Lexical Summary mē: not, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation) Original Word: μήTransliteration: mē Phonetic Spelling: (may) Part of Speech: Particle, Negative Short Definition: not, that...not, lest (used for qualified negation) Meaning: not, lest Strong's Concordance not, lest, neither, neverA primary particle of qualified negation (whereas ou expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas ou 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 also ean me, hina me, ou me, mekos, mekuno, men, me ouk. see GREEK ou see GREEK ean me see GREEK hina me see GREEK ou me see GREEK mekos see GREEK mekuno see GREEK men see GREEK me ouk 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 (Latinnon, ne); or a conjunction, that ... not, lest (Latinne); or an interrogative particle (Latinnum) (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: ᾧ μή πάρεστι ταῦτα, where μή is used because reference is made merely to the thought that there are those who lack these things, 2 Peter 1:9; ἅ μή ἑώρακεν, which (in my opinion) he hath not seen (because they are not visible), Colossians 2:18 (but here G T Tr WH omit; L brackets μή; cf. Lightfoot at the passage; Winer's Grammar, 480f (448)); ἤδη κέκριται, ὅτι μή πεπίστευκεν, because he hath not believed, represented by the writer as the thought τοῦ κρίναντος, John 3:18 (differently in 1 John 5:10, where the faith denied is considered as something positive and actual); ἅ μή δεῖ, in the judgment of the writer, Titus 1:11. 2. in deliberative questions with the subjunctive: δῶμεν ἤ μή δῶμεν, Mark 12:14 (πότερον βίαν φωμεν ἤ μή φωμεν εἶναι, Xenophon, mem. 1, 2, 45); μή ποιήσωμεν τά κακά (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 proceeds ὅτι ποιήσωμεν κτλ., so that these words depend on λέγειν 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)): ἐάν μή, unless, if not, see examples in ἐάν, I. 3 c. ἐάν etc. καί μή, Mark 12:19; ἐάν etc. δέ μή, James 2:14; ἐάν τίς ἴδῃ ... μή πρός θάνατον, 1 John 5:16; εἰ μή, εἰ δέ μή, εἰ δέ μήγε, etc., see εἰ, III., p. 171f. To this head belong the formulae that have ἄν or ἐάν as a modifier (Winers Grammar, § 55, 3 e.; (Buttmann, § 148, 4)), ὅς, ὅστις, ὅσοι ἄν or ἐάν μή: Matthew 10:14; Matthew 11:6; Mark 6:11; Mark 10:15; Luke 7:23; Luke 9:5; Luke 18:17; Revelation 13:15; ὅς ἄν etc. καί μή, Mark 11:23; Luke 10:10; ὅς ἄν ... μή ἐπί πορνεία, Matthew 19:9 G T Tr WH text; of the same sort is πᾶν πνεῦμα, ὁ μή ὁμολογεῖ, 1 John 4:3. ἵνα μή, Matthew 7:1; Matthew 17:27; Mark 3:9; Romans 11:25; Galatians 5:17; Galatians 6:12, etc.; ἵνα ... καί μή, Matthew 5:29; Mark 4:12; John 6:50; John 11:50; 2 Corinthians 4:7, etc.; ἵνα ... μή, 2 Corinthians 13:10; ἵνα ὁ ... μή, John 12:46; ἵνα (weakened; see ἵνα, II. 2) μή: after διαστέλλομαι (here L WH text ἐπιτιμάω), Matthew 16:20; τό θέλημα ἐστιν, ἵνα μή, John 6:39; οὕτως etc. ἵνα ὁ ... μή, John 3:16; παρακαλῶ, ἵνα ... καί μή, 1 Corinthians 1:10; ὅπως μή, Matthew 6:18; Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 1:29; ὅπως οἱ ... 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; ἦν αὐτῷ κεχρηματισμένον μή ἰίδειν, that he should not see, Luke 2:26; χρηματισθέντες μή ἀνακάμψαι, Matthew 2:12; ὤμοσε (αὐτοῖς) μή εἰσελεύσεσθαι, Hebrews 3:18; after λέγω, 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 9:38 R G; b. μή with an infinitive which has the article follows a preposition, to indicate the purpose or end: as, πρός τό μή, that ... not, 2 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; εἰς τό μή (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; διά τό μή, 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: τῷ μή (dative of the cause or reason (cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 5; Buttmann, 264 (227))), 2 Corinthians 2:13 (12); in the accusative, τό μή: Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 4:6 (R G); 2 Corinthians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 10:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:6, cf. 3. d. in sentences expressing consequence or result: ὥστε μή, 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 on Romans 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 (here Rec. 