μήποτε

μήποτε

(= μή ποτε, and so written in WH, exc. Matt 25,9),

negative particle, related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ.

1. As neg. particle, never: Hebr 9,17 (R, mg., but see infr.; WH, txt., μή τότε).

2. As conjc., lest ever, lest haply (the idea of chance rather than of time seems to prevail in NT) : Matt 4,6 (LXX) Matt 5,25; 7,6; 13,15" (LXX), Matt 13,29; 15,32; 27,64, Mark 4,12" (LXX) Mark 14,2, Luk 4,11; 12,58; 14,12, 29, ApG 28,27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Luk 21,34, Hebr 2,1; 3,12; 4,1; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp., Luk 14,8, ApG 5,39; in later writers (see M, Pr., 192 f.), perhaps, Matt 25,9,

3. As interrogative;

(a) in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Joh 7,26, Hebr 9,17, (R, txt., cf. Westc., in l; but see supr.);

(b) in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Luk 3,15, 2 Tim 2,25.†