Original Word: μή οὐκ
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: mé ouk
Pronunciation: may ook
Phonetic Spelling: (may ook)
Definition: not, no
Meaning: neither, never, not

Word Origin: A combination of two Greek particles: μή (mé) and οὐκ (ouk), both of which are negative particles.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew language also has particles for negation, such as לֹא (lo) and אַל (al), which are used similarly to express negation in various contexts. These can be found in Strong's Hebrew entries H3808 (לֹא) and H408 (אַל).

Usage: In the Greek language, μή (mé) and οὐκ (ouk) are both used to express negation, but they are employed in different contexts. μή (mé) is typically used in subjective, conditional, or hypothetical situations, often with moods like the subjunctive or imperative. οὐκ (ouk), on the other hand, is used in more direct, factual statements, often with the indicative mood. When combined as μή οὐκ, the phrase can be used to emphasize a strong negation or to express a nuanced form of denial, often in rhetorical questions or emphatic statements.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the context of Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, understanding the nuances of negation is crucial for interpreting the text accurately. The use of μή and οὐκ reflects the Greek language's ability to convey subtle differences in meaning, which can be significant in theological discussions and doctrinal formulations. The combination of these particles would have been understood by contemporary audiences to convey a strong or emphatic negation.

Word Origin
see mé and ou,.

STRONGS NT 3378: μή οὐκ

μή οὐκ, see μή, III. 1.

neither, never, not.

I.e. me and ou; as interrogative and negative, is it not that? -- neither (followed by no), + never, not. Compare ou me.

see GREEK ou

see GREEK ou me

see GREEK me

μη ουχίInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts