Greek word · G3513
νή
nē
as surely as
A particle for making a solemn statement or oath: "by ...!" In Greek writers it usually comes before a god's name (νὴ Δία, "by Zeus!"). BDAG explains it as "by" in an assertion of truth.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
νή
particle of affirmation employed in oaths, [in LXX: see τ. ὑγίειαν, Genesis 42:15-16 (חַי) * ;]
by: with accusative, 1 Corinthians 15:31.†
(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 1 Corinthians 15:31
- Range of meaning
A particle for making a solemn statement or oath: "by ...!" In Greek writers it usually comes before a god's name (νὴ Δία, "by Zeus!"). BDAG explains it as "by" in an assertion of truth.
- Against the English
The KJV's "I protest by" and the WEB/NASB's "I affirm, by" keep the oath. The BSB's "as surely as" keeps the sense of a guarantee but loses the sound of an oath.
- How it drifted
In 1611 "protest" meant to declare solemnly. A modern reader hears "object", which is the opposite tone.
- Used elsewhere in the period
This is the only New Testament use. It is common in Classical and Koine Greek, for example in Aristophanes, Plato and the papyri. The Septuagint uses it for oath-swearing in Genesis 42:15–16: "by the life of Pharaoh".
Where it appears
1 Corinthians · 1
-
1 Corinthians 15:31 νὴ as surely as
I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here: A Greek word used for swearing an oath: "by ...!", as in "by Zeus". This is the only place it appears in the New Testament. Paul puts his claim under oath, swearing by something he treasures.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.