Greek word · G3385

μή

mē

not + τις=one

A strengthened form of μή used to open questions that expect a negative answer ("surely not…?", "…, is it?"). It can be hesitant (John 4:29, "Could this be the Christ?") or, as here, indignant and dismissive.

Appears 18 times in 18 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μή-τι

interrog. particle, expecting a negative answer: Matthew 7:16 26:22, 25, Mark 4:21 14:19, Luke 6:39, John 8:22 18:35, Acts 10:47, 2 Corinthians 12:18, James 3:11; in hesitant questions (see M, Pr., 170.), μ οὗτός ἐστιν,

can this be, Matthew 12:23, John 4:29; μ. ἄρα, 2 Corinthians 1:17; On εἰ μήτι (Luke 9:13, cf. Bl., § 65, 6), see: εἰ.†

εἰ,

conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions.

I. Conditional, if;

1. with indic, expressing a general assumption;

(a) pres.: before indic, pres., Matthew 11:14, Romans 8:25, al.; before imperat., Mark 4:23 9:22, John 15:18, 1 Corinthians 7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luke 16:31, Romans 8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Matthew 12:26, Romans 4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luke 17:6, John 8:39; before quæst., Matthew 6:23, John 5:47 7:23 8:46, 1 Peter 2:20;

(b) fut.: Matthew 26:33, 1 Peter 2:20;

(with) pf.: John 11:12, Romans 6:5, al.;

(d) aor.: Luke 16:11 19:8, John 13:32, 18:23, Revelation 20:15, al.

2. Where the assumption is certain = ἐπεί: Matthew 12:28, John 7:4, Romans 5:17, al.

3. Of an unfulfilled condition, with indic, impf., aor. or plpf., before ἄν, with imp. or aor. (see: ἄν, I, i).

4. C. indic., after verbs denoting wonder, etc., sometimes, but not always, coupled with an element of doubt: Mark 15:44, 1 John 3:13, al.

5. C. indic., as in LXX (Numbers 14:3o, 1 Samuel 14:45, al. = Heb. אִם), in oaths, with the formula of imprecation understood in a suppressed apodosis (WM, 627; Burton, §272): Mark 8:12, Hebrews 3:11" (LXX) 4:3 (LXX).

6. Rarely (cl.) with optative, to express a merely possible condition: Acts 24:19 27:39, 1 Corinthians 14:10 15:37, I Pe3:14, 17.

II. Interrogative, if, whether.

1. As in cl., in indir. questions after verbs of seeing, asking, knowing, saying, etc.: with indic. pres., Matthew 26:63, Mark 15:36, Acts 19:2, 2 Corinthians 13:5, al.; fut., Mark 3:2, Acts 8:22, al.; aor., Mark 15:44, 1 Corinthians 1:16, al.; with subjc. aor. (M, Pr., 194), Philippians 3:12.

2. As in LXX (= Heb. אִם and interrog. הֲ, Genesis 17:17, al.; see WM, 639f.; Viteau, i, 22), in direct questions: Mark 8:23 (Tr., WH, txt.), Luke 13:23, 22:49, Acts 19:2, al.

III. With other particles.

1. εἰ ἄρα, εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μήγε, see: ἄρα, γε.

2. εἰ δὲ καί, but if also: Luke 11:18; but even if, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 4:3 11:16.

3. εἰ δὲ μή, but if not, but if otherwise: Mark 2:21, 22 John 14:2, Revelation 2:5, al.

4. εἰ καί, if even, if also, although: Mark 14:29, Luke 11:8, 1 Corinthians 7:21, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Philippians 2:17, al.

5. καὶ εἰ, even if, see: καί

6. εἰ μή, if not, unless, except, but only: Matthew 24:22, Mark 2:26 6:5, John 9:33, 1 Corinthians 7:17 (only), Galatians 1:19 (cf. ἐὰν μή, 2:16; see Hort., Ja., xvi); ἐκτὸς εἰ μή, pleonastic (Bl., §65, 6), 1 Corinthians 14:5 15:2, 1 Timothy 5:19.

7. εἰ μήν = cl. ἦ μήν (M, Pr., 46), in oaths, surely (Ezekiel 33:27, al.): Hebrews 6:14.

8. εἴ πως, if haply: Acts 27:12, Romans 1:10.

9. εἴτε . . . εἴτε, whether . . . or; Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 3:22 13:8, al.

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 18:35

Range of meaning

A strengthened form of μή used to open questions that expect a negative answer ("surely not…?", "…, is it?"). It can be hesitant (John 4:29, "Could this be the Christ?") or, as here, indignant and dismissive.

Against the English

BSB, KJV, ESV and NIV give a bare "Am I a Jew?", which in English could almost be a real question. WEB and NASB ("I'm not a Jew, am I?") keep the expected "no" and the disdain.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Koine Greek and the NT for questions expecting "no" (e.g. Matt 7:16; Mark 4:21; John 8:22). Grammars such as BDF §427 and Wallace treat μή/μήτι questions as expecting a negative answer, though μήτι can soften into tentative wonder.

