Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation

a) This is a way to strongly deny that something will happen. It is the strongest way to negate something in Greek.

b) It is formed by using a double negative (ou mh) with an aorist subjunctive verb (or possibly future indicative).  While ou plus the indicative denies a certainty, ou mh plus the subjunctive denies even the potentiality.

c) It is translated "certainly not" or "never", with the English future tense.

d) This use is found primarily in the reported sayings of Jesus and in quotes from the Septuagint. Outside of these two occurrences, it is used only rarely.

e) Examples:

    i) Matthew 24:35
    "but my words will not at all (certainly not) pass away."
    "oiJ de; lovgoi mou ouj mh; parevlqwsin."
    ii) Matthew 5:20
    "unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of the heavens".
    "ejan mh; perisseuvsh/ uJmw'n hJ dikaiosuvnh plei'on tw'n grammatevwn kai; Farisaivwn, ouj mh; eijsevlqhte eij" th;n basileivan tw'n oujranw'n."
    iii) Hebrews 13:5
    "I will not at all (certainly not) fail you, nor will I ever leave you."
    "Ouj mhv se ajnw' oujd ouj mhv se ejgkatalivpw:"
 

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