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).
IV. The particles
οὐ μή in combination augment the force of the negation, and signify
not at all, in no wise, by no means; (this formula arose from the fuller expressions
οὐ δεινόν or
δέος or
φόβος,
μή, which are still found sometimes in Greek authors, cf. Kühner, ii. § 516, 9, p. 773f; but so far was this origin of the phrase lost sight of that
οὐ μή is used even of things not at all to be feared, but rather to be desired; so in the N. T. in
Matthew 5:18,
26;
Matthew 18:3;
Luke 18:17;
Luke 22:16;
John 4:48;
John 20:25;
1 Thessalonians 5:3); cf.
Matthiae, § 517; Kühner, ii., p. 775;
Bernhardy (1829) p. 402ff; (Gildersleeve in the Amer. Jour. of Philol. for 1882, p. 202f:
Goodwin § 89):
Winers Grammar, § 56, 3 (
Buttmann, 211 (183f)).
1. with the future indicative:
οὐ μή ἔσται σοι τοῦτο, this shall never be unto thee,
Matthew 16:22; add,
Matthew 26:35;
Luke 22:34 R G L;
Luke 10:19 (where
Rst G WH marginal reading
ἀδικήσῃ);
John 6:35 (here
L Tr marginal reading
πεινάσει, and
L T Tr WH διψήσει);
John 13:38 R G;
Mark 13:31 T Tr WH;
Hebrews 10:17 L T Tr WH; in many passages enumerated by
Winers Grammar, 506 (472); (cf.
Buttmann, 212 (183)), the manuscripts vary between the indicative future and the subjunctive aorist In a question,
οὐ μή ποιήσει τήν ἐκδίκησιν;
Luke 18:7 R G.
2. with the aorist subjunctive (the use of which in the N. T. scarcely differs from that of the future; cf.
Winers Grammar, § 56, 3; (
Buttmann, § 139, 7)), in confident assertions: — subjunctive of the 1 aorist,
Matthew 24:2;
Mark 13:2;
Luke 6:37;
John 13:8;
Hebrews 8:12;
1 Peter 2:6;
Revelation 2:11;
Revelation 7:16;
Revelation 18:21,
22,
23;
Revelation 21:27, etc.; 1 aorist middle subjunctive,
John 8:52 (where
Rec. γεύσεται); thus these N. T. examples prove that Dawes made a great mistake in denying (in his Miscellanea Critica, p. 221ff (ed. (Th. Kidd) 2, p. 408f)) flint the first aorist subjunctive is used after
οὐ μή; (cf.
Goodwin in Transactions of American Philological Association for 1869-1870, pp. 46-55; Liddell and Scott, under the phrase,
οὐ μή, I. 1 b.;
Buttmann, § 139, 8); — subjunctive of 2 aorist,
Matthew 5:18,
20,
26;
Mark 10:15;
Luke 1:15;
Luke 12:59;
John 10:28;
John 11:26;
1 Corinthians 8:13;
Hebrews 13:5;
Revelation 3:3 (
R G L Tr marginal reading
WH text), and often. in questions: with 1 aorist,
Luke 18:7 L T Tr WH;
Revelation 15:4 (in
L T Tr WH with the subjunctive aorist and the future); with 2 aorist,
John 18:11. in declarations introduced by
ὅτι: with 1 aorist,
1 Thessalonians 4:15; with 2 aorist,
Matthew 24:34 (here
R G T omit
ὅτι);
Matthew 26:29 (
L T Tr WH omit
ὅτι);
Luke 13:35 (
T WH omit;
L brackets
ὅτι);
Luke 22:16;
John 11:56; in relative clauses: with 1 aorist,
Matthew 16:28;
Mark 9:1;
Acts 13:41;
Romans 4:8; with 2 aorist,
Luke 18:30.
3. with the present subjunctive (as sometimes in Greek authors, cf.
Winer's Grammar, 507 (473)):
οὐδέ οὐ μή σε ἐγκαταλείπω,
Hebrews 13:5 Tdf. (for
ἐγκαταλίπω Rec., et al.) (cf.
Buttmann, 213 (184)).
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