1 Thessalonians 5:20 — Word Study
N1904προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
BSAPropheciesprophēteia [prophesyings, messages from God, looking down on, treating as worthless] notmē do despise;exoutheneō▸ [despise, reject]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| προφητείας | Prophecies | Noun, accusative, plural |
| μὴ | not | Particle, negative |
| ἐξουθενεῖτε· | do despise; | Verb, present, active |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do not treat prophecies with contempt, |
| KJV | Despise not prophesyings. |
| ASV | despise not prophesyings; |
| YLT | prophesyings despise not; |
| WEB | Don’t despise prophecies. |
| BBE | Do not make little of the words of the prophets; |
Where they part company is προφητείας — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is a straightforward imperative, focusing on a single command.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbἐξουθενέω
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the New Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word in the Greek New Testament, stands 19,867 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Thessalonians 5:20
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Exhortations in 1 Thessaloniansgenerated
1 Thessalonians 5:20 is part of Paul's final instructions to the Thessalonian church, where he emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit's work and the need to uphold the messages from God. This section encourages believers to remain vigilant and discerning regarding spiritual matters, as seen in the surrounding verses that discuss not extinguishing the Spirit and testing all things, which is vital for maintaining faith and integrity within the community.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Thessalonians 4:8 | Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit. |
| 2 | Numbers 11:25–29 | Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 10:5–6 | After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 19:20–24 | he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. |
| 5 | Acts 19:6 | And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — προφητεία, prophēteiagenerated
The word προφητεία (i.e., *prophēteia*) is a noun in the accusative plural form, meaning 'prophecies.' It refers to the act of prophesying or the messages communicated by prophets, which are inspired by God. This term appears frequently in both the Old and New Testaments, indicating its significance in understanding God's will.
In this context, Paul warns the Thessalonians against treating these divine messages with contempt. The parsing indicates that it is a direct object in the sentence, emphasizing that prophecies should be honored and not dismissed lightly.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'Do not treat prophecies with contempt,' which aligns with the KJV's 'Despise not prophesyings.' Both translations convey the imperative nature of the instruction to respect prophetic messages.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of προφητείας. The BSB uses 'prophecies,' while the KJV and ASV use 'prophesyings.' The WEB opts for 'Don’t despise prophecies,' maintaining a similar meaning to the BSB.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in the verse is ἐξουθενεῖτε, do despise, which governs the object προφητείας, prophecies. The structure is straightforward, with a clear command not to treat the prophecies with contempt.
The sentence is built around this imperative verb, making it a direct exhortation to the readers. The negative particle μὴ, not, precedes the verb, emphasizing the prohibition against despising.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the word μὴ (mē) appears as a negation, translating the Hebrew אַל (al), which also conveys a sense of denial or prohibition. This choice emphasizes the imperative nature of the command in 1 Thessalonians 5:20, reinforcing the idea that treating prophecies with contempt is explicitly discouraged.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Thessalonians 5:20 instructs believers not to look down on or dismiss prophecies. Paul emphasizes that these messages from God should be treated with respect and discernment, highlighting their importance in the life of the church.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To despise prophecies means to treat them as worthless or to disregard them, which Paul warns against in this verse.
Prophecies are important as they convey God's messages and guidance, helping believers understand His will and purpose.
Testing prophecies involves evaluating them against Scripture and seeking confirmation through prayer and discernment.
Prophets play a vital role in the church by delivering messages from God, providing guidance, and encouraging believers in their faith.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I ensure that I respect and honor prophetic messages in my life?
- How can I discern between true and false prophecies?
- What steps can I take to remain open to God's guidance through prophecy?
- How does understanding the importance of prophecies affect my faith and community?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Several early church writers reference this verse to emphasize the importance of respecting prophecies and not dismissing them.
Trust the Lord, ye who doubt, for He is all-powerful, and can turn His anger away from you, and send scourges on the doubters. Woe to those who hear these words, and despise them: better were it for them not to have been born.Early Church Fathers on 1 Thessalonians 5 →
Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things: hold fast that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil."Early Church Fathers on 1 Thessalonians 5 →
For he has already quenched and despised the thing which he destroys, and is unable to forbid what he has despised. It is then incumbent on Marcion now to display in his church that spirit of his god which must not be quenched,Early Church Fathers on 1 Thessalonians 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Thessalonians 5:20 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleDespise not prophesyings. Or "prophecies"; the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the first coming of Christ, concerning his person, office, and work, his obedience, sufferings, and death,
Read John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryDespise not prophesyings. Prophesyings - whether exercised in inspired teaching (as distinguished from [ didachee (G1322)] 'teaching' under the ordinary influences of grace), or in predicting.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Thessalonians 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThereby we may quench the Spirit, which usually works upon men’ s minds and hearts by it. By prophecy is sometimes meant foretelling of things to come, and speaking by extraordinary revelation, ,30; sometimes the Scriptures are so called, especially the Old Testament, ; and sometimes the interpretation and applying of Scripture, which is the same that we now call preaching, . And the duty with respect to it, is not to despise it, to set it at nought as a thing of no worth. The word is often used in the New Testament, ,10. But the apostle useth again the figure meiosis before mentioned, and means, prize, value, and highly esteem it, attend upon it, have great regard to it; it being an…
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Thessalonians 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments20 Despise not prophesyings. Ver. 20. Despise not] i.e. Highly honour, and preciously esteem, as an honorary given by Christ to his Church at his wonderful ascension, Psalms 51:17; Ephesians 4:8; Ephesians 4:11. Prophesying] That is, preaching, 1 Corinthians 14:3, so called because they took their texts out of some of the prophets.
Read John Trapp on 1 Thessalonians 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(20) Despise not prophesyings.—The highest outward or charismatic manifestation of this inward fire was the gift of “prophecy” (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:39), which was an inspired and inspiring preaching, The despondency of the Thessalonians led them not only to quench the fervour of the Holy Ghost in their own bosoms, but to turn a cold and disparaging ear to the sanguine “prophets” who preached to them, the effect of which insensibility was to “quench the Spirit” by degrees in the prophets also. It is because of this double effect of gloominess, inward upon themselves, and outward upon others, that the command, “Quench not,” occurs…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Thessalonians 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 20. Despise not prophesyings.] Do not suppose that ye have no need of continual instruction; without it ye cannot preserve the Christian life, nor go on to perfection. God will ever send a message of salvation by each of his ministers to every faithful, attentive hearer. Do not suppose that ye are already wise enough; you are no more wise enough than you are holy enough. They who slight or neglect the means of grace, and especially the preaching of God's holy word, are generally vain, empty, self-conceited people, and exceedingly superficial both in knowledge and piety.
Read AdamClarke on 1 Thessalonians 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesSection VII. Rules for the Sanctified Life. Ch. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 In Section v. (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12) the saintship of his readers supplied the basis and the nerve of the Apostle’s charge. He there enforced on the Thessalonian believers the virtues which they needed to cultivate, in the light of their consecration to God. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit served as the sovereign motive for the leading of a pure life (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8). The same thought runs through this Section. The string of sententious exhortations it contains, find their goal and their uniting principle in the prayer, “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you fully” (1…
Read Cambridge on 1 Thessalonians 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleDespise not prophesyings - On the subject of prophesyings in the early Christian church, see the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:1 ff1 ff. The reference here seems to be to preaching.
Read Albert Barnes on 1 Thessalonians 5 →The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
Don’t despise prophecies.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Tyndale line
Despise not prophesyings.
despise not prophesyings;
despise not prophesyings;
Despise not prophesyings.
Despise not prophecying.
Strictly literal
do not lightly esteem prophecies;
prophesyings despise not;
do not despise prophesyings;
Do not despise prophecies.
From the Latin
Despise not prophecies.
Simplified
don't look down on prophecy,
Do not make little of the words of the prophets;
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the Nestle 1904 treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The earliest translations — Latin and Syriac
Every translation is an argument about meaning made by someone who had to commit to one. These two were made while the Greek was still a living language, and they are the oldest opinions we have about what this verse says.
Prophetias nolite spernere.
Jerome revised the Old Latin against the Greek from AD 382; the Latin west read this text for a thousand years.
ܢܒܝܘܬܐ ܠܐ ܬܣܠܘܢ
The Bible of the Syriac-speaking church, in the language nearest to the Aramaic Jesus spoke.
Shown verse by verse rather than word by word: aligning a Greek word to its Latin or Syriac counterpart automatically would be guesswork, and a wrong alignment is worse than none.
The Greek editions compared — what the manuscripts actually say
Eight printed editions of the Greek New Testament, side by side. Where they agree the wording is settled; where a word is missing from an edition it is marked, so you can see the difference rather than take it on trust.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
The standard critical text of the New Testament.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
The previous edition, still widely cited.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
An independent critical text built from the oldest witnesses then known.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.
προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε·
The printed tradition behind the King James Version.
A witness that read differently would show its variant word here, marked.
Word by word, across the editions
Every edition agrees. All 8 printed editions — Nestle-Aland 28, Nestle-Aland 27, SBLGNT, Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Tyndale House 2017, Textus Receptus (KJV), Byzantine majority — carry every word of this verse, in the same order, with no difference that any translator would render differently.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Greek New Testament — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Thessalonians 5:20
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Greek lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. Imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, the full Liddell-Scott-Jones, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate LSJ, Robinson and Packard on the Greek, Webster and Cawdrey on the English the translators were using. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Greek word προφητεία (i.e., *propheteia*) means 'prophecy' and refers to the gift of interpreting divine will and purpose. It encompasses both Old Testament and New Testament contexts, including the act of prophesying and the role of prophets. Notably, it appears in various New Testament verses such as Matthew 13:14 and Revelation 11:6. The lexicons indicate a consistent understanding of its meaning, focusing on divine inspiration and the communication of God's messages.
† προφητεία, -ας, ἡ
(< προψητεύω),
[in LXX for נְבוּאָה, חָזוֹן;]
the gift (and its exercise) of interpreting the Divine will and purpose, prophecy, prophesying: of OT prophecy, Mt 13:14, II Pe 1:20, 21; of NT prophecy, Ro 12:6, I Co 12:10 13:2 14:6, 22, I Ti 4:14, Re 11:6 22:19; pl., I Co 13:8, I Th 5:20, I Ti 1:18; οἱ λόγοι τῆς π.,
προφητεία, -as, 7, (προφητεύω. q. v-), Hebr. 7812), prophecy, i. e. discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events. Used in the N. T.—of the utterances of the O. T. propkets: Mt. xiii. 14; 2 Pet. i. 20, 21 (on this pass. see γίνομαι, 5 e.a.) ; —of the prediction of events relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions pertaining thereto: Rev. xi. 6; xxii.19; τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς προφητείας, the spirit of prophecy, the divine mind, to which the prophetic faculty is due, Rev. xix. 10; οἱ λόγοι τῆς προφητείας, Rey. 1.8; xxii. 7, 10,18; -- οὗ the endowment and speech of the Christian teachers called mpopara (see προφήτης, 11. 1£.): Ro. xii. 6; 1 Co. xii. 10; xiii. 2; xiv.…
Read the full entry →προφητεία. The noun is well established against Grimm’s reduction of its vogue: thus P Tebt II. p. 448 (Index VI. (d)) gives its occurrences in a series of documents (mostly ii/A.D.) relating to the sales of the office of ‘‘prophet’’ at the temple of Soknebtunis, e.g. 294° (A.D. 146) where a certain Paknebkis offers ὠνήσασθαι τὴν τοῦ προκειμένου ἱεροῦ προφη[τ]εία[ν for the sum of 2200 drachmae, and 26. 29519 (A.D. 126-138) where Marsisachus offers 520 drachmae and extra payments τῇ[9] Te προφητείας κα]ὶ λεσωνίας τῆς καὶ βαιοφορίας, ‘‘for the post of prophet and lesones or palmbearer.’’ The history of the post is discussed by the editors Ρ. 64 f. προφητεύω. In Gnomon 93 (= BGU Ν. p. 34) it is laid down: τοῖς θάπτουσι τὰ ἱερὰ ζῷ[ια] οὐκ [ἐξ]ὸν προφητεύειν οὐδὲ ναὸν κωμάζειν ο[ὐ]δὲ τρέφειν ἱερὰ [{Ἰῶι]α. An interesting ex. of the verb is quoted by Boll Ofexbarung p. 137 πϑ.: π. κόσμου c. I…
Read the full entry →προφητεία (prophēteia) — prophecy.
