Lexicon :: Strong's G3364 - ou mē

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)).

BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's