μήποτε (from μή and πότε) (μή πότε (separately) L WH (except Mat_25:9, see below) Tr (except 2Ti_2:25)), differing from οὔποτε as μή does from οὐ; (from Homer down). Accordingly it is: 1. a particle of Negation; not ever, never: ἐπεί μήποτε ἰσχύει, since it is never of force, because the writer thinks that the very idea of its having force is to be denied, Heb_9:17 (where WH text μή τότε), on which see Winers Grammar, 480 (447), cf. Buttmann, 353 (304); but others refer, this passage to 3 a. below. 2. a prohibitory conjunction; lest ever, lest at any time, lest haply, (also written separately μή πότε ((see at the beginning), especially when the component parts retain each its distinctive force; cf. Lipsius, Gram. Untersuch., p. 129f; Ellendt, Lex. Sophocles 2:107. In the N. T. use of this particle the notion of time usual to πότε seems to recede before that of contingency, lest perchance)), so that it refers to the preceding verb and indicates the purpose of the designated action (Winer's Grammar, § 56, 2): with a subjunctive present Luk_12:58; with a subjunctive aorist, Mat_4:6 and Luk_4:11, from Psa_90:12 () (where the Sept. for τΖΜο); Mat_5:25 ((cf. below)); Mat_7:6 (R G); and Act_28:27 (both from Isa_6:10, where the Sept. for τΖΜο); Mat_13:29 (οὐ namely, θέλω); Mat_15:32; Mat_27:64; Mar_4:12; Luk_14:12; with ἵνα prefixed, Luk_14:29; with a future indicative (see Buttmann, § 139, 7, cf. also, p. 368 (315) d.): (Mat_7:6 L T Tr WH; (cf. )); Mar_14:2; (Luk_12:58 L T Tr WH). after verbs of fearing, taking care (Winers Grammar, as above; Buttmann, § 139, 48): with subjunctive aorist so after προσέχω, to take heed, lest etc., Luk_21:34; Heb_2:1 (Sir_11:33); so that an antecedent φοβούμενοι or προσέχοντες must be mentally supplied, Act_5:39; μήποτε οὐκ ἀρκέσῃ, lest perchance there be not enough (so that οὐκ ἀρκέσῃ forms one idea, and φοβούμεθα must be supplied before μήποτε), Mat_25:9 R T WH marginal reading; but L Tr WH text, together with Meyer, et al., have correctly restored μήποτε (namely, τοῦτο γενέσθω (Winer's Grammar, § 64, 7 a.)) οὐ μή ἀρκέσῃ, i. e. "Not so! There will in no wise be enough" (see μή, IV. 2); cf. Bornemann in the Studien und Kritiken for 1843, p. 143f; (but all the editors above named remove the punctuation mark after μήποτε; in which case it may be connected directly with the words which follow it and translated (with R. V.) 'peradventure there will not be enough'; cf. Buttmann, § 148, 10, especially, p. 354 (304) note. For additional examples of μήποτε in this sense (cf. Aristotle, eth. Nic. 10, 10, p. 1179a, 24; with indicative, ibid., pp. 1172{a} , 33; 1173{a} 22, etc.), see Sophocles Lexicon, under the word; Alexander Buttmann (1873) in his translation of Apoll. Dysk., index under the word; (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word μή, Buttmann, 9)). after φοβοῦμαι, with present subjunctive Heb_4:1; so that φοβούμενος must be supplied before it, Luk_14:8. after βλέπειν with a future indicative (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 56, 2 b. α.; Buttmann, 243 (209)), Heb_3:12. 3. a particle of interrogation accompanied with doubt (see μή, III.), whether ever, whether at any time; whether perchance, whether haply, (German doch nicht etwa; ob nicht etwa); a. in a direct question introduced by ἐπεί, for, else (see ἐπεί, 2 under the end): so according to the not improbable interpretation of some (e. g. L WH marginal reading, Delitzsch) in Heb_9:17, 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 Joh_7:26. b. in indirect questions; α. with the optative (where the words are regarded as the thought of someone (Winers Grammar, § 41 b. 4 c.; Buttmann, § 139, 60)): Luk_3:15. (See β.) β. with the subjunctive: 2Ti_2:25 (R G L (cf. Buttmann, 46 (40));. but T Tr WH text give the optative), where μήποτε κτλ. depend on the suppressed idea διαλογιζόμενος (cf. Buttmann, § 139, 62 at the end; Winer's Grammar, as above).

