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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 3379. μήποτε (mépote) -- Lest, perhaps, in case, otherwise</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/3379.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/matthew/8-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/3379.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 3379</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/3378.htm" title="3378">◄</a> 3379. mépote <a href="../greek/3380.htm" title="3380">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">mépote: Lest, perhaps, in case, otherwise</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">μήποτε</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Adverb, Negative<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>mépote<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>MAY-po-teh<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(may'-pot-eh)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Lest, perhaps, in case, otherwise<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>lest at any time, lest; then weakened: whether perhaps, whether at all; in a principal clause: perhaps.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>From the combination of μή (mē, meaning "not") and πότε (pote, meaning "at some time" or "ever").<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span>While there is no direct one-to-one correspondence in Hebrew, similar cautionary conjunctions can be found in Hebrew expressions like פֶּן (pen), which also means "lest" or "in case."<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The Greek word μήποτε (mépote) is a conjunction used to express a negative purpose or a cautionary condition. It is often translated as "lest" or "in case" in English. The term is used to introduce a clause that presents a potential negative outcome or consequence that one wishes to avoid. It serves to warn or advise against a particular action or situation.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the context of ancient Greek language and culture, conjunctions like μήποτε were essential for constructing complex sentences that conveyed nuanced meanings. The use of μήποτε reflects a common rhetorical device in both Greek and Hebrew thought, where potential negative outcomes are highlighted to encourage vigilance or obedience. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of cautioning believers to remain faithful and avoid sin.<div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from <a href="/greek/3361.htm">mé</a> and <a href="/greek/4218.htm">pote</a><br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>never, lest ever<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>if (1), if perhaps (1), never (1), no (1), or (1), or else (1), otherwise (6), so (7), whether (1).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 3379: μήποτε</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">μήποτε</span></span> (from <span class="greek2">μή</span> and <span class="greek2">πότε</span>) (<span class="greek2">μή</span> <span class="greek2">πότε</span> (separately) <span class="manuref">L</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span> (except <a href="/interlinear/matthew/25-9.htm">Matthew 25:9</a>, see below) <span class="manuref">Tr</span> (except <a href="/interlinear/2_timothy/2-25.htm">2 Timothy 2:25</a>)), differing from <span class="greek2">οὔποτε</span> as <span class="greek2">μή</span> does from <span class="greek2">οὐ</span>; (from <span class="abbreviation">Homer</span> down). Accordingly it is: <p><span class="textheading">1.</span> a particle of Negation; <span class="accented">not ever, never</span>: <span class="greek2">ἐπεί</span> <span class="greek2">μήποτε</span> <span class="greek2">ἰσχύει</span>, <span class="accented">since it is never of force,</span> because the writer thinks that the very idea of its having force is to be denied, <a href="/interlinear/hebrews/9-17.htm">Hebrews 9:17</a> (where <span class="manuref">WH</span> text <span class="greek2">μή</span> <span class="greek2">τότε</span>), on which see <span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>s Grammar, 480 (447), cf. <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, 353 (304); but others refer, this passage to 3 a. below. <p><span class="textheading">2.