Strong's Greek: 3293 -- (Not Used)zzz

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 3293 is an unused form, preserved only in lexicons as part of the larger family of μή- words that express negation. Even though this particular form never appears in the inspired text, the concept it represents—absolute negation—permeates both Old and New Testaments and serves as a vital grammatical tool for declaring the utter impossibility of something apart from God’s will.

Relation to Other Greek Negatives

The New Testament regularly employs μή (negative particle), μηδείς/μηδέν (“no one/nothing,” Strong’s 3367), μήτε (“neither,” Strong’s 3383), and μηδέ (“nor, not even,” Strong’s 3366). Together they intensify statements, forbid actions, or exclude possibilities. Strong’s 3293 stands among these cognates, reinforcing the broader scriptural pattern of emphatic denial.

Old Testament Background (Septuagint)

The Septuagint often renders Hebrew constructions such as לֹא (“not”) or אַל (“no, do not”) with μή- compounds. Examples include:
• Genesis 3:3 “You must not touch it, lest you die” (μή τοῦ θανάτου ἀποθάνητε).
• Psalm 118:17 “I will not die, but I will live” (οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνω ἀλλὰ ζήσομαι).

These negative particles preserve the covenant urgency of obedience: blessing is promised, but disobedience meets certain judgment.

Theological Themes Carried by the Negative Particle Family

1. Human Inability Apart from Christ

John 15:5 “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”

The negation underscores the believer’s total dependence on Christ for fruitfulness.

2. Nullification of Merit without Love

1 Corinthians 13:2 “If I have all faith … but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Divine evaluation renders the most dazzling gifts worthless without love.

3. Security in God’s Sovereignty

Romans 8:38-39 “Neither death nor life … nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.”

Here a cascade of μή/οὐδέ phrases sweeps every conceivable threat into a single, emphatic “no.”

4. Freedom from Anxiety

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything … present your requests to God.”

The negative command directs believers away from crippling worry toward prayerful trust.

Historical Usage beyond the New Testament

Classical authors used μή- forms in legal decrees, philosophical argument, and dramatic dialogue to prohibit, deny, or refute. Hellenistic Jewish writers (e.g., Philo) likewise employed them to highlight moral absolutes. The early church fathers continued this pattern, warning, “Let no one entice you” (μηδείς) and “Do not love the world” (μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε).

Pastoral and Homiletical Implications

1. Preaching Certainty

Negative particles stress the definiteness of God’s promises and warnings. Clear preaching will not dilute the “cannot” and “must not” embedded in Scripture (Hebrews 11:6; James 4:4).

2. Counseling Assurance

When believers wrestle with doubt, passages that deploy strong negation (“I will never leave you,” Hebrews 13:5) provide sturdy anchors.

3. Discipleship Clarity

Teaching new believers to recognize μή-based prohibitions guards against compromise: “Do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2).

4. Evangelistic Urgency

The exclusive claims of Christ (“No one comes to the Father except through Me,” John 14:6) rest on absolute negatives that dismantle pluralism and call sinners to decision.

Doctrinal Significance

Absolute negation safeguards truths such as:
• God’s perfection—“God cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).
• Salvation by grace alone—“Not by works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• Eternal security—“No one can snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

Devotional Reflection

Meditating on the “nothing” phrases of Scripture leads to deeper humility and stronger faith. Believers confess with David, “I have no good apart from You” (Psalm 16:2), while rejoicing that “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Conclusion

Although Strong’s 3293 itself is absent from the New Testament, the negative force it shares with its cognates is woven throughout God’s revelation. These emphatic denials elevate divine sufficiency, expose human helplessness, and reinforce the unshakeable promises of the gospel, equipping the church to proclaim a clear, uncompromising message in every generation.

Links

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