μήποτε mēpote 25x can function as an adverb, BDAG 648, lists it as a negative part., conj., and interrogative part., same signi f. and usage as μή , Mat_4:6 ; Mat_13:15 ; Heb_9:17 ; also, whether, Luk_3:15

μήποτε ( = μή ποτε , and so written in WH , exc . Mat_25:9 ), negative particle, related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ . 1. As neg . particle, never: Heb_9:17 ( R , mg ., but v. infr .; WH , txt ., μή τότε ). 2. As conjc., lest ever, lest haply (the idea of chance rather than of time seems to prevail in NT) : Mat_4:6 ( LXX ) Mat_5:25 ; Mat_7:6 ; Mat_13:15 ( LXX ), Mat_13:29 ; Mat_15:32 ; Mat_27:64 , Mar_4:12 ( LXX ) Mar_14:2 , Luk_4:11 ; Luk_12:58 ; Luk_14:12 ; Luk_14:29 , Act_28:27 ; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Luk_21:34 , Heb_2:1 ; Heb_3:12 ; Heb_4:1 ; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp ., Luk_14:8 , Act_5:39 ; in later writers ( v. M , Pr., 192 f .), perhaps, Mat_25:9 . 3. As interrogative; (a) in direct questions, like μή , expecting a negative answer: Joh_7:26 , Heb_9:17 , ( R , txt ., cf. Westc ., in l ; but v. supr .); (b) in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Luk_3:15 , 2Ti_2:25 .†

μήποτε [page 410] μήποτε (=μή ποτε ), in the sense of lest haply, lest perchance, as in Mat_4:6 ; Mat_5:25 , al. ., is seen in P Tebt I. 58 .30 (B.C. 111) βεβουλεύμεθα ἐκσπάσαι τὸ ἐπιδεδομένον ὑπόμνη (μα ) μή ποτε ἐπὶ τοῦ διαλόγου χειμασθω̣εν , we have decided to abstract the memorandum lest haply we should come to grief at the audit, and P Oxy I. 118 verso .37 (late iii/A.D.) ἐπὶ ( l. ἐπεὶ ) οὖν βραδύνουσι μήποτε αὐτῶν χρεία γένοιτο εὐθέως αὐτοὺς ἐξέλασον , since they are delaying, lest haply there might be need of them, send them off immediately. With Luk_21:34 cf. P Flor I. 99 .9 (i/ii A.D.) ( = Selections , p. 72) προορώμεθα μήποτε ἐ [π ]ηρεάσηι (cf. Luk_6:23 ) ἡμεῖν , we are taking precautions, lest haply he should deal despitefully with us. For the construction with the ind. cf. P Par 49 .31 (B.C. 164 158) (= Witkowski, 2 ἐγὼ γὰρ νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἀγωνιῶ , μή ποτε ἀρ [ρ ]ωστεῖ τὸ παιδάριον , καὶ οὐκ ἔχω σχολὴν ἀναβῆναι πρὸς ὑμᾶς , for by the gods I am anxious, lesi haply the child is ill, and I have no leisure to come up to you. The constructions of the word in the NT are tabulated by H. Scott in Robertson Gr. .8 p. 1415. Reference may also be made to Isidore Epp. ii. 270.

μήποτε or μή ποτε as adv. "never, on no account", after ὡς, εἰ, etc., Aesch. , etc.;—also with inf., in oaths, ὀμοῦμαι, μήποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι Il. in prohibition or strong denial, with aor. subj., μήποτε καὶ σὺ ὀλέσσῃς Od. "perhaps", like "nescio an", Arist. as Conj. "that at no time, lest ever", Lat. ne quando, Od.

μήποτε (= μή ποτε, and so written in WH, exc. Mat.25:9), negative particle, related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ. __1. As neg. particle, never: Heb.9:17 (R, mg., but see infr.; WH, txt., μή τότε). __2. As conjc., lest ever, lest haply (the idea of chance rather than of time seems to prevail in NT) : Mat.4:6 (LXX) Mat.5:25 7:6 13:15" (LXX), Mat.13:29 15:32 27:64, Mrk.4:12" (LXX) Mrk.14:2, Luk.4:11 12:58 14:12, 29, Act.28:27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Luk.21:34, Heb.2:1 3:12 4:1; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp., Luk.14:8, Act.5:39; in later writers (see M, Pr., 192 f.), perhaps, Mat.25:9. __3. As interrogative; __(a) in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Jhn.7:26, Heb.9:17, (R, txt., cf. Westc., in l; but see supr.); __(b) in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Luk.3:15, 2Ti.2:25.† (AS)