προφητ-εία, ἡ,
gift of interpreting the will of the gods, gift of prophecy, διδασκαλίαν ὡς π. ἐκχεῶ [LXX]; ἡ δὲ προφητείη δίης φρενός ἐστιν ἀπορρώξ Oracle texts cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
2. concrete, prophecy or oracular response, [LXX+3rd c.AD+]
II. office of προφήτης [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
III. in NT, gift of expounding scripture, or of speaking and preaching, under the influence of the Holy Spirit (compare προφήτης), [NT]
προφητεία
propheteia
from 4396 ("prophecy"); prediction (scriptural or other):--prophecy,
prophesying.
see GREEK for 4396
προφητεία, ας, ἡ
n.f.
prophecy
προφητεία prophēteia 19x
prophecy, a prediction of future events, Mt. 13:14; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21; prophecy, a gifted faculty of setting forth and enforcing revealed truth, 1 Cor. 12:10; 13:2; prophecy, matter of divine teaching set forth by special gift, 1 Tim. 1:18
προφητεία προφητεία, ἡ, the gift of interpreting the will of the gods, Orac. ap. Luc.
in NTest., the gift of expounding scripture, of speaking and preaching.
Noun-APF — Noun · accusative · plural · feminineaccusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural feminine.
N-APF Part of Speech: Noun Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Feminine
19 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 3 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 19 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.
← what comes before
what comes after →
branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path
παντὶ δὲ ἀστείῳ προφητείαν ὁ ἱερὸς λόγος μαρτυρεῖ·
Ἰάκωβος δὲ ἑπτακαιδέκατον ἔτος ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ διατρίψας καὶ νόσῳ χρησάμενος παρόντων αὐτῷ τῶν υἱῶν ἀπέθανεν, ἐπευξάμενος τοῖς μὲν κτῆσιν ἀγαθῶν καὶ προειπὼν αὐτοῖς κατὰ προφητείαν, πῶς μέλλει τῶν ἐκ τῆς γενεᾶς αὐτῶν ἕκαστος κατοικεῖν τὴν Χαναναίαν·
καὶ ἐν ἄλλῃ προφητείᾳ λέγει φανερώτερον ὁ Ἰακὼβ πρὸς Ἰωσὴφ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, λέγων: Ἰδού, οὐκ ἐστέρησέν με κύριος τοῦ προσώπου σου: προσάγαγέ μοι τοὺς υἱούς σου, ἵνα εὐλογήσω αὐτούς.
ἐνπεριείληφεν. … ἔτους ϛ μηνὸς Σεβαστοῦ ιθ. … στρατηγῶι Ἡρακλείδου μερίδος χαίρειν. … περὶ προφητείας ἱεροῦ … ἐπιστολῆς Ἀριστοκλέους … συντάξεις οὖν τῷ Ἀπολλωνίῳ … προφητε … αὐτοῦ καὶ
Ἴσιδος Νεφερσῆτος καὶ Ἴσιδος Νεφρέμμιδος καὶ Σαράπιδος καὶ τῶν συννάων θεῶν. τῆς τῶν θεῶν προφητείας ἤδη ἐκ παλαιῶν χρόνων ἡμετέρας οὔσης τῶι περὶ τούτων δικαιώματι … … υ
αὐτοῦ ὡς καὶ αὐτῷ Χαρισίῳ μεταδοθεισῶν ὑπὸ Ἀπολλωνίδου τοῦ πρὸ αὐτοῦ ὡς ὀφειλουσῶν πραθῆναι προφητεία ἱεροῦ Σοκνεβτύνεως τοῦ καὶ Κρόνου κώμης Τεπτύνεως ἧς ἐδηλώθη πρώτως ὑπεσχῆσθαι Ἁρποχρατίωνα Μαρεψήμεως ἱερέα
μή (mē) is a Greek negative particle used to express subjective negation, often in conditional or hypothetical contexts. It contrasts with οὐ (ou), which indicates absolute denial. μή can function as an adverb meaning 'not' or as a conjunction meaning 'lest.' It appears in various grammatical constructions, including prohibitions and deliberative questions, and is referenced in verses like Matthew 5:29 and John 3:18.
