μήmḗ

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, participle [In LXX for אֵין, אַיִן, אַל.]

I. As a neg. adverb, not

1. with ref. to thought or opinion: John 3:18, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 1:9.

2. In delib. questions, with subjunctive: Mark 12:14, Romans 3:8.

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

4. C. infinitive

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

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

(c) in sentences expressing consequence, after ὥστε: Matthew 8:28, Mark 3:20, 1 Corinthians 1:7, 2 Corinthians 3:7, and elsewhere

5. C. participle, in hypothetical references to persons of a certain character or description: Matthew 10:28, Matthew 12:30, Luke 6:49, John 3:18, Romans 4:5, 1 Corinthians 7:38, 1 John 3:10, and elsewhere; where the person or thing being definite, the denial is a matter of opinion: John 6:64, 1 Corinthians 1:28, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and elsewhere; where the participle 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, Romans 5:13, 2 Corinthians 3:14, Galatians 6:9, Jude 1:5; where the participle has a descriptive force (being such as), not: Acts 9:9, Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 10:33, Galatians 4:8, Hebrews 12:27, and elsewhere

6. μή prohibitive, in indep. sentences

(a) with subjunctive praes., 1 person plural: Galatians 5:26, Galatians 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: Matthew 7:1, Mark 5:36, Luke 6:30, John 2:16, John 5:45, Acts 10:15, Romans 11:18, James 2:1, Revelation 5:5, and elsewhere

(c) forbidding that which is still future: with imperat. aorist, 3 person, Matthew 24:18, Mark 13:15, Luke 17:31, and elsewhere; with subjunctive aorist, 2 person, Matthew 3:9, Matthew 10:26, Mark 5:7, Luke 6:29, John 3:7, Romans 10:6, and elsewhere

(d) with optat., in wishes: 2 Timothy 4:16(LXX); μὴ γένοιτο, Luke 20:16, Romans 3:3, and elsewhere; μή τις, Mark 13:5, and elsewhere

II. As a conj.

1. after verbs of fearing, caution, etc., that, lest, perhaps: with subjunctive praes., Hebrews 12:15; with subjunctive aorist, Matthew 24:4, Mark 13:5, Luke 21:8, Acts 13:40, Galatians 5:15, and elsewhere; ὅρα μή, elliptically, Revelation 19:10, Revelation 22:9; with indic, future, Colossians 2:8.

2. in order that not: with subjunctive aorist, Mark 13:36, 2 Corinthians 8:20, 2 Corinthians 12:6.

III. Interrogative, in hesitant questions, or where a negative answer is expected: Matthew 7:9, Matthew 7:10, Mark 2:19, John 3:4, Romans 3:3, Romans 10:18, Romans 10:19, 1 Corinthians 1:13, and elsewhere; μή τις, Luke 22:35, and elsewhere; followed by οὐ (Romans 10:17, and elsewhere in Pl.), expecting an affirm, ans.; οὐ μή, Luke 18:7, John 18:11.

IV. οὐ μή as emphatic negation, not at all, by no means: with indic, future, Matthew 16:22, John 6:35, Hebrews 10:17, and elsewhere; with subjunctive aorist, Matthew 24:2, Mark 13:2, Luke 6:37, John 13:8, 1 Corinthians 8:13, and elsewhere