way,”

Prime Echo Examples

These passages stand on their own in proving the deity of Christ:

John 6:20 echoes Isa 41:10,13 (fear not)

Phil 2:6-8 echoes John 13:19 which echoes Isa 43:10-12 (saviour/God incarnate)

John 14:5-6 echoes Isa 40:3 (the way)

John 4:25-26 echoes Isa 52:6 (quoted by Jesus)

John 8:58 echoes Isa 40-55; Ex 3:14; Psalm 90:2 (eternal)

John 18 echoes Isa’s “I AM”

Rev 22:12-13 echoes Isa 44:6 (first and last)

Acts 26:15-18 echoes Isa 42:6-8 (calls to service)

John 1:1-5 echoes Isa 44:24 (only creator)

1Co 10:4 echoes Isa 44:8 (only Rock)

King of Babylon echoes Jehovah: Isa 47:8-10; 46:9 (quote)

Secondary Echo Examples

These passages follow the pattern of Jesus echoing the words of Jehovah, but are not in themselves definitive in proving the deity of Christ.

John 11:25 echoes Deut 32:39 (Resurrection)

John 18:37 echoes Isa 43:15 (King)

Acts 4:12 echoes Zechariah 14:9 (only name)

John 8:18 echoes 1 Samuel 12:5 (witness)

Mark 14:61-64 echoes Isa 19:1 (coming)

John 6 echoes Exodus 16:12 (manna)

Rev 22:16 echoes Isa 60:1-5 (morning star)

John 10:9-15 echoes Isa 40:11 (shepherd)