μήποτε, (fr. μή and ποτέ), [μή ποτε (separately) L WH (exc. Mt. xxv. 9, see below) Tr (exe. 2 Tim. ii. 25)], differing from οὔποτε as μή does from ov; [fr. Hom. down]. Accordingly it is 1. a particle of Negation; not ever, never: ἐπεὶ μήποτε ἰσχύει, since it is never of force, because the writer thinks that the very idea of its having force is to be denied, Heb. ix. 17 [where WH txt. μὴ τότε], on which see W. 480 (447), ef. B. 353 (304); but others refer this passage to 3 a. below. 2. a prohibitory Conjunction; Jest ever, lest at any time, lest haply, (also written separately μή ποτε [ (see init.), esp. when the component parts retain each its distinctive force; ef. Lipsius, Gram. Untersuch. p. 129 sq.; Ellendt, Lex. Soph. ii.107. Inthe N. T. use of this particle the notion of time usual to ποτέ seems to recede before that of contingency, /est perchance]), so that it refers to the preceding verb and indicates the purpose of the designated action [W. § 56, 2]: w. a subj. pres. Lk. xii. 58; ν΄. ἃ subj. aor., Mt. iv. 6 and Lk. iv. 11, fr. Ps. xe. (xei.) 12 (where Sept. for 13): Mt. v. 25 [(ef. below)]; vii. 6 [R G]; xiii. 15 and Acts xxviii. 27 (both from Is. vi. 10, where Sept. for 13); Mt. xiii. 29 (οὐ se. θέλω); xv. 32; xxvii.64; Mk.iv.12; Lk. xiv.12; withiva prefixed, ibid. 29; w.a fut. indic. [see B. § 139, 7, ef. also p. 368 (315) 4.7: [Mt. vii. 6 L T Tr WH; (cf. v. 25)]; Mk. xiv. 2; [Lk. xii. 58 LT Tr WH]. after verbs of fearing, taking care, [W.u.s.; B.§ 139, 48]: w. subj. aor. — so after προσέχω, to take heed, lest etc., Lk. xxi. 34; Heb. ii. 1, (Sir. xi. 33); so that an antecedent φοβούμενοι or προσέχοντες must be mentally supplied, Acts v.39; μήποτε οὐκ ἀρκέσῃ, lest perchance there be not enough (so that ovr ἀρκέσῃ forms one idea, and φοβούμεθα must be supplied before μήποτε), Mt. xxv. 9 RT WH mrg.; but L Tr WH txt., together with Meyer et al., have correctly restored μήποτε (36. τοῦτο γενέσθω [ W. § 64, 7 a.])- οὐ μὴ ἀρκέσῃ, i.e. not so! there will in no wise be enough (see μή, ΕΥ̓͂. 2); ef. Bornemann in the Stud. u. Krit. for 1843, p. 143 sq. ; [but all the editors above named remove the punctuation mark after μήποτε; in which case it may be connected directly with the words which follow it and translated (with R. V.) ‘peradventure there will not be enough’; ct. B. § 148, 10, esp. p. 354 (304) note. For additional exx. of μήποτε in this sense (cf. Aristot. eth. Nic. 10, 10 p. 1119", 24; with indic., ibid. pp. 1172", 33; 1173

μήποτε mēpote 25x

can function as an adverb, BDAG 648, lists it as a negative part., conj., and interrogative part., same signif. and usage as μή, Mt. 4:6; 13:15; Heb. 9:17; also, whether, Lk. 3:15

μήποτε

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

negative particle,

related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ.

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

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

As interrogative; in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Jo 7:26, He 9:17, (R, txt., cf. Westc., in l.; but v. supr.);

in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Lk 3:15, II Ti 2:25.†

μήποτε (=p ποτε), in the sense of “lest haply,” ‘lest perchance,” as in Mt 4°, 5%, a/., is seen in P Tebt I. 58%? (8.6, 111) βεβουλεύμεθα ἐκσπάσαι τὸ ἐπιδεδομένον ὑπόμνη(μα) μή ποτε ἐπὶ τοῦ διαλόγου χειμασθῶμεν, ‘we have decided to abstract the memorandum lest haply we should come to grief at the audit,’’ and P Oxy I. 118 verso*” (late ii/A.D.) ἐπὶ (/. ἐπεὶ) οὖν βραδύνουσι μήποτε αὐτῶν χρεία γένοιτο εὐθέως αὐτοὺς ἐξέλασον, ‘‘since they are delaying, lest haply there might be need of them, send them off immediately.’’ With Lk 2184 cf, P Flor I. 995 (i/ii a.p.) (= Selections, p. 72) προορώμεθα μήποτε ἐϊπ]ηρεάσηι (cf. Lk 68) ἡμεῖν, ‘‘we are taking precautions, lest haply he should deal despitefully with us.’’ For the construction with the ind. cf. P Par 49%! (B.c. 164-158) (= Witkowski,2 Pp. 71) ἐγὼ yap νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἀγωνιῶ, μή ποτε ἀρ[ρ]ωστεῖ τὸ παιδάριον, καὶ οὐκ ἔχω σχολὴν ἀναβῆναι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, “*for by the gods I am anxious, lest haply the child is ill, and I have no leisure to come up to you.” The constructions of the word in the NT are tabulated by H. Scott in Robertson (7.3 p. 1415. Reference may also be made to Isidore Zp. ii. 270.

μήποτε (mēpote) — lest. μήποτε or μή ποτε, Ionic dialect μή κοτε (see. below 11):

I. as adverb never, on no account, after ὡς, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; after εἰ, [Refs]: with infinitive, [Refs]; especially in oaths, never, ὀμοῦμαι, μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; in aposiopesis, ἢ μήπορ᾽ ἆρ᾽.. [Refs 8th c.BC+]

I.2. in prohibition or warning, with aorist subjunctive, μή ποτε καὶ σὺ.. ὀλέσσῃς [Refs 8th c.BC+]infinitive for imperative, [Refs]

I.3. in later Gr., perhaps, [LXX+4th c.BC+]

II. as conjunction, lest ever, αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν.., μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι [Refs 8th c.BC+]