Strong G3379μήποτε
lest
- Transliteration
- mēpote mē pote
- Pronunciation
- may'-pot-eh may pot'-eh
- Morphology
- Greek Particle - Negative
Definition
Detailed definition
μήποτε
(= μή ποτε, and so written in WH, exc. Mat.25:9),
negative particle, related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ.
1. As neg. particle, never: Heb.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): Mat.4:6 (LXX) Mat.5:25 7:6 13:15" (LXX), Mat.13:29 15:32 27:64, Mrk.4:12" (LXX) Mrk.14:2, Luk.4:11 12:58 14:12, 29, Act.28:27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Luk.21:34, Heb.2:1 3:12 4:1; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp., Luk.14:8, Act.5:39; in later writers (see M, Pr., 192 f.), perhaps, Mat.25:9.
3. As interrogative;
__(a) in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Jhn.7:26, Heb.9:17, (R, txt., cf. Westc., in l; but see supr.);
__(b) in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Luk.3:15, 2Ti.2:25.†
(AS)
(= μή ποτε, and so written in WH, exc. Mat.25:9),
negative particle, related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ.
1. As neg. particle, never: Heb.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): Mat.4:6 (LXX) Mat.5:25 7:6 13:15" (LXX), Mat.13:29 15:32 27:64, Mrk.4:12" (LXX) Mrk.14:2, Luk.4:11 12:58 14:12, 29, Act.28:27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Luk.21:34, Heb.2:1 3:12 4:1; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp., Luk.14:8, Act.5:39; in later writers (see M, Pr., 192 f.), perhaps, Mat.25:9.
3. As interrogative;
__(a) in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Jhn.7:26, Heb.9:17, (R, txt., cf. Westc., in l; but see supr.);
__(b) in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Luk.3:15, 2Ti.2:25.†
(AS)
In the Bible
Strong G3379 appears in 25 verses of the KJV.
Translated in the KJV by
- lest14
- time7
- at1
- if1
- no1
- not1
- peradventure1
- whether1
First verses
- Matthew 4:6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
- Matthew 5:25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
- Matthew 7:6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
- Matthew 13:15For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
- Matthew 13:29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
- Matthew 15:32Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
- Matthew 25:9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
- Matthew 27:64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
- Mark 4:12That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
- Mark 14:2But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
- Luke 3:15And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
- Luke 4:11And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
- Luke 12:58When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
- Luke 14:8When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
- Luke 14:12Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
- Luke 14:29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
- Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
- John 7:26But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
- Acts 5:39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
- Acts 28:27For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Occurrences by book
Related words
Word family
Detailed Greek dictionary
μήποτε
or μή ποτε, Ionic dialect μή κοτε (see. below 11):
I as adverb never, on no account, after ὡς, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 205, “Eu.” 882)]; after εἰ, [Refs ([prev. author] “Ch.” 182, etc.)]: with infinitive, [Refs ([prev. author] “Eu.” 977, “Supp.” 617)]; especially in oaths, never, ὀμοῦμαι, μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.133, 275; ἐπεκέκλετ᾽ Ἐρινῦς, μή ποτε.. ἐφέσσεσθαι [prev. work] 455)]; in aposiopesis, ἢ μήπορ᾽ ἆρ᾽.. [Refs 8th c.BC+ (4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus “Σαμία” 97: in indirect speech, 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Opera et Dies” 86.)]
I.2 in prohibition or warning, with aorist subjunctive, μή ποτε καὶ σὺ.. ὀλέσσῃς [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.81, etc.: with)]infinitive for imperative, [Refs (11.441.)]
I.3 in later Gr., perhaps, [LXX+4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ethica Nicomachea” 1172a33, LXX.Gen.24.5, Aristeas 15, 1st c.AD: Philo Judaeus 1.13, 2nd c.AD: Arrianus Historicus “Epicteti Dissertationes” 3.22.80, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.106d, 2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Pronominibus;” 18.4.)]
II as conjunction, lest ever, αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν.., μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 21.324, +others; οὐδαμὰ ἐλπίσας μή κοτε ἄρα.. ἐλάσῃ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.77, compare 8.53.)]
or μή ποτε, Ionic dialect μή κοτε (see. below 11):
I as adverb never, on no account, after ὡς, [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 205, “Eu.” 882)]; after εἰ, [Refs ([prev. author] “Ch.” 182, etc.)]: with infinitive, [Refs ([prev. author] “Eu.” 977, “Supp.” 617)]; especially in oaths, never, ὀμοῦμαι, μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 9.133, 275; ἐπεκέκλετ᾽ Ἐρινῦς, μή ποτε.. ἐφέσσεσθαι [prev. work] 455)]; in aposiopesis, ἢ μήπορ᾽ ἆρ᾽.. [Refs 8th c.BC+ (4th-3rd c.BC: Menander Comicus “Σαμία” 97: in indirect speech, 8th-7th c.BC: Hesiodus Epicus “Opera et Dies” 86.)]
I.2 in prohibition or warning, with aorist subjunctive, μή ποτε καὶ σὺ.. ὀλέσσῃς [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 19.81, etc.: with)]infinitive for imperative, [Refs (11.441.)]
I.3 in later Gr., perhaps, [LXX+4th c.BC+ (4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ethica Nicomachea” 1172a33, LXX.Gen.24.5, Aristeas 15, 1st c.AD: Philo Judaeus 1.13, 2nd c.AD: Arrianus Historicus “Epicteti Dissertationes” 3.22.80, 1st-2nd c.AD: Plutarchus Biographus et Philosophus 2.106d, 2nd c.AD: Apollonius Dyscolus Grammaticus “de Pronominibus;” 18.4.)]
II as conjunction, lest ever, αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν.., μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι [Refs 8th c.BC+ (8th c.BC: Odyssea Homerus Epicus “Odyssey” 21.324, +others; οὐδαμὰ ἐλπίσας μή κοτε ἄρα.. ἐλάσῃ 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 1.77, compare 8.53.)]