3383. méte
Lexical Summary
méte: Neither, nor

Original Word: μήτε
Part of Speech: Conjunction,Negative
Transliteration: méte
Pronunciation: MAY-teh
Phonetic Spelling: (may'-teh)
KJV: neither, (n-)or, so as much
NASB: or, nor, either, neither nor, neither, no
Word Origin: [from G3361 (μή - no) and G5037 (τέ - both)]

1. not too
2. (in continued negation) neither or nor
3. also, not even

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
neither, nor

From me and te; not too, i.e. (in continued negation) neither or nor; also, not even -- neither, (n-)or, so as much.

see GREEK me

see GREEK te

HELPS Word-studies

3383 mḗte (from 3361 /mḗ, "not a possibility" and 5037 /té, "both-also") – properly, both-also not, i.e. neither also, nor indeed.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from and te
Definition
neither, nor
NASB Translation
either (4), neither (2), neither...nor (3), no (1), nor (7), or (12).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3383: μήτε

μήτε (μή and the enclitic τέ) (from Homer down), a copulative conjunction of negation, neither, nor (differing from οὔτε as μή does from οὐ. It differs from μηδέ; in that μηδέ separates different things, but μήτε those which are of the same kind or which are parts of one whole; cf. Winers Grammar, § 55, 6; (Buttmann, § 149, 13 b.)): μήτε ... μήτε, neither ... nor, Luke 7:33 (T μή ... μηδέ); (five times); Acts 23:12, 21; Acts 27:20; Hebrews 7:3; (but in Ephesians 4:27 for μή ... μήτε we must with L T Tr WH substitute μή ... μηδέ). μή ... μήτε ... μήτε, Matthew 5:34-36 (four times); 1 Timothy 1:7; James 5:12; Revelation 7:3; ἵνα μή ... μήτε ... μήτε, Revelation 7:1; μηδέ ... μήτε ... μήτε, 2 Thessalonians 2:2 L T Tr WH; μή εἶναι ἀνάστασιν, μηδέ ἄγγελον (for that is something other than ἀνάστασις), μήτε πνεῦμα (because angels belong to the genus πνεύματα), Acts 23:8 R G; cf. Winers Grammar, 493 (409); (Buttmann, 367f (314f)).

Topical Lexicon
Syntactic Function and Nuance

μήτε is a coordinating conjunction functioning as “neither…nor,” always paired (sometimes in a triple series). It categorically negates each member of a list, enforcing total exclusion without leaving a middle option. The term strengthens prohibitions and clarifies boundaries, signaling that every alternative named is equally ruled out.

Usage in the Teaching of Jesus

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus intensifies Old-Covenant truth by banning oath-taking: “Do not swear at all, either by heaven… nor by the earth… nor by Jerusalem” (Matthew 5:34-35). μήτε locks the door on every substitute oath, forcing disciples to embrace simple truthfulness. Likewise, in Matthew 11:18 and Luke 7:33 Jesus contrasts popular criticisms of John the Baptist (“He has no bread nor wine”), using μήτε to expose the inconsistency of unbelief.

Mission Instructions in Luke

Luke 9:3 compresses Jesus’ missionary priorities: “Take nothing for the journey—neither staff nor bag nor bread nor money; do not take two tunics.” The rapid six-fold μήτε removes all props, cultivating dependence on divine provision and hospitality.

Acts: Judicial Clarity and Providential Care

Luke employs μήτε to record courtroom deliberations (Acts 23:8, “neither angel nor spirit”) and the zeal of conspirators (“neither eat nor drink,” Acts 23:12, 21). In the storm narrative: “Neither sun nor stars appeared for many days” (Acts 27:20), heightening suspense before God’s rescue of Paul. The conjunction underlines human helplessness and the sufficiency of God’s sovereignty.

Pauline Epistles: Doctrinal Safeguards

2 Thessalonians 2:2 warns believers “not to be quickly shaken… neither by a spirit nor by a word nor by a letter,” shielding the church from eschatological deception. 1 Timothy 1:7 exposes would-be teachers who “understand neither what they are saying nor the matters about which they make confident assertions,” affirming the necessity of sound doctrine guarded by Scripture.

Hebrews and the Priesthood of Christ

Hebrews 7:3 describes Melchizedek as “without father or mother or genealogy,” a triple μήτε framing his typological resemblance to the eternal Son. The language underscores Christ’s unique, non-Levitical priesthood—one that is not contingent on human lineage and thus remains forever.

James on Integrity of Speech

James echoes Jesus: “Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath” (James 5:12). μήτε again abolishes loopholes, binding believers to transparent, trustworthy speech that reflects God’s own faithfulness.

Revelation: Divine Restraint in Judgment

Before the sealing of the 144,000, John sees angels “holding back the four winds… so that no wind would blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree” (Revelation 7:1, 3). μήτε magnifies God’s careful control, pausing judgment until His servants are protected.

