Strong's Greek: 3302 -- (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 3302, μήν (mēn), is an emphatic particle of strong affirmation that, while not appearing in the extant New Testament text, stands behind the biblical idea of saying “Yes, indeed!” before God and men. Its force is akin to Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn) and the Greek ἀμήν, both of which seal truth with certainty. Understanding μήν therefore enriches our grasp of how Scripture portrays verbal integrity, covenantal oath-taking, and the believer’s clear, faith-filled assent to divine revelation.

Linguistic background and relationship to other Greek particles

In classical Greek μήν frequently strengthens a prior declaration (“truly,” “certainly”) and sometimes combines with other particles (e.g., ὑπὴρ μήν, καὶ μήν) for layered emphasis. Its close neighbor μέν (Strong’s 3303) supplies the “on the one hand” element of a contrasting pair (μέν…δέ), whereas μήν simply underlines truth without necessarily setting up a contrast. By New Testament times μήν had largely been displaced by ἀληθῶς or ἀμήν for emphatic purposes, which explains its absence from the canonical Greek text while the theological need for strong affirmation continued unabated.

Affirmation in biblical theology

Scripture grounds the concept of affirmation in the very nature of God: “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). Because the Lord’s self-disclosure is inherently true, His people are summoned to echo that truth verbally and ethically. When Paul writes, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20), he joins the believer’s “Amen” to the divine “Yes,” illustrating how human affirmation mirrors God’s reliability. Although μήν itself is not used, the theological bridge is evident: strong affirmation is both a reflection of God’s character and a duty for His covenant partners.

Old Testament and Septuagint usage

In the Septuagint μήν helps translate Hebrew particles of certainty. For example, in Genesis 18:13 the LXX renders Sarah’s secret laugh with καὶ μὴν γελάσω (“Truly shall I bear a child?”), highlighting the tension between human doubt and divine promise. Similarly, in Judges 15:2 μήν intensifies a father’s explanation to Samson, underscoring the irrevocability of his act. These occurrences show how μήν functions to certify statements of fact or resolve. While not canonical for Greek New Testament study, they illuminate the backdrop against which later biblical writers choose other words to achieve the same effect.

Comparison with New Testament forms of affirmative speech

1. ἀλήθεια / ἀληθῶς (“truth,” “truly”)—John often records Jesus saying, “Truly, truly, I tell you” (John 3:3).
2. ἀμήν (“amen”)—Used at both the beginning and end of statements (Matthew 5:18; Revelation 22:20) as a pledge of unassailable certainty.
3. ναί (“yes”)—Spoken either to confess faith (Matthew 9:28) or to ratify an oath (James 5:12).

Each of these fills the rhetorical space once occupied by μήν, demonstrating that the Spirit-inspired authors maintained the theological value of verbal certainty even as vocabulary shifted.

Ministry implications

1. Integrity of speech: “Let your ‘Yes’ be Yes, and your ‘No,’ No” (Matthew 5:37). Pastors and congregations alike must resist casual or ambiguous words, remembering that emphatic affirmation carries moral weight.
2. Confessional clarity: When churches recite creeds or sing “Amen,” they stand in a long biblical tradition of strong affirmation. Though μήν is absent from the New Testament, its concept supports the practice of publicly assenting to orthodox doctrine.
3. Covenant vows: Marriage ceremonies, ordinations, and baptismal professions gain scriptural gravitas when participants answer with an unambiguous “Yes,” echoing the spirit of μήν.

Historical doctrinal reflection

Early Greek fathers such as Athanasius and Chrysostom drew attention to ἀμήν as the believer’s seal of faith, yet their homilies reveal a linguistic memory of μήν’s emphatic role. Reformation confessions likewise valued precise, forceful wording to guard against heresy. The Westminster Confession’s insistence on “the whole counsel of God” presupposes that God’s people both hear and respond with clarity equal to μήν’s intensity.

Practical applications

• Cultivate truthful language in daily conversation, contracts, and public worship.
• Teach catechumens the biblical heritage behind the simple word “Amen,” linking it to a life of dependable testimony.
• Model decisive affirmation when preaching the promises of God, trusting that the Holy Spirit honors forthright proclamation.

Related terms

μεν (Strong’s 3303) – contrasting particle

ναί (Strong’s 3483) – affirmative “yes”

ἀμήν (Strong’s 281) – liturgical and emphatic “amen”

ἀληθῶς (Strong’s 230) – “truly, certainly”

In sum, although μήν itself does not appear in the Greek New Testament, its theological resonance lives on wherever the people of God answer His Word with an unreserved “Yes, indeed!”

Links

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