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: as ὁ μή ὤν μετ' ἐμοῦ, he that is not on roy side, whoever he is, or if there is any such person, Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23; ὁ δέ μή πιστεύων, whoever believeth not, John 3:18; οἱ μή ὁμολογοῦντες Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν 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.; πᾶς ὁ μή, Matthew 7:26; (πᾶν δένδρον μή, Matthew 3:10; Matthew 7:19); 1 John 3:10; 2 John 9; 2 Thessalonians 2:12 (here L marginal reading T Tr WH marginal reading ἅπαντες οἱ μή etc.); μακάριος ὁ μή, 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. especially Winer's Grammar, 484 (451)): τά μή ὄντα, that are deemed as nothing, 1 Corinthians 1:28; ὡς μή λαβών, as if thou hadst not received, 1 Corinthians 4:7; ὡς μή ἐρχομένου μου, as though I were not coming, 1 Corinthians 4:18; ὡς μή ἐφικνούμενοι εἰς ὑμᾶς, 2 Corinthians 10:14; add, 1 Corinthians 7:29. ᾔδει ... τινες εἰσιν οἱ μή πιστεύοντες (according to the opinion of ὁ εἰδώς), John 6:64; the same holds true of Acts 20:29; τά μή βλεπόμενα (in the opinion of οἱ μή σκοποῦντες), 2 Corinthians 4:18 (on the other hand, in Hebrews 11:1, οὐ βλεπόμενα, actually invisible); τόν μή γνόντα ἁμαρτίαν ὑπέρ ἡμῶν ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησεν (μή γνόντα is said agreeably to the judgment of ὁ ποιήσας), 2 Corinthians 5:21 (τόν οὐ γνόντα would be equivalent to ἀγνωυντα). in predictions, where it expresses the opinion of those who predict: ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καί μή δυνάμενος λαλῆσαι, Luke 1:20; ἔσῃ τυφλός μή βλέπων, 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 rendered without etc. (German ohne zu with an infinitive) (cf. Buttmann, § 148, 7 b.): ἐξῆλθε μή ἐπιστάμενος, ποῦ ἔρχεται, 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 by if, on condition that, etc.: θερίσομεν μή ἐκλυόμενοι, Galatians 6:9; μή ὄντος νόμου, Romans 5:13; although: νόμον μή ἔχοντες,Romans 2:14; μή ὤν αὐτός ὑπό νόμον, 1 Corinthians 9:20 (Rec. omits); we have both the negative particles in ὅν οὐκ εἰδότες (or (with L T Tr WH) ἰδόντες) ... μή ὁρῶντες, 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: τά μή νόμον ἔχοντα (German die doch nicht haben, they that have not, etc.), Romans 2:14; ὁ δέ μή γενεαλογούμενος, but he, although not etc. Hebrews 7:6; — or since, because, inasmuch as: μή ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει οὐ (but G L T Tr WH omit οὐ; cf. Buttmann, § 148, 14) κατενόησε τό ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ... νενεκρωμένον (οὐκ ἀσθενήσας would be equivalent to δυνατός, strong), Romans 4:19; πῶς οὗτος γράμματα οἶδε μή μεμαθηκώς; 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: ὁ μή γινώσκων τόν νόμον, 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: μή ζητῶν τό ἐμαυτοῦ σύμφορον, 1 Corinthians 10:33; add, Acts 9:9; Galatians 4:8. neuter plural as a substantive: τά μή ὄντα, Romans 4:17; τά μή σαλευόμενα, Hebrews 12:27; τά μή δέοντα, 1 Timothy 5:13; τά μή καθήκοντα, Romans 1:28; 2 Macc. 6:4 (on the other hand, in τά οὐκ ἀνήκοντα, Ephesians 5:4 (where L T Tr WH ἅ οὐκ ἀνῆκεν), the οὐκ coalesces with ἀνήκοντα 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: μή γινώμεθα κενόδοξοι, 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 (here L Tr marginal reading WH 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: μή ἐπιστρεψάτω, Matthew 24:18; Luke 17:31; μή καταβάτω, Mark 13:15, and L T Tr WH in Matthew 24:17 (where R G badly καταβαινέτω); μή γνώτω, Matthew 6:3; γενέσθω (but T Tr WH γινέσθω), Luke 22:42; cf. Xenophon, Cyril 7, 5, 73; Aeschylus the Sept. 