Strong's Lexicon
mé: not, lest
Original Word:μή
Part of Speech:Particle, Negative
Transliteration:mé
Pronunciation:may
Phonetic Spelling:(may)
Definition:not, lest
Meaning:not, lest.
Word Origin:A primary particle of qualified negation
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H408 (אַל, al): A particle of negation used in prohibitions.
- H3808 (לֹא, lo): A particle of absolute negation.
Usage:The Greek particle "μή" is used to express a qualified negation, often implying a subjective or conditional aspect. It is typically employed in contexts where the negation is not absolute but contingent upon certain conditions or perspectives. "μή" is frequently used in prohibitions, warnings, and expressions of doubt or uncertainty. It contrasts with "οὐ" (ou), which denotes an absolute negation.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the context of Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, "μή" was commonly used in both secular and religious texts to convey a sense of caution or conditionality. Its usage reflects the nuanced way in which ancient Greek speakers expressed negation, often considering the speaker's perspective or the potential for change. Understanding the distinction between "μή" and "οὐ" is crucial for interpreting the subtleties of New Testament teachings and commands.
HELPS Word-studies
3361mḗ (a particle which functions as an adverb) –no,not.3361 (mḗ) negates "subjectively," ruling outany implications ("suggestions") thatcould be involved with whatshould (could,would)apply.
3361/mḗ ("not") negates the underlyingidea (concept) of a statement, ruling out itspossibilities, i.e. all that it suggests on a conceptual or hypothetical plane.
[3361/mḗ ("not, no") then negates theimplications (suggestions) that naturally spring from the negated statement.]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. particle
Definitionnot, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation)
NASB Translationall* (1), cannot (1), cannot* (6), case (1), certainly* (1), devoid* (1), ever* (3), except (2), fear* (2), inevitable* (1), keep (2), kept (1), lacks* (1), make (1), never (17), never* (16), no (67), no one (1), no* (11), none (2), none* (2), nothing (2), nothing* (3), only* (11), or (4), otherwise* (3), refrain (1), so (2), so that no (1), so* (12), stop (8), surely (4), than* (2), unable* (4), unless* (38), until* (1), without (6), without* (4).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3361: μήμή, the
Sept. for
אַל,
אַיִן,
אֵין, a particle of negation, which differs from
οὐ (which is always an adverb) in that
οὐ denies the thing itself (or to speak technically, denies simply, absolutely, categorically, directly, objectively), but
μή denies the thought of the thing, or the thing according to the judgment, opinion, will, purpose, preference, of someone (hence, as we say technically, indirectly, hypothetically, subjectively). This distinction holds also of the compounds
οὐδείς,
μηδείς,
οὐκέτι,
μηκέτι, etc. But
μή is either an adverb of negation,
not (Latin
non, ne); or a conjunction,
that ... not, lest (Latin
ne); or an interrogative particle (Latin
num) (i. e. (generally) implying a neg. ans.; in indirect question,
whether not (suggesting apprehension)). Cf.
Herm. ad Vig. § 267, p. 802ff;
Matthiae, § 608; Alexander
Buttmann (1873) Gram. § 148 (cf. Alex. Alexander
Buttmann (1873) N. T. Gr., p. 344 (296ff)); Kühner, ii. § 512f, p. 739ff; (
Jelf, § 738ff); Rost § 135;
Winer's § 55, 56; F. Franke, De particulis negantibus (two commentaries) Rintel. 1832f; G. F. Gayler, Particularum Graeci sermonis negativarum accurata disputatio, etc. Tub. 1836; E. Prüfer, De
μή et
οὐ particulis epitome. Vratisl. 1836; (Gildersleeve in American Jour. of Philol. vol. i. no. i., p. 45ff; Jebb in Vincent and Dickson's Handbook to Modern Greek, 2nd edition, Appendix, § 82ff).
I. As a negative adverb;
1. universally:ᾧμήπάρεστιταῦτα, whereμή is used because reference is made merely to the thought that there are those who lack these things,2 Peter 1:9;ἅμήἑώρακεν, which (in my opinion) he hath not seen (because they are not visible),Colossians 2:18 (but hereGTTrWH omit;L bracketsμή; cf.Lightfoot at the passage;Winer's Grammar, 480f (448));ἤδηκέκριται,ὅτιμήπεπίστευκεν,because he hath not believed, represented by the writer as the thoughtτοῦκρίναντος,John 3:18 (differently in1 John 5:10, where the faith denied is considered as something positive and actual);ἅμήδεῖ, in the judgment of the writer,Titus 1:11.
