STRONGS G3381:
μήπως (
G T, or
μή πῶς L Tr WH) (
μή and
πῶς), (from
Homer down);
1. a conjunction,
lest in any way, lest perchance;
a. in final sentences, with an aorist subjunctive, preceded by a present
1 Corinthians 9:27; preceded by an aorist,
2 Corinthians 2:7;
2 Corinthians 9:4.
b. after verbs of fearing, taking heed: with an aorist subjunctive — after
βλέπειν,
1 Corinthians 8:9; after
φοβεῖσθαι,
Acts 27:29 R;
2 Corinthians 11:3;
2 Corinthians 12:20; with a perfect indicative, to indicate that what is feared has actually taken place (
Winer's Grammar, § 56, 2 b.
α.;
Buttmann, 242 (209)),
Galatians 4:11; with an aorist subjunctive, the idea of fearing being suppressed,
Romans 11:21 Rec. (
Buttmann, § 148, 10; cf.
Winer's Grammar, 474 (442)).
2. an interrogative particle,
whether in any way, whether by any means: in an indirect question, with an indicative present (of a thing still continuing) and aorist (of a thing already done),
Galatians 2:2 (
I laid before them the gospel etc., namely, inquiring,
whether haply etc.; Paul expects a negative answer, by which lie wished his teaching concerning Christ to be approved by the apostles at Jerusalem, yet by no means because he himself had any doubt about its soundness, but that his adversaries might not misuse the authority of those apostles in assailing tiffs teaching, and thereby frustrate his past and present endeavors; cf. Holmann at the passage (
Buttmann, 353 (303). Others, however, take
τρέχω as a subjunctive, and render
lest haply I should be running etc.; see
Winer's Grammar, 504f (470), cf. Ellicott at the passage)). with the indicative (of a thing perhaps already done, but which the writer wishes had not been done) and the aorist subjunctive (of a thing future and uncertain, which he desires God to avert) in one and the same sentence,
1 Thessalonians 3:5 (where
μήπως depends on
γνῶναι; cf. Schott, Lünemann (Ellicott), at the passage; (
Buttmann, 353 (304);
Winer's Grammar, 505 (470))).
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
- Acts
-
27:29
- Romans
-
11:21
- 1 Corinthians
-
8:9; 9:27
- 2 Corinthians
-
2:7; 9:4; 11:3; 12:20
- Galatians
-
2:2; 4:11
- 1 Thessalonians
-
3:5