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: μή δόξητε, Matthew 3:9; Matthew 5:17; μή φοβηθῇς, Matthew 1:20; Matthew 10:26, 31 (here L T Tr WH present imperative φοβεῖσθε) (alternating with the imperative present φοβεῖσθε in Matthew 10:28 (G L T Tr)); μή ἅψῃ, Colossians 2:21; μή ἀποστραφῇς, Matthew 5:42; μή κτήσησθε, 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 to Winer's Grammar, 502 (467)); 1 Timothy 5:1; 2 Timothy 1:8; Revelation 6:6; Revelation 10:4 (μή γράψῃς, for ἔμελλον γράφειν precedes; but in John 19:21 μή γράφε 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 in Luke 10:4; Acts 18:9. e. with the 2 person of the present subjunctive: μή σκληρύνητε, 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 word μή. 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 formula μή γένοιτο, Far be it! See γίνομαι, 2 a.; μή αὐτοῖς λογισθείη, 2 Timothy 4:16 (Job 27:5). II. As a conjunction, Latinne with the subjunctive; 1. our that, 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 on Sophocles 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 (L T Tr WH φοβηθείς) μή διασπασθῇ, 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; σκοπέω ἐμαυτόν, 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, ὁρᾷ μή (namely, τοῦτο ποιήσῃς (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, μή ταπεινώσει με ὁ Θεός μου, 2 Corinthians 12:20f (L text T Tr); add, Colossians 2:8. 2. in order that not (Latineo consilio ne); a. with the optative: τῶν στρατιωτῶν βουλή ἐγένετο, ἵνα τούς δεσμώτας ἀποκτείνωσι, μή τίς ... διαφύγοι, Acts 27:42 Rec. (the more elegant Greek to express the thought and purpose of the soldiers; but the best todd. read διαφύγῃ, which G L T Tr WH have adopted). b. with the subjunctive aorist: preceded by the present, Mark 13:36; 2 Corinthians 8:20 (cf. Goodwin § 43 Rem.); 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 (1 WH); 2. in an indirect question with the indicative (German ob 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 particles οὐ μή in combination augment the force of the negation, and signify not at all, in no wise, by no means; (this formula arose from the fuller expressions οὐ δεινόν or δέος or φόβος, 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 that οὐ μή is used even of things not at all to be feared, but rather to be desired; so in the N. T. in Matthew 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: οὐ μή ἔσται σοι τοῦτο, this shall never be unto thee, Matthew 16:22; add, Matthew 26:35; Luke 22:34 R G L; 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 (where Rec. 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 after οὐ μή; (cf. Goodwin in Transactions of American Philological Association for 1869-1870, pp. 46-55; Liddell and Scott, under the phrase, οὐ μή, 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 (R G L Tr marginal reading WH text), and often. in questions: with 1 aorist, Luke 18:7 L T Tr WH; Revelation 15:4 (in L T Tr WH with the subjunctive aorist and the future); with 2 aorist, John 18:11. in declarations introduced by ὅτι: with 1 aorist, 1 Thessalonians 4:15; with 2 aorist, Matthew 24:34 (here R G T omit ὅτι); 3. with the present subjunctive (as sometimes in Greek authors, cf. Winer's Grammar, 507 (473)): οὐδέ οὐ μή σε ἐγκαταλείπω, Hebrews 13:5 Tdf. (for ἐγκαταλίπω Rec., et al.) (cf. Buttmann, 213 (184)). STRONGS NT 3361: μήπουμήπου (T Tr) or μή ποῦ (WH), that nowhere, lest anywhere (lest haply): Acts 27:29 T Tr WH. (Homer, et al.) STRONGS NT 3361: οὐ μήοὐ μή see μή, IV. |