Negator – μή

ObjectivesLearning objectives

The syntax and semantics of the negator μή

VocabularyVocabulary

Greek	Gloss	Part of speech	Paradigm
οὔπω	not yet	adverb
διάφορος, -ον	different	adjective	A.a.γ
ὄψιος, -α, -ον	late	adjective	A.a.β
προσκυνεῖ σοι	(he) bows to you (dat)	verb	C.a.β
ἡ κρίσις, -εως	the judgment	noun	B.a.γ.v
διέρχομαι διὰ τόπου	(I) travel through a place (gen)	verb	C.a.α

GrammarGrammar Topic: Negator - μή

It is quite common for languages to have different words for different kinds of negation, and Greek is no different in this respect (English has both no and not). In general, μή is the negation word that is used with non-indicative mood, while οὐ is used for indicative mood (see Semantics D for more on mood).

SyntaxSyntax-Semantics: Negator - μή

Negated clauses in subjunctive mood normally use μή. Since the subjunctive can be used in a variety of ways, μή also has different functions when used with the subjunctive. First, μή is used after ἵνα to negate the clause:

Example 272Negating a ἵνα clause

ἵνα μὴ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλθωσιν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον (Luke 16:28)

So that they also might not come to this place

In main clauses, the combination of μή plus the subjunctive is often used for what are called prohibitives. Whereas a command is a positive statement that obligates someone to do something, a prohibitive is a negative statement that prohibits someone from doing something:

Example 273Prohibitive (with subjunctive)

μὴ καθεύδωμεν (1 Thess 5:6)

We must not sleep

This use of μή is also common with the imperative:

Example 274Negating an imperative

μὴ κλαῖε (Luke 7:13)

Do not weep

Another syntactic environment where μή is used is after a participle:

Example 275Negating a participle

All those hearing these words καὶ μὴ ποιῶν αὐτοὺς [and not doing them] (Matt 7:26)

Although μή is the typical negator for participial clauses, οὐ is occasionally found (e.g. Luke 6:42 with οὐ βλέπων). While μή is the default for participial clauses, οὐ is sometimes used in particular syntactic environments, especially when a specific individual rather than a generic person (as in Matt 7:26) is being referred to.

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