2. in deliberative questions with the subjunctive:δῶμενἤμήδῶμεν,Mark 12:14 (πότερονβίανφωμενἤμήφωμενεἶναι,Xenophon, mem. 1, 2, 45);μήποιήσωμεντάκακά (for so it would have run had there been no anacoluthon; but Paul by the statement which he interposes is drawn away from the construction with which he began, and proceedsὅτιποιήσωμενκτλ., so that these words depend onλέγειν in the intervening statement (Winers Grammar, 628 (583);Buttmann, § 141, 3)),Romans 3:8.
3. in conditional and final sentences (cf.Winers Grammar, § 55, 2; (Buttmann, 344ff (296ff)):ἐάνμή,unless, if not, see examples inἐάν, I. 3 c.ἐάν etc.καίμή,Mark 12:19;ἐάν etc.δέμή,James 2:14;ἐάντίςἴδῃ ...μήπρόςθάνατον,1 John 5:16;εἰμή,εἰδέμή,εἰδέμήγε, etc., seeεἰ, III., p. 171f. To this head belong the formulae that haveἄν orἐάν as a modifier (Winers Grammar, § 55, 3 e.; (Buttmann, § 148, 4)),ὅς,ὅστις,ὅσοιἄν orἐάνμή:Matthew 10:14;Matthew 11:6;Mark 6:11;Mark 10:15;Luke 7:23;Luke 9:5;Luke 18:17;Revelation 13:15;ὅςἄν etc.καίμή,Mark 11:23;Luke 10:10;ὅςἄν ...μήἐπίπορνεία,Matthew 19:9GTTrWH text; of the same sort isπᾶνπνεῦμα,ὁμήὁμολογεῖ,1 John 4:3.ἵναμή,Matthew 7:1;Matthew 17:27;Mark 3:9;Romans 11:25;Galatians 5:17;Galatians 6:12, etc.;ἵνα ...καίμή,Matthew 5:29;Mark 4:12;John 6:50;John 11:50;2 Corinthians 4:7, etc.;ἵνα ...μή,2 Corinthians 13:10;ἵναὁ ...μή,John 12:46;ἵνα (weakened; seeἵνα, II. 2)μή: afterδιαστέλλομαι (hereLWH textἐπιτιμάω),Matthew 16:20;τόθέλημαἐστιν,ἵναμή,John 6:39;οὕτως etc.ἵναὁ ...μή,John 3:16;παρακαλῶ,ἵνα ...καίμή,1 Corinthians 1:10;ὅπωςμή,Matthew 6:18;Acts 20:16;1 Corinthians 1:29;ὅπωςοἱ ...μή,Luke 16:26.
4. joined with the infinitive (Winers Grammar, § 55, 4f.; (Buttmann, §§ 140, 16; 148, 6; cf. Prof. Gildersleeve as above, p. 48f));
a. after verbs of saying, declaring, denying, commanding, etc.:ἀποκριθῆναι,Luke 20:7;ἦναὐτῷκεχρηματισμένονμήἰίδειν,that he should not see,Luke 2:26;χρηματισθέντεςμήἀνακάμψαι,Matthew 2:12;ὤμοσε (αὐτοῖς)μήεἰσελεύσεσθαι,Hebrews 3:18; afterλέγω,Matthew 5:34, 39;Matthew 22:23;Mark 12:18;Acts 21:4;Acts 23:8;Romans 2:22;Romans 12:3;κηρύσσω,Romans 2:21;γράφω,1 Corinthians 5:9, 11;παραγγέλλω,Acts 1:4;Acts 4:18;Acts 5:28, 40;1 Corinthians 7:10;1 Timothy 1:3;1 Timothy 6:17;παρακαλῶ,Acts 9:38RG;;2 Corinthians 6:1;αἰτοῦμαι,Ephesians 3:13;διαμαρτύρομαι,2 Timothy 2:14;εὔχομαι,2 Corinthians 13:7;παραιτοῦμαι,Hebrews 12:19 (hereWH text omitsμή; cf.Winers Grammar, andButtmann, as below);ἀξιῶ,Acts 15:38;ἐπιβόω (LTTrWHβόω),Acts 25:24;ἀντιλέγω (cf.Winer's Grammar, § 65, 2β.; (Buttmann, § 148, 13)),Luke 20:27 (TrWHL marginal readingλέγω);ἀπαρνοῦμαι (which see),Luke 22:34; also after verbs of deciding:Luke 21:14;κρίνω,Acts 15:19;κρίνωτοῦτο,τόμή,Romans 14:13;2 Corinthians 2:1;θέλω,Romans 13:3; after verbs of hindering, avoiding, etc.:ἐγκόπτω (Res.