3385. méti

Lexicon

méti: "whether," "if," "surely not," "is it?"

Original Word: μήτι
Part of Speech: Particle, Interrogative
Transliteration: méti
Pronunciation: MAY-tee
Phonetic Spelling: (may'-tee)
Definition: "whether," "if," "surely not," "is it?"
Meaning: if not, unless, whether at all.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

not

From me and the neuter of tis; whether at all -- not (the particle usually not expressed, except by the form of the question).

see GREEK me

see GREEK tis

HELPS Word-studies

3385 mḗti (from 3361 /mḗ, "not" and 5101 /tís, "anything") – properly, not perhaps, "no on first blush (reaction)" – while still keeping "the possibility open" to elicit the desired reaction from the listener (reader). 3385 (mḗti) then draws out an immediate "no," while still conjuring the idea, "unless . . . ".

Example: Jn 4:29: "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not (3385 /mḗti) the Christ, is it?" (NASU).

A. T. Robertson, "Is not this the Christ (3385 /mḗti) . . . " elicits "the negative answer ('this cannot be') . . . 'unless He really is the Christ!' (holding out the 'diplomatic possibility') and thus heightening their interest" (WS, 429,30).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from mé and the neut. of tis
Definition
can this be? (interrog. particle expecting a neg. answer)
NASB Translation
cannot (1), cannot* (1), perhaps (1), surely (4), surely no (1), unless* (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3385: μήτι

μήτι (so G T WH R (commonly), but μή τί L (except 1 Corinthians 6:3) Tr (except Matthew 26:22, 25; Mark 4:21)) (μή and τί), whether at all, whether perchance, an interrogative expecting a negative answer; in a direct question (German doch nicht etwa? (in English generally untranslated; cf. Winers Grammar, § 57, 3 b.; Buttmann, 248 (213))): Matthew 7:16; Matthew 26:22, 25; Mark 4:21; Mark 14:19; Luke 6:39; John 7:31 (R G); (here all texts μή τί (properly)); Acts 10:47; 2 Corinthians 12:18; James 3:11; μήτι ἄρα, 2 Corinthians 1:17; used by one asking doubtfully yet inclining to believe what he asks about (see μήποτε, 3 a.): Matthew 12:23; John 4:29. εἰ μήτι, see εἰ, III. 10. μήτιγε (or μήτι γέ) see in its place.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A compound of μή (mē, a primary particle of qualified negation) and the enclitic particle τι (ti, meaning "something" or "anything").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to the Greek particle μήτι, similar functions can be found in Hebrew interrogative particles that imply a negative response, such as הֲ (ha) or אִם (im) when used in rhetorical questions. However, these do not have a one-to-one correspondence with μήτι.

Usage: μήτι is used in the New Testament to frame questions that anticipate a negative response. It is often employed by speakers to express skepticism or to challenge the listener's assumptions.

Context: μήτι is a Greek interrogative particle that appears in the New Testament to introduce questions where the expected answer is negative. This particle is used to convey a sense of incredulity or to question the validity of a statement or belief. It is often found in rhetorical questions, where the speaker is not seeking information but rather affirming a point by anticipating a negative response.

For example, in the Gospel of John, Jesus uses μήτι to challenge the assumptions of His listeners: "Do you not say, 'There are still four months until the harvest'? But I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35, BSB). Here, μήτι introduces a question that highlights the contrast between the disciples' expectations and the reality Jesus presents.

Another instance is found in Matthew 7:16, where Jesus asks, "Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (BSB). The use of μήτι in this context underscores the absurdity of the idea, reinforcing the teaching that good fruit comes from good trees.

μήτι serves as a linguistic tool to engage the audience, prompting them to reconsider their preconceived notions and to arrive at a deeper understanding of the truth being presented.

Forms and Transliterations

μη μητι μήτι meti mēti mḗti

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 7:16 Prtcl-I
GRK: ἐπιγνώσεσθε αὐτούς μήτι συλλέγουσιν ἀπὸ
INT: you will know them not Do they gather from

Matthew 12:23 Prtcl-I
GRK: καὶ ἔλεγον Μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν
NAS: This man cannot be the Son
KJV: said, Is not this the son
INT: and said not This is

Matthew 26:22 Prtcl-I
GRK: εἷς ἕκαστος Μήτι ἐγώ εἰμι
NAS: to say to Him, Surely not I, Lord?
KJV: Lord, is it I?
INT: one each not I Is it

Matthew 26:25 Prtcl-I
GRK: αὐτὸν εἶπεν Μήτι ἐγώ εἰμι
NAS: Him, said, Surely it is not I, Rabbi?
KJV: Master, is it I? He said
INT: him said not I is it

Mark 4:21 Prtcl-I
GRK: αὐτοῖς ὅτι Μήτι ἔρχεται ὁ
KJV: he said unto them, Is a candle brought
INT: to them not is brought a

Mark 14:19 Prtcl-I
GRK: κατὰ εἷς Μήτι ἐγώ
NAS: to Him one by one, Surely not I?
KJV: unto him one by one, [Is] it I? and
INT: by one not [Is it] I

Luke 6:39 Prtcl-I
GRK: παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς Μήτι δύναται τυφλὸς
KJV: a parable unto them, Can the blindINT: a parable to them not Is able a blind [man]

Luke 9:13 Prtcl-I
GRK: δύο εἰ μήτι πορευθέντες ἡμεῖς
NAS: fish, unless perhaps we go and buy
INT: two if not having gone we

John 4:29 Prtcl-I
GRK: ὅσα ἐποίησα μήτι οὗτός ἐστιν
KJV: I did: is not this the Christ?
INT: whatever I did can it be this is

John 8:22 Prtcl-I
GRK: οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι Μήτι ἀποκτενεῖ ἑαυτὸν
NAS: were saying, Surely He will not kill
KJV: the Jews, Will he kill himself?
INT: the Jews not Will he kill himself

John 18:35 Prtcl-I
GRK: ὁ Πιλᾶτος Μήτι ἐγὼ Ἰουδαῖός
KJV: Pilate answered, Am I
INT: Pilate not I a Jew

Acts 10:47 Prtcl-I
GRK: Μήτι τὸ ὕδωρ
NAS: Surely no one can
KJV: Can any man forbid
INT: if not The water

1 Corinthians 7:5 Prtcl-I
GRK: ἀλλήλους εἰ μήτι ἂν ἐκ
INT: one another if not anyhow by

2 Corinthians 1:17 Prtcl-I
GRK: οὖν βουλόμενος μήτι ἄρα τῇ
KJV: thus minded, did I use lightness? or
INT: Therefore purposing not indeed

2 Corinthians 12:18 Prtcl-I
GRK: τὸν ἀδελφόν μήτι ἐπλεονέκτησεν ὑμᾶς
INT: the brother not did exploit you

2 Corinthians 13:5 Prtcl-I
GRK: ὑμῖν εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε
INT: you if not rejected you are

James 3:11 Prtcl-I
GRK: μήτι ἡ πηγὴ
KJV: Doth a fountain send forth
INT: not the spring

Strong's Greek 3385
17 Occurrences

μήτι — 17 Occ.