mēpote

μήποτε

(= μή ποτε, and so written in WH, exc. Mat.25:9),

negative particle, related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ.

1. As neg. particle, never: Heb.9:17 (R, mg., but see infr.; WH, txt., μή τότε).

2. As conjc., lest ever, lest haply (the idea of chance rather than of time seems to prevail in NT) : Mat.4:6 (LXX) Mat.5:25 7:6 13:15" (LXX), Mat.13:29 15:32 27:64, Mrk.4:12" (LXX) Mrk.14:2, Luk.4:11 12:58 14:12, 29, Act.28:27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Luk.21:34, Heb.2:1 3:12 4:1; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp., Luk.14:8, Act.5:39; in later writers (see M, Pr., 192 f.), perhaps, Mat.25:9.

3. As interrogative;

(a) in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Jhn.7:26, Heb.9:17, (R, txt., cf. Westc., in l; but see supr.);

(b) in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Luk.3:15, 2Ti.2:25.†

(AS)