ἀνακόπτω)τιναμή,Galatians 5:7 (cf.Winers Grammar, (andButtmann, as above; also § 140, 16));τοῦμή,that ... not (Latinne), afterκατέχω,Luke 4:42;κρατοῦμαι,Luke 24:16;κωλύω,Acts 10:47;καταπαύω,Acts 14:18;παύω,1 Peter 3:10;ὑποστέλλομαι,Acts 20:20, 27;προσέχωμή,Matthew 6:1; butτοῦμή is added also to other expressions in the sense of Latinut ne,that ... not:Romans 7:3;ὀφθαλμοίτοῦμήβλέπειν,ὦτατοῦμήἀκούειν,Romans 11:8, 10. After clauses denoting necessity, advantage, power, fitness,μή is used with an infinitive specifying the thing (Buttmann, § 148, 6),καλόνἐστιμή,1 Corinthians 7:1;Galatians 4:18; followed byτόμή,Romans 14:21;ἄλογονμή,Acts 25:27;κρεῖττονἦν,2 Peter 2:21;ἐξουσίατοῦ (LTTrWH omitτοῦ)μήἐργάζεσθαι, a right to forbear working,1 Corinthians 9:6;δεῖ,Acts 27:21;οὐδύναμαιμή,I cannot but,Acts 4:20;ἀνένδεκτόνἐστιτοῦμή,Luke 17:1 (cf.ἀνένδεκτος).b.μή with an infinitive which has the article follows a preposition, to indicate the purpose or end: as,πρόςτόμή,that ... not,2 Corinthians 3:13;1 Thessalonians 2:9;2 Thessalonians 3:8;εἰςτόμή (Latinin id ... ne),to the end (or intent) that ... not,Acts 7:19;1 Corinthians 10:6;2 Corinthians 4:4; followed by an accusative and infinitive,2 Thessalonians 2:2;1 Peter 3:7;διάτόμή,because ... not,Matthew 13:5;Mark 4:5;Luke 8:6;James 4:2 (cf.Winer's Grammar, 482 (449)) (2 Macc. 4:19).
c. in other expressions where an infinitive with the article is used substantively:τῷμή (dative of the cause or reason (cf.Winers Grammar, § 44, 5;Buttmann, 264 (227))),2 Corinthians 2:13 (12); in the accusative,τόμή:Romans 14:13;1 Corinthians 4:6 (RG);2 Corinthians 2:1;2 Corinthians 10:2;1 Thessalonians 4:6, cf. 3.
d. in sentences expressing consequence or result:ὥστεμή,so that ... not,Matthew 8:28;Mark 3:20;1 Corinthians 1:7;2 Corinthians 3:7;1 Thessalonians 1:8.
5.μή is joined with a participle (Winers Grammar, § 50, 5 g.; (Buttmann, § 148, 7; see C. J. Vaughan's Commentary onRomans 2:14)), a. in sentences expressing a command, exhortation, purpose, etc.:Luke 3:11;John 9:39;Acts 15:38;Acts 20:29;Romans 8:4;Romans 14:3;2 Corinthians 12:21;Ephesians 5:27;Philippians 1:28;Philippians 2:4 (hereRec. imperative);1 Thessalonians 4:5;2 Thessalonians 1:8;1 Peter 2:16;Hebrews 6:1;Hebrews 13:17, etc.
b. in general sentences, in which no definite person is meant but it is merely assumed that there is someone of the character denoted by the participle: asὁμήὤνμετ'ἐμοῦ,he that is not on roy side, whoever he is, or if there is any such person,Matthew 12:30;Luke 11:23;ὁδέμήπιστεύων, whoever believeth not,John 3:18;οἱμήὁμολογοῦντεςἸησοῦνΧριστόν if any do not confess, or belong to the class that do not confess,2 John 1:7; add,Matthew 10:28;Luke 6:49;Luke 12:21, 47;Luke 22:36;John 5:23;John 10:1;John 12:48;John 14:24;Romans 4:5;Romans 5:14;Romans 10:20;1 Corinthians 7:38;1 Corinthians 11:22;2 Thessalonians 1:8;James 2:13;1 John 2:4, etc.;πᾶςὁμή,Matthew 7:26; (πᾶνδένδρονμή,Matthew 3:10;Matthew 7:19);1 John 3:10; 2 John 9;2 Thessalonians 2:12 (hereL marginal readingTTrWH marginal readingἅπαντεςοἱμή etc.);μακάριοςὁμή,John 20:29;Romans 14:22.
c. where, indeed, a definite person or thing is referred to, but in such a way that his (its) quality or action (indicated by the participle) is denied in the thought or judgment either of the writer or of some other person (cf. especiallyWiner's Grammar, 484 (451)):τάμήὄντα, that are deemed as nothing,1 Corinthians 1:28;ὡςμήλαβών, as if thou hadst not received,1 Corinthians 4:7;ὡςμήἐρχομένουμου, as though I were not coming,1 Corinthians 4:18;ὡςμήἐφικνούμενοιεἰςὑμᾶς,2 Corinthians 10:14; add,1 Corinthians 7:29.ᾔδει ...τινεςεἰσινοἱμήπιστεύοντες (according to the opinion ofὁεἰδώς),John 6:64; the same holds true ofActs 20:29;τάμήβλεπόμενα (in the opinion ofοἱμήσκοποῦντες),2 Corinthians 4:18 (on the other hand, inHebrews 11:1,οὐβλεπόμενα, actually invisible);τόνμήγνόνταἁμαρτίανὑπέρἡμῶνἁμαρτίανἐποίησεν (μήγνόντα is said agreeably to the judgment ofὁποιήσας),2 Corinthians 5:21 (τόνοὐγνόντα would be equivalent toἀγνωυντα). in predictions, where it expresses the opinion of those who predict:ἔσῃσιωπῶνκαίμήδυνάμενοςλαλῆσαι,Luke 1:20;ἔσῃτυφλόςμήβλέπων,Acts 13:11. where the writer or speaker does not regard the thing itself so much as the thought of the thing, which he wishes to remove from the mind of the reader or hearer (Klotz ad Devar. ii. 2, p. 666) — to be renderedwithout etc. (Germanohne zu with an infinitive) (cf.Buttmann, § 148, 7 b.):ἐξῆλθεμήἐπιστάμενος,ποῦἔρχεται,Hebrews 11:8; add,Matthew 22:12;Luke 13:11 ((but cf.Buttmann, § 148, 7 c.));Acts 5:7;Acts 20:22;Hebrews 9:9. where the participles have a conditional, causal, or concessive force, and may be resolved into clauses introduced byif, on condition that, etc.:θερίσομενμήἐκλυόμενοι,Galatians 6:9;μήὄντοςνόμου,Romans 5:13;although:νόμονμήἔχοντες,Romans 2:14;μήὤναὐτόςὑπόνόμον,1 Corinthians 9:20 (Rec. omits); we have both the negative particles inὅνοὐκεἰδότες (or (withLTTrWH)ἰδόντες) ...μήὁρῶντες, whom being ignorant of (in person) (or (according to the critical text) not having seen) ... although now not seeing,1 Peter 1:8; also with the article:τάμήνόμονἔχοντα (Germandie doch nicht haben,they that have not, etc.),Romans 2:14;ὁδέμήγενεαλογούμενος,but he, although not etc.Hebrews 7:6; — orsince, because, inasmuch as:μήἀσθενήσαςτῇπίστειοὐ (butGLTTrWH omitοὐ; cf.Buttmann, § 148, 14)κατενόησετόἑαυτοῦσῶμα ...νενεκρωμένον (οὐκἀσθενήσας would be equivalent toδυνατός,strong),Romans 4:19;πῶςοὗτοςγράμματαοἶδεμήμεμαθηκώς;since he has not learned (Winer's Grammar, 483 (450)),John 7:15; add,Matthew 18:25;Matthew 22:25, 29;Luke 2:45;Luke 7:30;Luke 11:24;Luke 12:47;Luke 24:23;Acts 9:26;Acts 17:6;Acts 21:34;Acts 27:7;2 Corinthians 3:14;2 Corinthians 5:19; also with the article:ὁμήγινώσκωντόννόμον, since it knoweth not the law,John 7:49; add,Jude 1:5.