μή,
subjective negative particle,
used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic., μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין, אַיִן, אַל.]
As a neg. adv., not;
with ref. to thought or opinion: Jo 3:18, Tit 1:11, II Pe 1:9.
μή, Sept. for Ox, |X, PN, ἃ particle of negation, which differs from οὐ (which is always an adverb) in that ov denies the thing itself (orto speak technically, denies simply, absolutely, categorically, directly, objectively). but μή denies the thought of the thing, or the thing according to the judgment, opinion, will, purpose, preference, of some one (hence, as we say technically, indirectly, hypothetically, subjectively). This distinction holds also of the compounds οὐδείς, μηδείς, οὐκέτι, μηκέτι, ete. But pris either an ad verb of negation, not (Lat. non, ne); or aconjunction, that... not, lest, (Lat. ne); or an interrogative particle, (Lat. num) [i. e. (generally) implying aneg. ans.; in indir. quest. whether nol (suggesting apprehension) ]. Cf. Herm. ad Vig. § 267 p- 802 sqq-; Matthiae § 608; Bitm. Gram. § 148 (cf. Alex. Bttm. N. T. Gr. p. 344 (296) sqq.); Kiihner ii. §§ 512 sq. p.…
Read the full entry →μή Grenf II. 384 (mid. 1.8.6.) καλῶς οὖ]ν ποιήσις μὴ ἀμελήσ[α]ς α[. . ἀγο]ράσαι. .. , P Oxy I. 3815 (a.p. 49--50) (= Selections, p. 53) τοῦ δὲ Σύρου μὴ βουλομένου ἐνμεῖναι τοῖς κεκριμένοις, “45 Syrus does not wish to abide by what has been decided,” 2d. II. 2755 (A.D. 66) (= Selections, p. 58) ἔγραψα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἰδότος γράμματα, “1 wrote for him seeing that he was unlettered,” BGU I. 22° (a.p. 114) (= Selections, p. 74) TappovOios . . . τὸ παρὸν μὴ ἔχουσα κύριον, ‘ Tarmuthis at present without a guardian,’ and P Grenf II. 779 (iii/iv A.D.) (= Sedections, p. 120) θαυμάζω πάνυ [ὅτι] ἀλόγως ἀπέστητε μὴ ἄραντες [τὸ σ]ῶμα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ὑμῶν, “1 wonder exceedingly that you went off so unreasonably, without taking the body of your brother”; cf. P Tor 1. 1¥8-4 (νον 116) εἰ δὲ kal τις θείηι τὸ μὴ ὄν (cf. 1 Cor 1°8)—acc. and inf. follow, P Ryl II. 144°? (Α.Ὁ. 38) ἐπαγαγεῖν αἰτίας τοῦ μὴ ὄντος, ‘‘…
Read the full entry →μή (mē) — not.
μή,
Elean μά [ᾱ] [Refs 6th c.BC+]. (Cf. Sanskrit mā´, Armenian mi [from I.-[Refs 5th c.BC+] mē´], negative used in prohibitions):—not, the negative of the will and thought, as οὐ of fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective. (A few examples of μηδέ and μηδείς have been included.)
__A in INDEPENDENT sentences, used in expressions of will or wish, command, entreaty, warning,
__A.1 with present imperative, 2 person, μή μ᾽ ἐρέθιζε [Refs 8th c.BC+]: rarely with aorist imperative, μὴ.. ἔνθεο τιμῇ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; in Attic dialect, μὴ ψεῦσον, ὦ Ζεῦ, τῆς.. ἐλπίδος [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect imperative [Refs 8th c.BC+] person when perfect = present, μὴ κεκράγετε [Refs 5th c.BC+]
μή
me
a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an
absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an
interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an
affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, +
lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not,
nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in
substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372,
3373, 3375, 3378.
see GREEK for 3756
see GREEK for 3362
see GREEK for 3363
see GREEK for 3364
see GREEK for 3372
see GREEK for 3373
see GREEK for 3375
see GREEK for 3378
μή
Neg.prt.
not, lest
μή mē 1x
a negative particle, can function as a conj, not, for the particulars of its usage, especially as distinguished from that of οὐ, consult a grammar; as a conj., lest, that not, Mt. 5:29, 30; 18:10; 24:6; Mk. 13:36; μή, or μήτι, or μήποτε, when prefixed to an interrogative clause, it expresses an intimation either of the reality of the matters respecting which the question is asked, Mt. 12:23; or the contrary, Jn. 4:12
Particle-N — Particle · negativeparticle — a small word colouring the clause; it does not decline.
