Greek · G3361 · unreviewed

μή

Not

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μή G3361

Pronunciation mḗ

What does μή (mḗ) mean in the Bible?

μή (mḗ) is a Greek word meaning "not". μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely.

Full entry for μή (G3361) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

not

Extended definition

Subjective negation: denies what one thinks or believes, not absolute fact; used with non-indicative moods

subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ]

IAs a neg. adv., not;

1with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9.

2In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8.

3In conditional and final sentences, after εἰ, ἐάν, ἄν, ἵνα, ὅπως: Mat.10:14, Mrk.6:11 12:19, Luk.9:5, Jhn.6:50, Rom.11:25, al.

4C. inf. (see M, Pr., 234f., 239, 255),

aafter verbs of saying, etc.: Mat.2:12 5:34, Mrk.12:18, Act.15:38, Rom.2:21, al.;

bwith artic. inf.: after a prep., Mat.13:5, Mrk.4:5, Act.7:19, 1Co.10:6, al.; without a prep., Rom.14:13, 2Co.2:1, 13 1Th 4:6; __(with) in sentences expressing consequence, after ὥστε: Mat.8:28, Mrk.3:20, 1Co.1:7, 2Co.3:7, al.

5C. ptcp. (see M, Pr., 231f., 239), in hypothetical references to persons of a certain character or description: Mat.10:28 12:30, Luk.6:49, Jhn.3:18, Rom.4:5, 1Co.7:38, 1Jn.3:10, al.; where the person or thing being definite, the denial is a matter of opinion: Jhn.6:64, 1Co.1:28 4:7, 18, 2Co.5:21, al.; where the ptcp. has a concessive, causal or conditional force, if, though, because not: Mat.18:25, Luk.2:45, Jhn.7:49, Act.9:26, Rom.2:14 5:13, 2Co.3:14, Gal.6:9, Ju 5; where the ptcp. has a descriptive force (being such as), not: Act.9:9, Rom.1:28, 1Co.10:33, Gal.4:8, Heb.12:27, al.

6μή prohibitive, in indep. sentences,

awith subjc. praes., 1 of person(s) pl.: Gal.5:26 6:9, 1Th.5:6, 1Jn.3:18;

bwith imperat. praes., usually where one is bidden to desist from what has already begun (cf. M, Pr., 122ff.): Mat.7:1, Mrk.5:36, Luk.6:30, Jhn.2:16 5:45, Act.10:15, Rom.11:18, Jas.2:1, Rev.5:5, al.; __(with) forbidding that which is still future: with imperat. aor., 3 of person(s), Mat.24:18, Mrk.13:15, Luk.17:31, al.; with subjc. aor., 2 of person(s), Mat.3:9 10:26, Mrk.5:7, Luk.6:29, Jhn.3:7, Rom.10:6, al.;

dwith optative, in wishes: 2Ti.4:16 (LXX); μὴ γένοιτο (see M, Pr., 194; Bl., §66, 1), Luk.20:16, Rom.3:3, al.; μή τις, Mrk.13:5, al.

IIAs a conj.,

1after verbs of fearing, caution, etc., that, lest, perhaps (M, Pr., 192f.): with subjc. praes., Heb.12:15; with subjc. aor., Mat.24:4, Mrk.13:5, Luk.21:8, Act.13:40, Gal.5:15, al.; ὅρα μή (see M, Pr., 124, 178), elliptically, Rev.19:10 22:9; with indic, fut. (M, Pr., l.with), Col.2:8.

2in order that not: with subjc. aor., Mrk.13:36, 2Co.8:20 12:6.

IIIInterrogative, in hesitant questions (M, Pr., 170), or where a negative answer is expected: Mat.7:9, 10, Mrk.2:19, Jhn.3:4, Rom.3:3 10:18, 19, 1Co.1:13, al.; μή τις, Luk.22:35, al.; before οὐ (Rom.10:17, al. in Pl.), expecting an affirm, ans.; οὐ μή, Luk.18:7, Jhn.18:11.

IVοὐ μή as emphatic negation (cf. M, Pr., 188, 190ff.; Bl. §64, 5), not at all, by no means: with indic, fut., Mat.16:22, Jhn.6:35, Heb.10:17, al.; with subjc. aor., Mat.24:2, Mrk.13:2, Luk.6:37, Jhn.13:8, 1Co.8:13, al.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Matt 1:19 · Matt 1:20 · Matt 2:12 · Matt 3:9 · Matt 3:10 · Matt 5:13 · Matt 5:17 · Matt 5:18 · Matt 5:20 · Matt 5:26 · Matt 5:29 · Matt 5:30 · Matt 5:34 · Matt 5:39 · Matt 5:42 · Matt 6:1 945×

Matt 7:9 · Matt 7:10 · Matt 9:15 · Matt 11:23 · Mark 2:19 · Luke 5:34 · Luke 10:15 · Luke 17:9 · Luke 18:7 · Luke 22:35 · John 3:4 · John 4:12 · John 4:33 · John 6:67 · John 7:31 · John 7:35 57×

Matt 18:10 · Matt 24:4 · Mark 13:5 · Mark 13:36 · Luke 11:35 · Luke 21:8 · Acts 5:26 · Acts 13:40 · Acts 23:10 · Acts 27:17 · Acts 27:29 · Acts 27:42 · 1 Cor 8:9 · 1 Cor 9:27 · 1 Cor 10:12 · 2 Cor 2:7 34×

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Biblical Witnesses

Luke 12:22-34 not mḗ

Prohibitive imperative, cautioning against anxiety about life's necessities

Luke 13:1-9 not mḗ

Conditional sentences with subjunctive, expressing hypothetical negation in warnings

Ephesians 2:8-10 not mḗ

Negation with participle expressing descriptive force, clarifying what salvation is not

Luke 17:1-10 not mḗ

Prohibitive subjunctive expressing negative wishes or commands for future conduct

Luke 11:33-36 not mḗ

Negation in conditional and consequential clauses expressing hypothetical scenarios

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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