d. where (with the participle) it can be resolved by (being)such (a person) as not, of such a sort as not:μήζητῶντόἐμαυτοῦσύμφορον,1 Corinthians 10:33; add,Acts 9:9;Galatians 4:8. neuter plural as a substantive:τάμήὄντα,Romans 4:17;τάμήσαλευόμενα,Hebrews 12:27;τάμήδέοντα,1 Timothy 5:13;τάμήκαθήκοντα,Romans 1:28; 2 Macc. 6:4 (on the other hand, inτάοὐκἀνήκοντα,Ephesians 5:4 (whereLTTrWHἅοὐκἀνῆκεν), theοὐκ coalesces withἀνήκοντα and forms a single idea,unseemly, unlawful).
6. in independent sentences of forbidding, dehorting, admonishing, desiring, etc.,μή is Prohibitive (cf.Winers Grammar, § 56,1),Latinne, not;
a. with the 1 person plural of the subjunctive present:μήγινώμεθακενόδοξοι,Galatians 5:26; add,Galatians 6:9;1 Thessalonians 5:6;1 John 3:18; aorist:John 19:24; before the word depending on the exhortation,1 Corinthians 5:8.
b. with a present imperative, generally where one is bidden to cease from something already begun, or repeated, or continued:Matthew 6:16, 19;Matthew 7:1;Matthew 19:6;Mark 9:39;Mark 13:11;Luke 6:30;Luke 7:6, 13;Luke 8:49, 52;Luke 10:4, 7, 20;John 2:16;John 5:28, 45;John 6:43;John 7:24;John 14:1, 27;John 19:21;Acts 10:15;Acts 11:9;Acts 20:10;Romans 6:12;Romans 11:18, 20;Romans 12:2 (hereLTr marginal readingWH marginal reading give the infinitive), 14;1 Corinthians 6:9;1 Corinthians 7:5;2 Corinthians 6:14, 17;Galatians 5:1;Galatians 6:7;Ephesians 4:30;Colossians 3:9, 19, 21;1 Thessalonians 5:19;2 Thessalonians 3:15;1 Timothy 4:14;1 Timothy 5:16, 19;Hebrews 12:5;Hebrews 13:2;James 1:7, 16;1 Peter 4:12, 15;1 John 2:15;1 John 3:13;Revelation 5:5, and very often.
c. with the third person (nowhere in the N. T. with the second) of the aorist imperative where the prohibition relates to something not to be begun, and where things about to be done are forbidden:μήἐπιστρεψάτω,Matthew 24:18;Luke 17:31;μήκαταβάτω,Mark 13:15, andLTTrWH inMatthew 24:17 (whereRG badlyκαταβαινέτω);μήγνώτω,Matthew 6:3;γενέσθω (butTTrWHγινέσθω),Luke 22:42; cf.Xenophon, Cyril 7, 5, 73;Aeschylus theSept. c. Theb. 1036.
d. as in the more elegant Greek writings where future things are forbidden (cf.Herm. ad Vig., p. 807), with the 2 person of the aorist subjunctive:μήδόξητε,Matthew 3:9;Matthew 5:17;μήφοβηθῇς,Matthew 1:20;Matthew 10:26, 31 (hereLTTrWH present imperativeφοβεῖσθε) (alternating with the imperative presentφοβεῖσθε inMatthew 10:28 (GLTTr));μήἅψῃ,Colossians 2:21;μήἀποστραφῇς,Matthew 5:42;μήκτήσησθε,Matthew 10:9; add,Matthew 6:2, 7, 13, 31;Mark 5:7;Mark 10:19;Luke 6:29;Luke 8:28;Luke 14:8;John 3:7;Acts 7:60;Romans 10:6;1 Corinthians 16:11;2 Corinthians 11:16;2 Thessalonians 2:3 — (in the last three examples with the third person, contrary toWiner's Grammar, 502 (467));1 Timothy 5:1;2 Timothy 1:8;Revelation 6:6;Revelation 10:4 (μήγράψῃς, forἔμελλονγράφειν precedes; but inJohn 19:21μήγράφε is used, because Pilate had already written);Revelation 11:2;Revelation 22:10, and very often. We have the imperative present and the aorist subjunctive together inLuke 10:4;Acts 18:9.
e. with the 2 person of the present subjunctive:μήσκληρύνητε,Hebrews 3:8, 15 (a rare construction though not wholly unknown to Greek writings ( more than doubtful (Liddell and Scott, under the word A. I. 2)); see Delitzsch on the latter passage, and Schaefer ad Greg. Corinth., p. 1005f; (Sophocles' Lexicon, under the wordμή. Others regard the above examples as subjunctive aorist; cf.2 Kings 2:10;Isaiah 63:17;Jeremiah 17:23;Jeremiah 19:15, etc.)).
f. with the optative, in wishes: in that frequent formulaμήγένοιτο, Far be it! Seeγίνομαι, 2 a.;μήαὐτοῖςλογισθείη,2 Timothy 4:16 (Job 27:5).