</span> a prohibitory conjunction; <span class="accented">lest ever, lest at any time, lest haply,</span> (also written separately <span class="greek2">μή</span> <span class="greek2">πότε</span> ((see at the beginning), especially when the component parts retain each its distinctive force; cf. <span class="abbreviation">Lipsius</span>, Gram. Untersuch., p. 129f; Ellendt, Lex. <span class="abbreviation">Sophocles</span> 2:107. In the N. T. use of this particle the notion of time usual to <span class="greek2">πότε</span> seems to recede before that of contingency, <span class="accented">lest perchance</span>)), so that it refers to the preceding verb and indicates the purpose of the designated action (<span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>'s Grammar, § 56, 2): with a subjunctive present <a href="/interlinear/luke/12-58.htm">Luke 12:58</a>; with a subjunctive aorist, <a href="/interlinear/matthew/4-6.htm">Matthew 4:6</a> and <a href="/interlinear/luke/4-11.htm">Luke 4:11</a>, from <a href="/interlinear/psalms/90-12.htm">Psalm 90:12</a><FOOTNOTE:10> (<BIBLE/CHAPTER_VERSE:Ps. 91:12>) (where the <span class="manuref">Sept.</span> for <span class="hebrew">פֶּן</span>); <a href="/interlinear/matthew/5-25.htm">Matthew 5:25</a> ((cf. below)); <a href="/interlinear/matthew/7-6.htm">Matthew 7:6</a> (<span class="manuref">R</span> <span class="manuref">G</span>); <BIBLE/CHAPTER_VERSE:Matthew 13:15> and <a href="/interlinear/acts/28-27.htm">Acts 28:27</a> (both from <a href="/interlinear/isaiah/6-10.htm">Isaiah 6:10</a>, where the <span class="manuref">Sept.</span> for <span class="hebrew">פֶּן</span>); <a href="/interlinear/matthew/13-29.htm">Matthew 13:29</a> (<span class="greek2">οὐ</span> namely, <span class="greek2">θέλω</span>); <a href="/interlinear/matthew/15-32.htm">Matthew 15:32</a>; <a href="/interlinear/matthew/27-64.htm">Matthew 27:64</a>; <a href="/interlinear/mark/4-12.htm">Mark 4:12</a>; <a href="/interlinear/luke/14-12.htm">Luke 14:12</a>; with <span class="greek2">ἵνα</span> prefixed, <a href="/interlinear/luke/14-29.htm">Luke 14:29</a>; with a future indicative (see <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, § 139, 7, cf. also, p. 368 (315) <p><span class="emphasized">d.</span>): (<a href="/interlinear/matthew/7-6.htm">Matthew 7:6</a> <span class="manuref">L</span> <span class="manuref">T</span> <span class="manuref">Tr</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span>; (cf. <BIBLE/CHAPTER_VERSE:Matthew 5:25>)); <a href="/interlinear/mark/14-2.htm">Mark 14:2</a>; (<a href="/interlinear/luke/12-58.htm">Luke 12:58</a> <span class="manuref">L</span> <span class="manuref">T</span> <span class="manuref">Tr</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span>). after verbs of fearing, taking care (<span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>s Grammar, as above; <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, § 139, 48): with subjunctive aorist — so after <span class="greek2">προσέχω</span>, to take heed, lest etc., <a href="/interlinear/luke/21-34.htm">Luke 21:34</a>; <a href="/interlinear/hebrews/2-1.htm">Hebrews 2:1</a> (Sir. 11:33); so that an antecedent <span class="greek2">φοβούμενοι</span> or <span class="greek2">προσέχοντες</span> must be mentally supplied, <a href="/interlinear/acts/5-39.htm">Acts 5:39</a>; <span class="greek2">μήποτε</span> <span class="greek2">οὐκ</span> <span class="greek2">ἀρκέσῃ</span>, <span class="accented">lest perchance there be not enough</span> (so that <span class="greek2">οὐκ</span> <span class="greek2">ἀρκέσῃ</span> forms one idea, and <span class="greek2">φοβούμεθα</span> must be supplied before <span class="greek2">μήποτε</span>), <a href="/interlinear/matthew/25-9.htm">Matthew 25:9</a> <span class="manuref">R</span> <span class="manuref">T</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span> marginal reading; but <span class="manuref">L</span> <span class="manuref">Tr</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span> text, together with Meyer, et al., have correctly restored <span class="greek2">μήποτε</span> (namely, <span class="greek2">τοῦτο</span> <span class="greek2">γενέσθω</span> (<span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>'s Grammar, § 64, 7 a.)) <span class="greek2">οὐ</span> <span class="greek2">μή</span> <span class="greek2">ἀρκέσῃ</span>, i. e. "Not so! There will in no wise be enough" (see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">μή</span></span>, IV. 2); cf. Bornemann in the Studien und Kritiken for 1843, p. 143f; (but all the editors above named remove the punctuation mark after <span class="greek2">μήποτε</span>; in which case it may be connected directly with the words which follow it and translated (with <span class="abbreviation">R. V.</span>) 'peradventure there will not be enough'; cf. <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, § 148, 10, especially, p. 354 (304) note. For additional examples of <span class="greek2">μήποτε</span> in this sense (cf. <span class="abbreviation">Aristotle</span>, eth. Nic. 10, 10, p. 1179a, 24; with indicative, ibid., pp. 1172{a}, 33; 1173{a} 22, etc.), see <span class="abbreviation">Sophocles</span> Lexicon, under the word; Alexander <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span> (1873) in his translation of <span class="abbreviation">Apoll. Dysk.