Keraia
Lexicon

μή

mēnotHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentParticle1,060 occurrences27 books935 verses

Definition

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: John 3:18, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 1:9.

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

3. In conditional and final sentences, after εἰ, ἐάν, ἄν, ἵνα, ὅπως: Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11; 12:19, Luke 9:5, John 6:50, Romans 11:25, al.

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

(a) after verbs of saying, etc.: Matthew 2:12; 5:34, Mark 12:18, Acts 15:38, Romans 2:21, al.;

(b) with artic. inf.: after a prep., Matthew 13:5, Mark 4:5, Acts 7:19, 1 Corinthians 10:6, al.; without a prep., Romans 14:13, 2 Corinthians 2:1, 13, 1 Thessalonians 4:6;

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

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

6. μή prohibitive, in indep. sentences,

(a) with subjc. praes., 1 of person(s) pl.: Galatians 5:26; 6:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 John 3:18;

(b) with imperat. praes., usually where one is bidden to desist from what has already begun (cf. M, Pr., 122ff.): Matthew 7:1, Mark 5:36, Luke 6:30, John 2:16; 5:45, Acts 10:15, Romans 11:18, James 2:1, Revelation 5:5, al.;

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

(d) with optative, in wishes: 2 Timothy 4:16 (LXX); μὴ γένοιτο (see M, Pr., 194; Bl., §66, 1), Luke 20:16, Romans 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., Hebrews 12:15; with subjc. aor., Matthew 24:4, Mark 13:5, Luke 21:8, Acts 13:40, Galatians 5:15, al.; ὅρα μή (see M, Pr., 124, 178), elliptically, Revelation 19:10; 22:9; with indic, fut. (M, Pr., l.with), Colossians 2:8.

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

III. Interrogative, in hesitant questions (M, Pr., 170), or where a negative answer is expected: Matthew 7:9, 10, Mark 2:19, John 3:4, Romans 3:3; 10:18, 19, 1 Corinthians 1:13, al.; μή τις, Luke 22:35, al.; before οὐ (Romans 10:17, al. in Pl.), expecting an affirm, ans.; οὐ μή, Luke 18:7, John 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., Matthew 16:22, John 6:35, Hebrews 10:17, al.; with subjc. aor., Matthew 24:2, Mark 13:2, Luke 6:37, John 13:8, 1 Corinthians 8:13, al.

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as μή:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

1,060 total
  1. 1 Corinthians 7:18μὴ; μὴ
    Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:21μή
    Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:23μὴ · {do} not
    You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:27μὴ · {Do} not; μὴ · {Do} not
    Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:29μὴ · none
    What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:30μὴ; μὴ; μὴ
    …those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:31μὴ
    …and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:37μὴ · no
    But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
  9. 1 Corinthians 7:38μὴ · {does} not
    So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
  10. 1 Corinthians 8:4μὴ
    So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
  11. 1 Corinthians 8:8μὴ; μὴ · no
    But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
  12. 1 Corinthians 8:9μή
    Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
  13. 1 Corinthians 8:13μὴ; μὴ
    Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
  14. 1 Corinthians 9:4μὴ · no
    Have we no right to food and to drink?
  15. 1 Corinthians 9:5μὴ · no
    Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
  16. 1 Corinthians 9:6μὴ
    Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
  17. 1 Corinthians 9:8Μὴ
    Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?
  18. 1 Corinthians 9:9μὴ · [Is it]
    For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
  19. 1 Corinthians 9:12μή
    If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
  20. 1 Corinthians 9:16μὴ
    Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
  21. 1 Corinthians 9:18μὴ · not
    What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
  22. 1 Corinthians 9:20μὴ · not
    To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.
  23. 1 Corinthians 9:21μὴ · not
    To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.
  24. 1 Corinthians 9:27μή
    No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
  25. 1 Corinthians 10:6μὴ
    These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
  26. 1 Corinthians 10:12μὴ · not
    So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
  27. 1 Corinthians 10:13μὴ
    No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
  28. 1 Corinthians 10:22μὴ
    Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
  29. 1 Corinthians 10:28μὴ · {then do} not
    But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—
  30. 1 Corinthians 10:33μὴ
    …as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
  31. 1 Corinthians 11:22μὴ · [your own]; μὴ · nothing
    Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!
  32. 1 Corinthians 11:29μὴ · without
    For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
  33. 1 Corinthians 11:32μὴ
    But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
  34. 1 Corinthians 11:34μὴ · [it will not result]
    If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
  35. 1 Corinthians 12:3μὴ
    Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
  36. 1 Corinthians 12:25μὴ · no
    …so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.
  37. 1 Corinthians 12:29μὴ · [Are]; μὴ · [Are]; μὴ · [Are]; μὴ · [Do]
    Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
  38. 1 Corinthians 12:30μὴ · [Do]; μὴ · [Do]; μὴ · [Do]
    Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?