II. As a conjunction, Latinne with the subjunctive;
1. ourthat, that not or lest (cf.Winers Grammar, § 56, 2 (Buttmann, § 139, 48f;Goodwin § 46)); after verbs of fearing, caution, etc.
a. with the subjunctive present, where one fears lest something now exists and at the same time indicates that he is ignorant whether it is so or not (Hermann onSophocles Aj. 272):ἐπισκοποῦντες,μή ...ἐνοχλῇ,Hebrews 12:15.
b. with the subjunctive aorist, of things which may occur immediately or very soon: preceded by an aorist,εὐλαβηθείς (LTTrWHφοβηθείς)μήδιασπασθῇ,Acts 23:10; by a present:φοβοῦμαι,Acts 27:17;βλέπω,Matthew 24:4;Mark 13:5;Luke 21:8;Acts 13:40;1 Corinthians 10:12;Galatians 5:15;Hebrews 12:25;σκοπέωἐμαυτόν,Galatians 6:1 (Buttmann, 243 (209) would refer this to 2 b. below; cf.Goodwin, p. 66);ὁράω,Matthew 18:10;1 Thessalonians 5:15; elliptically,ὁρᾷμή (namely,τοῦτοποιήσῃς (cf.Winers Grammar, § 64, 7 a.;Buttmann, 395 (338))):Revelation 19:10;Revelation 22:9.
c. with the indicative future (as being akin to the subjunctive (cf. grammatical references at the beginning)):φοβοῦμαι,μήταπεινώσειμεὁΘεόςμου,2 Corinthians 12:20f (L textTTr); add,Colossians 2:8.
2.in order that not (Latineo consilio ne);
a. with the optative:τῶνστρατιωτῶνβουλήἐγένετο,ἵνατούςδεσμώταςἀποκτείνωσι,μήτίς ...διαφύγοι,Acts 27:42Rec. (the more elegant Greek to express the thought and purpose of the soldiers; but the best todd. readδιαφύγῃ, whichGLTTrWH have adopted).
b. with the subjunctive aorist: preceded by the present,Mark 13:36;2 Corinthians 8:20 (cf.Goodwin § 43 Rem.);;Colossians 2:4 (whereLTTrWHἵναμηδείς forRGμήτίς (— an oversight; inRG as well as in the recent critical editions the purpose is expressed by an insertedἵνα)).III. As an Interrogative particle it is used when a negative answer is expected, Latinnum; (Winers Grammar, § 57, 3 b.; (Buttmann, 248 (213)));
1. in a direct question:Matthew 7:9;Matthew 9:15;Mark 2:19;Luke 17:9;John 3:4;John 4:12, 33;John 6:67;John 7:35, 51f;Acts 7:28;Romans 3:3;Romans 9:20;1 Corinthians 1:13;1 Corinthians 9:8;1 Corinthians 10:22;James 2:14 (1WH);, etc.;μήγάρ (seeγάρ, I.),John 7:41;μήοὐκ (whereοὐκ belongs to the verb, andμή is interrogative),Romans 10:18;1 Corinthians 9:4f;μήγάρ ...οὐ,1 Corinthians 11:22,2. in an indirect question with the indicative (Germanob etwa, ob wohl,whether possibly, whether perchance), where in admonishing another we intimate that possibly the case is as we fear (cf.Buttmann, § 139, 57;Winer's Grammar, § 41 b. 4 a.):Luke 11:35, cf.Buttmann, 243 (209); Ast, Platonic Lexicon, ii., p. 334f; (Riddell,Plato's Apology Digest of Idioms §§ 137, 138).
