Original Word: οὐδέ
Part of Speech: Conjunction,Negative
Transliteration: oude
Pronunciation: oo-deh'
Phonetic Spelling: (oo-deh')
KJV: neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as
NASB: nor, even, or, either, neither, no, all
Word Origin: [from G3756 (οὐ - no) and G1161 (δέ - now)]

1. not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even

neither, not even

From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even -- neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as.

see GREEK ou

see GREEK de

3761 oudé (from 3756 /ou, "not" and 1161 /dé, "moreover") – properly, moreover not, neither indeed, not even, nor even.

3761 /oudé ("neither indeed," "nor indeed") introduces a statement that is negated factually and deductively (it occurs 137 times in the NT). That is, the negation rules out (invalidates) the statement that precedes it, and what naturally extends from it. This is analogous to the following: Because 100 is not enough, then neither are 90, 80, or 70 because they are all included in 100. Thus if "A" (100 in the previous example) is invalid, so is what necessarily follows (statement "B" – 90, 80, 70).

[Regardless of how 3761 (oudé) is translated, it means: If "A" (the preceding statement) isn't true (valid) – then "B" (which extends from it) is also not valid. As in the previous example: If 100 is not enough (valid), then automatically neither are 90, 80, 70, etc.]

Word Origin
from ou, and de
Definition
and not, neither
NASB Translation
all (2), cannot* (3), either (4), even (37), neither (4), no (4), no* (1), nor (64), nothing* (1), or (20), then (1).

STRONGS NT 3761: οὐδέ

οὐδέ (from Homer down), a neg. disjunctive conjunction, compounded of οὐ and δέ, and therefore properly, equivalent to but not; generally, however, its oppositive force being lost, it serves to continue a negation. (On the elision of ἐ when the next word begins with a vowel (observed by Tdf. in eight instances, neglected in fifty-eight), see Tdf. Proleg., p. 96; cf. WHs Appendix, p. 146; Winers Grammar, § 5, 1 a.; Buttmann, p. 10f) It signifies:

1. and not, continuing a negation, yet differently from οὔτε; for the latter connects parts or members of the same thing, since τέ is adjunctive like the Latinque; but οὐδέ places side by side things that are equal and mutually exclude each other ((?). There appears to be some mistake here in what is said about 'mutual exclusion' (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 55, 6): οὐδέ, like δέ, always makes reference to something preceding; οὔτε to what follows also; the connection of clauses made negative by οὔτε is close and internal, so that they are mutually complementary and combine into a unity, whereas clauses negatived by οὐδέ follow one another much more loosely, often almost by accident as it were; see Winer's Grammar, at the passage cited, and especially the quotations there given from Benfey and Klotz.) It differs from μηδέ as οὐ does from μή (which see ad at the beginning); after οὐ, where each has its own verb: Matthew 5:15 6:28; Mark 4:22; Luke 6:44; Acts 2:27; Acts 9:9; Acts 17:24; Galatians 1:17; Galatians 4:14; οὐκ οἶδα οὐδέ ἐπίσταμαι, Mark 14:68 R G L marginal reading (others, οὔτε ... οὔτε) (Cicero, pro Rosc. American 43,non novi neque scio); cf. Winers Grammar, 490 (456)

c.; (Buttmann, 367 (315) note); οὐ ... οὐδέ ... οὐδέ, not ... nor ... nor, Matthew 6:26; οὐδείς ... οὐδέ ... οὐδέ ... οὐδέ, Revelation 5:3 (R G; cf. Buttmann, 367 (315); Winer's Grammar, 491 (457)); οὐ ... οὐδέ; followed by a future ... οὐδέ μή followed by subjunctive aorist ... οὐδέ, Revelation 7:16. οὐ ... οὐδέ, the same verb being common to both: Matthew 10:24; Matthew 25:13; Luke 6:43; Luke 8:17 (cf. Winers Grammar, 300 (281); Buttmann, 355 (305) cf. § 139, 7); John 6:24; John 13:16; Acts 8:21; Acts 16:21; Acts 24:18; Romans 2:28; Romans 9:16; Galatians 1:1; Galatians 3:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 21:23. preceded by οὔπω, Mark 8:17; — by οὐδείς, Matthew 9:17; — by ἵνα μή, which is followed by οὐδέ ... οὐδέ, where μηδέ ... μηδέ might have been expected (cf. Buttmann, § 148, 8; (Winer's Grammar, 474 (442))) Revelation 9:4. οὐδέ γάρ, for neither, John 8:42; Romans 8:7.

2. also not (A. V. generally neither): Matthew 6:15; Matthew 21:27; Matthew 25:45; Mark 11:26 (R L); Luke 16:31; John 15:4; Romans 4:15; Romans 11:21; 1 Corinthians 15:13, 16; Galatians 1:12 (οὐδέ γάρ ἐγώ (cf. Buttmann, 367 (315) note; 492 (458))); Hebrews 8:4, etc.; ἀλλ' οὐδέ, Luke 23:15; ἤ οὐδέ, in a question, or doth not even etc.? 1 Corinthians 11:14 Rec.; the simple οὐδέ, num ne quidem (have ye not even etc.) in a question where a negative answer is assumed (see οὐ, 7): Mark 12:10; Luke 6:3; Luke 23:40; and G L T Tr WH in 1 Corinthians 11:14.