From the study of John 4:29

Range of meaning

A strengthened form of the question word μή. In questions, μή/μήτι normally signals that the expected answer is 'no' ('You aren't…, are you?'). Grammarians also note a weaker use, where the speaker suspects the answer may be 'yes' but does not dare say so: 'perhaps…?', 'could it be…?'

Against the English

KJV 'is not this the Christ?' reads in modern English like a confident leading question that expects 'yes'. That goes too far. A strict reading ('This is not the Christ, is it?', as in NASB) can sound skeptical. BSB/NIV 'Could this be…?' and ESV/WEB 'Can this be…?' catch the hesitant hope best.

How it drifted

Early modern English 'is not this…?' did not always carry today's strong 'surely it is' sense, but a modern reader hears certainty. The Greek is tentative.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDAG s.v. μήτι lists John 4:29 among questions 'in which the questioner is in doubt concerning the answer' ('perhaps'). Compare Matthew 12:23, where the crowds ask 'μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς Δαυίδ;' ('Could this be the Son of David?'), the same construction in the same half-believing tone. Blass–Debrunner–Funk §427(2) discusses μήτι in questions.

From the study of Acts 10:47

Range of meaning

A strengthened form of μή used to open questions that expect a negative answer: 'Surely not…?', '…can it?' (BDAG; Blass–Debrunner–Funk §427).

Against the English

KJV, BSB, ESV and WEB render it as a neutral question ('Can anyone…?'), which loses the built-in 'no'. NIV and NASB bring it out with 'Surely no one can…'. NASB adds the tag 'can he?' to mirror the Greek.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used throughout the New Testament for questions expecting denial: Matthew 26:22, 25 ('Surely not I, Lord?'); John 4:29 is a well-known case where the expected 'no' is hesitant. The pattern is standard in Koine Greek (the everyday Greek of the period).

Where it appears

Matthew · 4

  1. Matthew 7:16 μήτι surely not ever

    By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

    Here: Opens a question that expects the answer 'No, of course not.' Roughly: 'People don't pick grapes off thornbushes, do they?' The point is presented as common sense.

  2. Matthew 12:23 μήτι surely not ever

    The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”

  3. Matthew 26:22 μήτι surely not ever

    They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

    Here: A question particle that frames the question to expect the answer "no": "It isn't me, is it?" It sounds like a protest that also wants reassurance. Sometimes it carries a note of real uncertainty, like English "surely not… ?"

  4. Matthew 26:25 μήτι surely not ever

    Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”

    Here: A question word that expects the answer “no”: “It isn’t me, is it?” Judas uses exactly the form of question the other eleven used (v. 22), so his words look like a protest of innocence.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 4:21 μήτι surely not ever

    Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?

    Here: Marks a question that expects the answer “No!”, often with a note of disbelief: “Surely the lamp doesn’t come to be hidden, does it?” The idea is meant to sound absurd.

  2. Mark 14:19 μήτι surely not ever

    They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 6:39 μήτι surely not ever

    Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

    Here: This particle tells the hearer the answer is "No." The force is "A blind man can't guide a blind man, can he?" The question is a statement of the obvious, not a real inquiry.

  2. Luke 9:13 μήτι surely even

    But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

    Here: This particle makes the 'unless' hesitant or incredulous: 'unless perhaps we are supposed to…' It hints that they see the idea as unrealistic.

John · 3

  1. John 4:29 μήτι surely not ever

    “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

    Here: A question word that normally expects 'no' ('This isn't…, is it?'). In cases like this one it softens the question into hesitant hope: 'Could it possibly be…?' She raises the possibility without claiming it as certain.

  2. John 8:22 μήτι surely not ever

    So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”

    Here: A question word that leans toward the answer "no" while still putting the idea forward: "He's not going to kill himself, is he?" It can sound like genuine puzzlement or like a sneer.

  3. John 18:35 μήτι surely not ever

    “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”

    Here: A question word that expects the answer "No." It gives the line a scornful edge: "You don't take me for a Jew, do you?"

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 10:47 μήτι surely not ever

    “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”

    Here: Opens a question that expects the answer 'No'. Peter isn't asking for opinions. He means 'Nobody can refuse them the water, can they?' and assumes his hearers will have to agree.

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:3 μήτι Surely not ever

    Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

  2. 1 Corinthians 7:5 μήτι surely even

    Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

    Here: With εἰ it forms "unless". It makes the exception sound cautious and narrow.

2 Corinthians · 3

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:17 μήτι surely not ever

    When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”?

    Here: A Greek question word that signals the expected answer is "no": "I didn't…, did I?" Paul is not really asking. He is rejecting the charge with indignation.

  2. 2 Corinthians 12:18 μήτι surely not ever

    I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?

  3. 2 Corinthians 13:5 μήτι surely even

    Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?

    Here: Softens the condition: "unless, perhaps…" or "unless indeed…". It treats failure as possible but not the expected outcome.

James · 1

  1. James 3:11 μήτι surely not ever

    Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.