ἤ, a disjunctive conjunction (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 53, 6). Used 1. to distinguish things or thoughts which either mutually exclude each other, or one of which can take the place of the other: or (Latinaut,vel); a. to distinguish one thing from another in words of the same construction: Mat_5:17 (τόν νόμον ἤ τούς προφήτας), Mat_5:36 (λευκήν ἤ μέλαιναν); Mat_6:31; Mat_7:16; Mar_6:56; Mar_7:11; Luk_2:24; Luk_9:25; Joh_7:48; Joh_13:29; Act_1:7; Act_3:12; Act_4:7; Rom_1:21; Rom_3:1; 1Co_4:3; 1Co_5:10; 1Co_10:19; Gal_1:10, etc. b. after an interrogative or a declarative sentence, before a question designed to prove the same thing in another way: Mat_7:4; Mat_7:9; Mat_12:29; Mat_16:26; Mat_26:53; Mar_8:37; Luk_13:4; Luk_14:31; Luk_15:8; Rom_9:21; Rom_14:10; 1Co_6:16. c. before a sentence contrary to the one just preceding, to indicate that if one be denied or refuted the other must stand: Mat_20:15 (i. e. or, if thou wilt not grant this, is thine eye etc.); Rom_3:29; 1Co_9:6; 1Co_10:22; 1Co_11:14 (Rec.); ; 2Co_11:7; ἤ ἀγνοεῖτε etc., Rom_6:3; Rom_7:1 (cf. Rom_6:14); ἤ οὐκ ὀικατε etc., Rom_11:2; 1Co_6:9; 1Co_6:16; 1Co_6:19. d. ἤ ... ἤ, either ... or, Mat_6:24; Mat_12:33; Luk_16:13; Act_24:20; 1Co_14:6. 2. in a disjunctive question it corresponds to the Latinan afterutrum; a. preceded by πότερον, Joh_7:17; cf. Klotz ad Dev. 2:2, p. 574f; preceded by the interrogative μή, 1Co_9:8; preceded by μήτι, 2Co_1:17. b. without an intertog. particle in the first member of the interrogation: τί ἐστι εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν ... ἤ εἰπεῖν, Mat_9:5; Mar_2:9; Luk_5:23; add, Mat_21:25; Mat_23:17; Mat_23:19; Mat_27:17; Mar_3:4; Luk_7:19; Act_8:34. c. ἤ ... ἤ ... ἤ, Mar_13:35. 3. as a comparative conjunction, than; a. after comparatives: Mat_10:15; Mat_11:22; Luk_9:13; Luk_16:17; Joh_3:19; Joh_4:1 (Tr marginal reading omits; WH brackets ἤ); Act_4:19; Rom_13:11, and often. ἤ is lacking after πλείους followed by a noun of number: Mat_26:53 T Tr WH; Act_4:22; Act_23:13; Act_23:21; Act_24:11 (where Rec. adds ἤ); cf. Matthiae, § 455 note 4; Kühner, ii., p. 847; (Jelf, § 780 Obs. 1); Winers Grammar, 595 (554); (Buttmann, 168 (146)); Lob. ad Phryn., p. 410f. b. after ἕτερον: Act_17:21. c. πρίν ἤ, before that, before, followed by accusative with an infinitive (cf. Buttmann, § 139, 35; Winer's Grammar, § 44, 6, also, p. 297 (279)): Mat_1:18; Mar_14:30; Act_2:20 R G WH marginal reading; Act_7:2; followed by the aorist subjunc, Luk_2:26 Tr text omits; WH brackets ἤ; R G (others ἕως); followed by present optative, Act_25:16. d. after θέλω equivalent to to prefer: 1Co_14:19 (followed by ἤπερ, 2Ma_14:42); examples from Greek authors are given in Klotz ad Devar. 