3. not even (Buttmann, 369 (316)): Matthew 6:29; Matthew 8:10; Mark 6:31; Luke 7:9; Luke 12:27; John 21:25 (Tdf. omits the verse); 1 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 14:21; οὐδέ εἷς (Winers Grammar, 173 (163); Buttmann, § 127, 32), Acts 4:32; Romans 3:10; 1 Corinthians 6:5 (L T Tr WH οὐδείς); οὐδέ ἕν, John 1:3; ἀλλ' οὐδέ, Acts 19:2; 1 Corinthians 3:2 (Rec. ἀλλ' οὔτε); ; Galatians 2:3. in a double negative for the sake of emphasis, οὐκ ... οὐδέ (Buttmann, 369 (316); Winer's Grammar, 500 (465)): Matthew 27:14; Luke 18:13; Acts 7:5.

Overview and Linguistic Function

οὐδέ joins two or more words, clauses, or ideas under a single negation and frequently advances that negation to the level of “not even.” By fusing οὐ (“not”) with δέ (“and/but”), it either closes a door on every possible alternative or highlights the utter impossibility of the matter in view. In Scripture this small conjunction becomes a decisive theological tool, blocking rival hopes and guaranteeing divine promises.

Intensity of Negation and Rhetorical Force

• Total exclusion – Acts 4:12: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
• Finality of unbelief – Luke 16:31: hard hearts will not be persuaded “even if someone rises from the dead.”
• Inability apart from Christ – John 15:4: “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”
• Irrevocable covenant – Hebrews 13:5: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Key Clusters of Usage in the Gospels

• Kingdom ethics (Matthew 5 – 7): practical negations—“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket” (Matthew 5:15).
• Eschatology (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32): knowledge of “that day or hour” belongs to the Father alone.
• Judicial innocence (Luke 23:15): both Pilate and Herod find “nothing worthy of death.”
• Resurrection disbelief (Mark 16:13): disciples “did not believe them either,” a resistance broken only by the risen Christ.

Pauline Epistles: Theology and Ecclesiology

• Human inability (Romans 8:7): the fleshly mind “does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
• Grace over effort (Romans 9:16): salvation “depends not on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
• Unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28): “There is neither Jew nor Greek…, neither male nor female.”
• Resurrection logic (1 Corinthians 15:13-16): if the dead are not raised, “neither has Christ been raised,” nor does faith retain value.
• Ministerial integrity (1 Thessalonians 2:3): Paul’s gospel came “not from error, impurity, nor deceit.”

General Epistles and Hebrews

Hebrews contrasts Old and New Covenants by repeated οὐδέ: animal blood cannot redeem (9:12, 25), and the former priests’ service cannot perfect (8:4). 1 Peter 2:22 applies Isaiah’s servant song: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth,” highlighting Christ’s flawless obedience without exception.

Apocalyptic and Eschatological Passages

Revelation employs οὐδέ to portray absolute reversal: “They will hunger no more, neither will they thirst” (7:16), while judgment scenes stress stubborn refusal to repent (9:20). The New Jerusalem “has no need of sun or moon” (21:23), stressing the sufficiency of God’s glory.

Ministry and Discipleship Implications

1. Gospel exclusivity: only Christ saves (Acts 4:12).
2. Pastoral assurance: the Lord will never forsake His people (Hebrews 13:5).
3. Fruitful discipleship: nothing is achieved apart from abiding in Christ (John 15:4-5).
4. Ethical leadership: ministry must be free of deceit or impurity (1 Thessalonians 2:3).

Intertextual Background and Septuagint Echoes

οὐδέ often renders Hebrew וְלֹא (“and not”). Peter’s Pentecost sermon cites Psalm 16: “Nor will You let Your Holy One see decay” (Acts 2:27), showing continuity of promise across the Testaments.

Statistical Distribution Overview

Synoptic Gospels 55, John 16, Acts 15, Pauline Epistles 38, Hebrews 9, General Epistles 4, Revelation 7 — total 144. The breadth of usage demonstrates that emphatic negation operates across narrative, doctrinal, pastoral, and apocalyptic contexts.

Theological Summary

By welding negatives together, οὐδέ reinforces Scripture’s great certainties and impossibilities: no alternative saviour, no abandoned believer, no fruit apart from Christ, no failure of God’s Word. The particle’s quiet presence ensures that the “Yes” of divine grace is heard amid the “No” to every competing claim.

ουδ ουδ' οὐδ' ουδε ουδέ οὐδε οὐδὲ oud oud' oude oudèInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts