μή

μή,

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 ]

I. As a neg. adv., not;

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

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

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

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

(a) after verbs of saying, etc.: Matt 2,12; 5,34, Mark 12,18, ApG 15,38, Rom 2,21, al.;

(b) with artic. inf.: after a prep., Matt 13,5, Mark 4,5, ApG 7,19, 1 Kor 10,6, al.; without a prep., Rom 14,13, 2 Kor 2,1, 13 1 Thess 4,6;

(with) in sentences expressing consequence, after ὥστε: Matt 8,28, Mark 3,20, 1 Kor 1,7, 2 Kor 3,7, al.

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

6. μή prohibitive, in indep. sentences,

(a) with subjc. praes., 1 of person(s) pl.: Gal 5,26; 6,9, 1 Thess 5,6, 1 Joh 3,18;

(b) with imperat. praes., usually where one is bidden to desist from what has already begun (cf. M, Pr., 122ff.): Matt 7,1, Mark 5,36, Luk 6,30, Joh 2,16; 5,45, ApG 10,15, Rom 11,18, Jak 2,1, Åb 5,5, al.;

(with) forbidding that which is still future: with imperat. aor., 3 of person(s), Matt 24,18, Mark 13,15, Luk 17,31, al.; with subjc. aor., 2 of person(s), Matt 3,9; 10,26, Mark 5,7, Luk 6,29, Joh 3,7, Rom 10,6, al.;

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

II. As a conj.,

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

2. in order that not: with subjc. aor., Mark 13,36, 2 Kor 8,20; 12,6.

III. Interrogative, in hesitant questions (M, Pr., 170), or where a negative answer is expected: Matt 7,9, 10, Mark 2,19, Joh 3,4, Rom 3,3; 10,18, 19, 1 Kor 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, Joh 18,11.

IV. οὐ μή as emphatic negation (cf. M, Pr., 188, 190ff.; Bl. §64, 5), not at all, by no means: with indic, fut., Matt 16,22, Joh 6,35, Hebr 10,17, al.; with subjc. aor., Matt 24,2, Mark 13,2, Luk 6,37, Joh 13,8, 1 Kor 8,13, al.