Greek Word Study · Strong’s G3379
μήποτε
mēpote · “lest”
Used 25 times across 7 books
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.†
(= 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.†
Where it appears
Matthew8
Mark2
Luke7
John1
Acts2
2 Timothy1
Hebrews4
In the text
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.
Lexicon data from STEPBible.org · CC BY 4.0 · Verse text KJV