Strong's G3513: νή (nḗ) Meaning

Quick Definition

νή Disj.prt. swearing by

Strong's Definition

a particle of attestation (accompanied by the object invoked or appealed to in confirmation); as sure as

Derivation: probably an intensive form of G3483 (ναί);

KJV Usage: I protest by

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

νή (G3513)

prep. (with acc.)

89.14 · Relations · Basis

on the basis of, by virtue of a marker of the basis for an oath or strong declaration Because of the elliptical nature of this expression in 1CO 15:31, the semantic implications of νή are often omitted, or the implication of νή is introduced by employing an overt declaration, as in Today’s English Version, “The pride I have in you, in our life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord, makes me declare this.”

1CO 15:31

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

νή, a particle employed in affirmations and oaths (common in Attic), and joined to an accusative of the person (for the most part, a divinity) or of the thing affirmed or sworn by (Buttmann, § 149, 17); by (Latinper, German bei): 1Co_15:31 (Gen_42:15 f).

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

νή nē 1x

by, BDAG 690, calls it a “particle of strong affirmation,” and is followed by the person or thing (in the acc) by which the person swears, 1 Cor. 15:31*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

νή, particle of affirmation employed in oaths,

[in LXX: ν. τ. ὑγίειαν, Ge 42:15, 16 (חֵי)*;]

by: c. acc., I Co 15:31.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

νή [page 426] For this particle, as in 1Co_15:31 , cf. P Par 49 .30 (B.C. 164 158) (= Witkowski .2 , p. 71) ἐγὼ γὰρ νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἀγωνιῶ , μή ποτε ἀρ [ρ ]ωστεῖ τὸ παιδάριον , Chrest. I. 110 A .4 (a temple oath B.C. 110) νὴ τοῦτον τὸν Ἡρακλῆ καὶ τοὺς συννάους θεούς , P Lond 897 .11 (A.D. 84) (= III. p. 207) κέκρικα γὰρ νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἐν Ἀλεξανδρε̣ίᾳ ἐπιμένειν , P Giss I. 19 .11 (ii/A.D.) τῆι ᾱ [ἡμέρᾳ ] τοῦ νεοῦ ἔτους νὴ τὴν σὴν [σωτη ]ρίαν ἄ [γ ]ευστος ἐκοιμώμην , and P Oxy VI. 939 .20 (iv/A.D.) (= Selections , p. 129) νὴ γὰρ τὴν σὴν σωτηρίαν , κύριέ μου , ἧς μάλιστά μοι μέλει a Christian letter from a servant to his master. Νή is used incorrectly with negatives in P Oxy I. 33 iv. 13 (interview with an Emperor late ii/A.D.) νὴ τὴν σὴν τύχην οὔτε μαίνομαι οὔτε ἀπονενόημαι , I swear by your prosperity, I am neither mad nor beside myself (Edd.) (cf. Act_26:25 ), and BGU III. 884 i. 3 (ii/iii A.D.) νὴ γὰρ τοὺς θεοὺς [οὐ ]κ ἔχωι ( l. ἔχω ) λο [ιπὸ ]ν τί σοι γράψωι ( l. γράψω ) , cf. .11 .

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

νή (nē) — as surely as. νή, Particle of strong affirmation, with accusative of the divinity invoked, once in Trag., ν. τὼ Λαπέρσα, ν. τὸν Εὐρώταν τρίτον, ν. τοὺς ἐν Ἄργει καὶ κατὰ Σπάρτην θεούς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently in Comedy texts and Prose, especially in the phrase νὴ Δία, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; with the Article, ν. τὸν Δία [Refs 4th c.BC+]; with the names of other gods, usually with Article, ν. τὴν Δήμητρα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ν. τὴν Ἄρτεμιν[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ν. τὼ θεώ (Demeter and Cora) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ν. τὼ σιώ (of the Dioscuri) used by a Spartan, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ν. τοὺς θεούς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ν. τόν alone, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

II. ν. (τὸν) Δία is also used,

II.1. in answering questions, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.2. in introducing objections or contentions supposed to come from antagonists, followed by γάρ, [Refs]; followed by ἀλλά, [Refs]; preceded by ἀλλά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.3. to add force by way of climax, ἄλλως τε μέντοι ν. Δία πάντως καὶ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.4. in adjurations, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

νή particle of affirmation employed in oaths, [in LXX: see τ. ὑγίειαν, Gen.42:15-16 (חַי) * ;] by: with accusative, 1Co.15:31.† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (1)

15:31

G3513 νή (nḗ)