Original Word: ἵνα μή
Part of Speech: Conjunction
Transliteration: hina mé
Pronunciation: hee-nah may
Phonetic Spelling: (hin'-ah may)
Definition: "lest," "so that not," "in order that not"
Meaning: albeit not, lest, that

albeit not, lest, that

I.e. hina and me; in order (or so) that not -- albeit not, lest, that, no(-t, (-thing)).

see GREEK me

see GREEK hina

Word Origin
see hina and mé.

Word Origin: A combination of ἵνα (hina, Strong's 2443) meaning "in order that" or "so that," and μή (mē, Strong's 3361), a particle of negation.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for the Greek conjunction ἵνα μή, similar concepts of negation and purpose can be found in Hebrew conjunctions and particles such as פֶּן (pen, Strong's 6435), which is often translated as "lest" or "so that not" in the Hebrew Bible. This reflects a similar cautionary or preventative purpose in the Old Testament narrative.

Usage: The phrase ἵνα μή is used in the New Testament to introduce a purpose or result clause that is negative in nature. It is often translated as "lest" or "so that not" in English, indicating an action taken to avoid a negative consequence.

Context: The Greek phrase ἵνα μή is a conjunction used frequently in the New Testament to express a negative purpose or result. It is a compound of ἵνα, which introduces purpose or result clauses, and μή, a negative particle. This construction is employed to indicate actions taken to prevent an undesirable outcome or to express a cautionary purpose.

In the Berean Standard Bible, ἵνα μή is often translated as "lest" or "so that not," capturing the preventative or cautionary nature of the phrase. For example, in Matthew 6:1, Jesus instructs, "Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Here, the phrase is used to warn against performing acts of righteousness for the wrong reasons, highlighting the potential loss of divine reward.

The use of ἵνα μή is significant in theological discussions about human responsibility and divine sovereignty. It underscores the importance of intention and motivation in the believer's life, emphasizing actions taken to align with God's will and avoid spiritual pitfalls.

Throughout the New Testament, ἵνα μή serves as a reminder of the consequences of actions and the importance of vigilance in the Christian walk. It reflects the biblical theme of living purposefully and avoiding sin, aligning with the broader scriptural call to holiness and obedience.

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts