STRONGS G3362:
μή, 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).
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.
THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com
BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's
-
Matthew
-
10:14; 11:6; 19:9
-
Mark
-
6:11; 10:15; 11:23; 12:19
-
Luke
-
7:23; 9:5; 10:10; 18:17
-
James
-
2:14
-
1 John
-
4:3; 5:16
-
Revelation
-
13:15