</span>, index under the word; (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word <span class="greek2">μή</span>, <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, 9)). after <span class="greek2">φοβοῦμαι</span>, with present subjunctive <a href="/interlinear/hebrews/4-1.htm">Hebrews 4:1</a>; so that <span class="greek2">φοβούμενος</span> must be supplied before it, <a href="/interlinear/luke/14-8.htm">Luke 14:8</a>. after <span class="greek2">βλέπειν</span> with a future indicative (cf. <span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>'s Grammar, § 56, 2 b. <span class="greek2">α</span>.; <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, 243 (209)), <a href="/interlinear/hebrews/3-12.htm">Hebrews 3:12</a>. <p><span class="textheading">3.</span> a particle of interrogation accompanied with doubt (see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">μή</span></span>, III.), <span class="accented">whether ever, whether at any time; whether perchance, whether haply,</span> (German <span class="foreign">doch nicht etwa; ob nicht etwa</span>); <p><span class="emphasized">a.</span> in a direct question introduced by <span class="greek2">ἐπεί</span>, <span class="accented">for, else</span> (see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">ἐπεί</span></span>, 2 under the end): so according to the not improbable interpretation of some (e. g. <span class="manuref">L</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span> marginal reading, Delitzsch) in <a href="/interlinear/hebrews/9-17.htm">Hebrews 9:17</a>, see in 1 above. In the remaining N. T. passages so used that the inquirer, though he doubts and expects a negative answer, yet is inclined to believe what he doubtfully asks about; thus, in a direct question, in <a href="/interlinear/john/7-26.htm">John 7:26</a>. <p><span class="emphasized">b.</span> in indirect questions; <span class="greek2">α</span>. with the optative (where the words are regarded as the thought of someone (<span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>s Grammar, § 41 b. 4 c.; <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, § 139, 60)): <a href="/interlinear/luke/3-15.htm">Luke 3:15</a>. (See <span class="greek2">β</span>.) <span class="greek2">β</span>. with the subjunctive: <a href="/interlinear/2_timothy/2-25.htm">2 Timothy 2:25</a> (<span class="manuref">R</span> <span class="manuref">G</span> <span class="manuref">L</span> (cf. <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, 46 (40));. but <span class="manuref">T</span> <span class="manuref">Tr</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span> text give the optative), where <span class="greek2">μήποτε</span> <span class="greek2">κτλ</span>. depend on the suppressed idea <span class="greek2">διαλογιζόμενος</span> (cf. <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, § 139, 62 at the end; <span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>'s Grammar, as above).<FOOTNOTE:1> <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>peradventure, lest<p>Or me pote (may pot'-eh) from <a href="/greek/3361.htm">me</a> and <a href="/greek/4218.htm">pote</a>; not ever; also if (or lest) ever (or perhaps) -- if peradventure, lest (at any time, haply), not at all, whether or not. <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/3361.htm">me</a> <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/4218.htm">pote</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>μη μή Μηποτε μηποτέ Μήποτε μήποτέ Mepote Mēpote Mḗpote<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/matthew/25-9.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Matthew 25:9</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adverb">Adv</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/matthew/25.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">φρόνιμοι λέγουσαι <b>Μήποτε</b> οὐ μὴ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/matthew/25.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> answered, <span class="itali">'No,</span> there will not be enough<br><a href="/kjvs/matthew/25.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> saying, <span class="itali">[Not so]; lest</span> there be<br><a href="/interlinear/matthew/25-9.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> wise saying <span class="itali">[No] lest</span> none not even<p><b><a href="/greek/3379.htm">Strong's Greek 3379</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_3379.htm">1 Occurrence</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/me_pote_3379.htm">Μήποτε — 1 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/greek/3378.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="3378"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="3378" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/3380.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="3380"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="3380" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>