PRT-N PaRTicle, disjunctive particle Negative
1,085 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 23 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 1,060 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.
← what comes before
what comes after →
branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path
2 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →
Counted over the 1,321 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.
The Greek word ἐξουθενέω (i.e., *exoutheneo*) means to despise, treat with contempt, or make of no account. It appears in various contexts in the New Testament, such as in Luke 18:9 and 1 Corinthians 1:28. The word can also be found in passive forms, indicating something or someone that is rejected or disregarded.
† ἐξ-ουθενέω, -ῶ
(< οὐθείς, q.v.),
[in LXX (v.s. ἐξουθενέω): I Ki 2:30, al., and as v.l. for -δενέω, -όω, -θενόω* ;]
to set at nought, despise utterly, treat with contempt: c. acc pers., Lk 18:9 23:11, Ro 14:3, 10, I Co 16:11; c. acc rei, Ga 4:14, I Th 5:20; pass., of persons: Mk 9:12 (T, -όω), I Co 6:4; of things λίθος, Ac 4:11 (LXX ἀπεδοκίμασαν); λόγος, II Co 10:10…
ἐξουθενέω, -ῶ ; 1 aor. ἐξουθένησα ; Pass., pf. ptep. ἐξουθενημένος; [1 aor. ptep. ἐξουθενηθείς] , (see οὐδείς); to make of no account, to despise utterly: τινά, Lk. xviii. 9; Ro. xiv. 3,10; 1 Co.xvi.11; ri, 1 Th. v. 20; Gal. iv. 14 (where it is coupled with ἐκπτύω ); in pass. of ἐξουθενημένοι, 1 Co. vi. 4; τὰ ἐξουθενημένα. 1 Co. i. 28 (see ayevns) ; ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος, 2 Co. x. 10 [here Lehm. ἐξουδ.}; ὁ (λίθος 6) ἐξουθενηθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν οἰκοδομούντων, set at nought, i. 6. rejected, cast aside, Acts ἵν. 11. 700 treat with contempt (i. 6. ace. to the context, with mockery): Lk. xxiii. 11; (for 133, Prov. i. 7; 773, Ezek. xxii. 8, ete.; DN, 1S. viii. 7. Sap.iv.18; 2 Mace. i. 27; Barn. ep. 7, 9; and other eccl. writ.). Cf. Lob. ad Phryn. p. 182; [and reff. 5. v. ἐξουδενέω, fin.…
Read the full entry →ἐξουθενέω (exoutheneō) — to reject.
ἐξουθεν-έω,
={ἐξουδενόω} [LXX+NT+1st c.AD+]
ἐξουθενέω
exoutheneo
a variation of 1847 and meaning the same:--contemptible, despise,
least esteemed, set at nought.
see GREEK for 1847
ἐξουθενέω
v.
I ignore, despise
ἐξουθενέω exoutheneō 11x
also spelled ἐξουθενόω, to make light of, set at naught, despise, treat with contempt and scorn, Lk. 18:9; to neglect, disregard, 1 Thess. 5:20; ἐξουθενημένος, contemptible, 2 Cor. 10:10; of small account, 1 Cor. 1:28; 6:4; by impl. to reject with contempt, Acts 4:11
ἐξουθενέω fut. ήσω οὐθείς = ἐξουδενόω, NTest.
Verb-PAM-2P — Verb · present · active · imperative · second person · pluralpresent active imperative — an action in progress.
V-PAM-2P Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: iMperative Person: second Number: Plural
11 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 9 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.
Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 11 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.
← what comes before
what comes after →
branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path