IV. The particlesοὐμή in combination augment the force of the negation, and signifynot at all, in no wise, by no means; (this formula arose from the fuller expressionsοὐδεινόν orδέος orφόβος,μή, which are still found sometimes in Greek authors, cf. Kühner, ii. § 516, 9, p. 773f; but so far was this origin of the phrase lost sight of thatοὐμή is used even of things not at all to be feared, but rather to be desired; so in the N. T. inMatthew 5:18, 26;Matthew 18:3;Luke 18:17;Luke 22:16;John 4:48;John 20:25;1 Thessalonians 5:3); cf.Matthiae, § 517; Kühner, ii., p. 775;Bernhardy (1829) p. 402ff; (Gildersleeve in the Amer. Jour. of Philol. for 1882, p. 202f:Goodwin § 89):Winers Grammar, § 56, 3 (Buttmann, 211 (183f)).
1. with the future indicative:οὐμήἔσταισοιτοῦτο, this shall never be unto thee,Matthew 16:22; add,Matthew 26:35;Luke 22:34RGL; (whereRstGWH marginal readingἀδικήσῃ);John 6:35 (hereLTr marginal readingπεινάσει, andLTTrWHδιψήσει);RG;Mark 13:31TTrWH;Hebrews 10:17LTTrWH; in many passages enumerated byWiners Grammar, 506 (472); (cf.Buttmann, 212 (183)), the manuscripts vary between the indicative future and the subjunctive aorist In a question,οὐμήποιήσειτήνἐκδίκησιν;Luke 18:7RG.2. with the aorist subjunctive (the use of which in the N. T. scarcely differs from that of the future; cf.Winers Grammar, § 56, 3; (Buttmann, § 139, 7)), in confident assertions: — subjunctive of the 1 aorist,Matthew 24:2;Mark 13:2;Luke 6:37;John 13:8;Hebrews 8:12;1 Peter 2:6;Revelation 2:11;Revelation 7:16;Revelation 18:21, 22, 23;Revelation 21:27, etc.; 1 aorist middle subjunctive,John 8:52 (whereRec.γεύσεται); thus these N. T. examples prove that Dawes made a great mistake in denying (in his Miscellanea Critica, p. 221ff (ed. (Th. Kidd) 2, p. 408f)) flint the first aorist subjunctive is used afterοὐμή; (cf.Goodwin in Transactions of American Philological Association for 1869-1870, pp. 46-55; Liddell and Scott, under the phrase,οὐμή, I. 1 b.;Buttmann, § 139, 8); — subjunctive of 2 aorist,Matthew 5:18, 20, 26;Mark 10:15;Luke 1:15;Luke 12:59;John 10:28;John 11:26;1 Corinthians 8:13;Hebrews 13:5;Revelation 3:3 (RGLTr marginal readingWH text), and often. in questions: with 1 aorist,Luke 18:7LTTrWH;Revelation 15:4 (inLTTrWH with the subjunctive aorist and the future); with 2 aorist,John 18:11. in declarations introduced byὅτι: with 1 aorist,1 Thessalonians 4:15; with 2 aorist,Matthew 24:34 (hereRGT omitὅτι); (LTTrWH omitὅτι);Luke 13:35 (TWH omit;L bracketsὅτι);;John 11:56; in relative clauses: with 1 aorist,Matthew 16:28;Mark 9:1;Acts 13:41;Romans 4:8; with 2 aorist,Luke 18:30.3. with the present subjunctive (as sometimes in Greek authors, cf.Winer's Grammar, 507 (473)):οὐδέοὐμήσεἐγκαταλείπω,Hebrews 13:5Tdf. (forἐγκαταλίπωRec., et al.) (cf.Buttmann, 213 (184)).
STRONGS NT 3361: μήπουμήπου (TTr) orμήποῦ (WH),that nowhere, lest anywhere (lest haply):Acts 27:29TTrWH. (Homer, et al.)STRONGS NT 3361: οὐ μήοὐ μή seeμή, IV.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
not, lest, neither, neverA primary particle of qualified negation (whereasou expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereasou expects an affirmative one)) whether -- any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See alsoean me,hina me,ou me,mekos,mekuno,men,me ouk.
see GREEKou
see GREEKean me
see GREEKhina me
see GREEKou me
see GREEKmekos
see GREEKmekuno
see GREEKmen
see GREEKme ouk
Forms and Transliterations
ακύρους εισέλθητε καὶ μη μή μὴ μηδὲν μήποτε ος οὐκ kai kaì me mē mḗ mḕ meden medèn mēden mēdèn mepote mēpote oukLinks
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