2:2, p. 589f; Winers Grammar, § 35, 2 c.; (Buttmann, § 149, 7); Kühner, ii., p. 841; (Jelf, § 779 Obs. 3). e. after οὐ: Joh_13:10 R G, where after οὐ χρείαν ἔχει the sentence goes on as though the writer had said οὐκ ἄλλου τίνος χρείαν ἔχει, (cf. Winers Grammar, 508 (478)). f. after positive notions, to which in this way a comparative force is given: after καλόν ἐστι (it is good ... rather than) equivalent to it is better, Mat_18:8; Mar_9:43; Mar_9:45; Mar_9:47; cf. Menander's saying καλόν τό μή ζῆν, ἤ ζῆν ἀθλιως, and Plautus rud. 4, 4, 70 tacita mulier est bona semper, quam loquens; similar examples in the O. T. are Gen_49:12; Psalm 117:8 (); Jon_4:3; Jon_4:8; Tob_6:13 Tob_12:8; Sir_20:25 Sir_22:15; 4Ma_9:1; also after λυσιτελεῖ (it is gain ... rather than) equivalent to it is better (Tob_3:6), Luk_17:2; after χαρά ἐστι (there will be joy ... more than), Luk_15:7; see examples from Greek authors in Alexander Buttmann (1873) Gram. § 149, 7; (Buttmann, p. 360 (309)); Winer, Kühner, others, as above. 4. with other particles; a. ἀλλ' ἤ, see ἀλλά, I. 10, p. 28a. b. ἤ γάρ, see γάρ, I. at the end c. ἤ καί (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 53, 6 note), α. or even, or also (Latinautetiam,veletiam): (Mat_7:10 L T Tr WH); Luk_11:11 G L T Tr WH; Luk_11:12; Luk_18:11; Rom_2:15; 1Co_16:6; 2Co_1:13. β. or also (Latinanetiam) (in a disjunctive question): Luk_12:41; Rom_4:9. d. ἤπερ, than at all (Latinquamforte; German alsetwa), after a comparitive (cf. Jelf, § 779 Obs. 5): Joh_12:43 (L ἤ περ, WH marginal reading ὑπέρ) (2Ma_14:42; Homer, Hesiod). e. ἤτοι ... ἤ, either indeed (cf. Kühner, § 540, 5) ... or: Rom_6:16 (Wis_11:19; Herodotus and following).

ἤ ē 343x can function as a conj (298x), either, or, Mat_6:24 ; after comparatives, and ἄλλος , ἕτερος , expressed or implied, than, Mat_10:15 ; Mat_18:8 ; Act_17:21 ; Act_24:21 ; intensive after ἀλλά and πρίν , Luk_12:51 ; Mat_1:18 ; it also serves to point an interrogation, Rom_3:29

ἤ , disjunctive and comparative particle (Bl., § 36, 12; 77, 11); 1. disjunctive, or ; (a) between single words: Mat_5:17 , Mar_6:56 , Luk_2:24 , Joh_6:19 , Rom_1:21 , al. ; (b) before a sentence expressing a variation, denial or refutation of a previous statement, freq . in interrog. form: Mat_7:4 ; Mat_7:9 Mar_12:14 , Luk_13:4 , Rom_3:29 ; Rom_6:3 ; Rom_9:21 , 1Co_6:9 ; 1Co_6:16 ; 1Co_9:6 , 2Co_11:7 ; ἢ . . . ἤ , either . . . or , Mat_6:24 , Luk_16:13 , 1Co_14:6 ; ( c ) in a disjunctive question (as Lat. an after utrum): Mat_9:5 , Mar_2:9 , Luk_7:19 , al. ; after πότερον , Joh_7:17 ; μή , 1Co_9:8 ; μήτι , 2Co_1:17 ; ἢ . . . ἢ . . . ἤ , Mar_13:35 . 2. Com\-parative, than: after comparatives, Mat_10:16 , Luk_9:13 , Joh_3:19 , Rom_13:11 , al. ; after ἕτερον , Act_17:21 ; θέλω ( Kόhner3 , iv, 303), 1Co_14:19 ; πρὶν ἤ , before , seq . acc et inf ., Mat_1:18 , Mar_14:30 ; after a positive adj. ( Gen_49:12 ; cf. Robertson , Gr ., 661), Mat_18:8-9 , Mar_9:43 ; Mar_9:45 ; Mar_9:47 . 3. With other particles: ἀλλ᾿ ἤ , see ἀλλά ; ἢ γάρ , see γάρ ; ἢ καί , or even, or also, Mat_7:10 , Luk_11:11-12 , Rom_2:15 ; Rom_4:9 , al. ; ήτοι . . . ή , Rom_6:16 ( cf. Wis_11:19 ).

ἤ [page 276] For this particle in interrogative sentences, where we should accent ἦ , and for which from ii/B.C. εἶ is a graphic equivalent, cf. the questions to the oracle, P Fay 137 .2 f. (i/A.D.) (= Selections , p. 69) χρημάτισόν μοι , ἦ μείνωι ἐν Βακχιάδι ; ἦ μέλω ( l. μέλλω ) ἐντυνχάνιν ; answer me, Shall I remain in Bacchias? Shall I meet (him) , BGU I. 229 .8 (ii/iii A.D.) (see Berichtigungen i. p. 27) ἠ μὲν σοθήσωμαι ( l. εἰ μὲν σωθήσομαι ) ταύτης , ἧς ἐν ἐμοὶ ἀσθενίας , τοῦτόν μοι ἐξένικον ( l. τοῦτό μοι ἐξένεγκον ). For ἤ = or, see BGU IV. 1141 .6 (B.C. 14) ἔπεμψας . . . ἵνα ἐπιγνῶσιν πρὸς ἃ ἔγραψά σοι ἠ (= εἰ ) ἔστιν ἢ οὐ , and for ἢ . . . ἤ PSI IV 324 .2 (B.C. 261 0) ἐάν τινες . . . διαγράφωσιν ὑμῖν ἢ τὰς τιμὰς ἢ τὸ παραβόλιον , παραλαμβάνετε κτλ . : the alternative is emphasized by the addition of τε . . . καί in IG XII. 2, 562 .5 (Rom. time) εἰ δέ τις τολμήσ [ῃ ἐπι ]βαλέσθαι πτῶμα ἤτε ἀπὸ τοῦ γένους μου ἢ καὶ ἕτερός τις , δώσει κτλ . (cited by Radermacher Gr. p. 27). Ἤτοι . . ἤ , while found in classical Greek, is characteristic of Hellenistic speech (Radermacher ut s. ), see e.g. P Tebt I. 5 .59 (B.C. 118) ἤιτοι κώ (μας ) ἢι γᾶς ἢ ἄλλας ἱερὰς πρ (οσόδους ), P Ryl II. 154 .85 (a contract of marriage A.D. 66) ἤτοι τοῦ Χαιρήμονος ἀποπέμποντος τ [ὴ ]ν Θαισάριον ἢ καὶ αὐτῆς ἑκουσίω [ς ἀ ]παλλασσομέν [η ]ς [ἀ ]π᾽ αὐτοῦ : cf. Rom_6:16 . The combination is common in Vett. Val. (e.g. p. 58 .20 ), who also uses ἤπερ (P. 141 .26 ) and ἤγουν (P. 138 .12 ) for simple ἤ . Ἤτοι stands alone in PSI IV. 314 .12 (A.D. 195) δραχμὰς ἑξακισχει [λί ]α̣ς ἤ [τ ]οι τάλαντο̣ν , P Oxy VI. 888 .5 (iii/iv A.D.) διὰ τὸ μὴ παρεῖναι τοῖς ὀρφανοῖς ἐπιτρόπους ἤτοι κου [ράτορας . In PSI III. 158 .68 (iii/A.D.?) the place of the particles is reversed δ̣ι̣κ̣ογράφους ἢ δικολόγους ἤτοι τούτων παραπλ [η ]σίους . For ἢ καί suggesting an afterthought, see P Lond 962 .5 (A.D. 254 or 261) (= III. p. 210) δέξαι παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ δραχμὰς διακοσίας καὶ ἔχε αὐτὰς εἴς τε περιχωματισμὸν ἢ καὶ λόγον ὀψωνίων ὡς ἐὰν θέλῃς , receive from him two hundred drachmas and employ them for banking-up or (for that matter) for the payment of supplies, as you may wish, and for ἀλλ᾽ ἤ , as in 2Co_1:13 , see s.v. ἀλλά , and cf. Blass-Debrunner Gr. § 448. 8. A good parallel to θέλω . . . ἤ in 1Co_14:19 (cf. 2Ma_14:42 ) is found in BGU III. 846 .16 (ii/A.D.) (= Selections , p. 95) οὐκ οἶδες , ὅτι θέλω πη̣ρο̣̣ς γενέσται ( l. γενέσθαι ), εἲ (= ἢ ) γνοῦναι , ὄ̣π̣ως ἀνθρόπῳ [ἔ ]τ [ι ] ὀφείλω ὀβολόν ; do you not know that I would rather be a cripple than be conscious that I am still owing any one an obolus? On the Semitic use of the positive of an adj. followed by ἤ , as in Mar_9:43 ff. , see Wellhausen Einl. .2 p. 21, where reference is also made to the corresponding use of ἤ after a verb with μᾶλλον implied in Mar_3:4 , Luk_15:7 : in Mat_18:13 μᾶλλον is expressed. Πρὶν ἤ with inf., as in Mat_1:18 al. (cf. Blass-Debrunner Gr. § 395) may be illustrated by PSI III. 171 .25 (ii/B.C.) πρὶν ἢ τὰ λοι [π ]ὰ τη̣̑ [ς οἰ ]κοδομῆς τοῦ ὅρμου συντελεσθῆνα̣ι̣. For πρότερον ἤ see PSI IV. 330 .2 (B.C. 258 7) ὤ [ι ]μην οὖν σοὶ με̣, ν̣ γράφειν πρότερον ἢ ἀντιτεῖναι , and cf. ib. 343 .3 (B.C. 256 5) μὴ θαυμάσηις ἐπὶ τῶι Νικόλαον ἀπελθεῖν προτοῦ ἢ τὸν λόγον συνθεῖναι , where the editor points out that προτοῦ = πρὸ τοῦ , and compares Syll 300 .22 (B.C. 170) πρὸ τοῦ ἢ Γάϊος Λοκρέτιος τὸ στρατόπεδον πρὸς τὴν πόλιν Θίσβας προσήγαγεν = antequam . . . admovit.

ἤ, disjunctive and comparative particle (Bl., §36, 12; 77, 11); __1. disjunctive, or; __(a) between single words: Mat.5:17 Mrk.6:56, Luk.2:24, Jhn.6:19, Rom.1:21, al.; __(b) before a sentence expressing a variation, denial or refutation of a previous statement, frequently in interrog. form: Mat.7:4, 9 Mrk.12:14, Luk.13:4, Rom.3:29 6:3 9:21, 1Co.6:9, 16 9:6, 2Co.11:7; ἤ . . . ἤ, either . . . or, Mat.6:24, Luk.16:13, 1Co.14:6; __(with) in a disjunctive question (as Lat. an after utrum): Mat.9:5, Mrk.2:9, Luk.7:19, al.; after πότερον, Jhn.7:17; μή, 1Co.9:8; μήτι, 2Co.1:17; ἤ . . . ἤ . . . ἤ, Mrk.13:35. __2. Comparative, than: after comparatives, Mat.10:15, Luk.9:13, Jhn.3:19, Rom.13:11, al.; after ἕτερον, Act.17:21; θέλω (Khüner 3, iv, 303), 1Co.14:19; πρὶν ἤ, before, before accusative and inf., Mat.1:18 Mrk.14:30; after a positive adj. (Gen.49:12; cf. Robertson, Gr., 661), Mat.18:8, 9 Mrk.9:43, 45 47. __3. with other particles: ἀλλ᾽ ἤ, see: ἀλλά; ἤ γάρ, see: γάρ; ἢ καί, or even, or also, Mat.7:10, Luk.11:11, 12 Rom.2:15 4:9, al; ἤτοι . . . ἤ, Rom.6:16 (cf. Wis.11:19). (AS)