Historical-Linguistic Context

Classical Greek often paired οὔτε for factual negation and μήτε for volitional or potential negation. In the Septuagint and New Testament the distinction softens, but μήτε still carries an element of will, command, or possibility, fitting the exhortational character of the gospel era.

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Absolute Holiness: μήτε stresses the comprehensive nature of divine standards—no sphere (heaven, earth, Jerusalem) or resource (staff, bread, money) escapes the Lord’s claim.
2. Integrity of Communication: By excluding all oath alternatives, μήτε calls believers to truthful simplicity, reflecting God who “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).
3. Dependence and Faith: Mission passages negate material supports, urging reliance on the Father’s providence and the saints’ hospitality.
4. Doctrinal Vigilance: Paul’s triple μήτε in 2 Thessalonians 2 equips the church to test every spiritual claim against apostolic truth.
5. Eschatological Assurance: In Revelation, μήτε comforts God’s people with the certainty that judgment pauses until redemption is secured.

Thus μήτε, though small, serves as a vital grammatical instrument by which Scripture excludes compromise, clarifies commands, and highlights the total sufficiency and steadfastness of God.

Forms and Transliterations
μη μητε μήτε mete mēte mḗte
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 5:34 Conj
GRK: ὀμόσαι ὅλως μήτε ἐν τῷ
NAS: at all, either by heaven,
KJV: not at all; neither by heaven;
INT: to swear at all neither by the

Matthew 5:35 Conj
GRK: μήτε ἐν τῇ
NAS: or by the earth,
KJV: Nor by the earth;
INT: nor by the

Matthew 5:35 Conj
GRK: ποδῶν αὐτοῦ μήτε εἰς Ἰεροσόλυμα
NAS: of His feet, or by Jerusalem,
KJV: his footstool: neither by Jerusalem;
INT: feet of him nor by Jerusalem

Matthew 5:36 Conj
GRK: μήτε ἐν τῇ
NAS: Nor shall you make an oath
KJV: Neither shalt thou swear by
INT: Neither by the

Matthew 11:18 Conj
GRK: γὰρ Ἰωάννης μήτε ἐσθίων μήτε
NAS: For John came neither eating nor
KJV: John came neither eating nor
INT: indeed John neither eating nor

Matthew 11:18 Conj
GRK: μήτε ἐσθίων μήτε πίνων καὶ
NAS: eating nor drinking,
KJV: neither eating nor drinking, and
INT: neither eating nor drinking and

Luke 7:33 Conj
GRK: ἐσθίων ἄρτον μήτε πίνων οἶνον
NAS: and drinking no wine,
KJV: the Baptist came neither eating bread
INT: eating bread nor drinking wine

Luke 9:3 Conj
GRK: τὴν ὁδόν μήτε ῥάβδον μήτε
NAS: for [your] journey, neither a staff,
KJV: [your] journey, neither staves,
INT: the way neither clubs nor

Luke 9:3 Conj
GRK: μήτε ῥάβδον μήτε πήραν μήτε
NAS: neither a staff, nor a bag, nor
KJV: neither staves, nor scrip, neither
INT: neither clubs nor bag nor

Luke 9:3 Conj
GRK: μήτε πήραν μήτε ἄρτον μήτε
NAS: nor a bag, nor bread, nor
KJV: nor scrip, neither bread, neither
INT: nor bag nor bread nor

Luke 9:3 Conj
GRK: μήτε ἄρτον μήτε ἀργύριον μήτε
NAS: bread, nor money;
KJV: neither bread, neither money; neither
INT: nor bread nor money nor

Luke 9:3 Conj
GRK: μήτε ἀργύριον μήτε ἀνὰ δύο
KJV: neither money; neither have two
INT: nor money nor apiece two

Acts 23:8 Conj
GRK: εἶναι ἀνάστασιν μήτε ἄγγελον μήτε
NAS: resurrection, nor an angel,
KJV: neither angel, nor spirit: but
INT: there is resurrection nor angel nor

Acts 23:8 Conj
GRK: μήτε ἄγγελον μήτε πνεῦμα Φαρισαῖοι
NAS: an angel, nor a spirit,
INT: nor angel nor spirit Pharisees

Acts 23:12 Conj
GRK: ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε
NAS: saying that they would neither eat
KJV: saying that they would neither eat nor
INT: themselves declaring neither to eat nor

Acts 23:12 Conj
GRK: μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε πίειν ἕως
NAS: eat nor drink
KJV: neither eat nor drink till
INT: neither to eat nor to drink until

Acts 23:21 Conj
GRK: ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε
NAS: not to eat or drink
KJV: that they will neither eat
INT: put under an oath themselves neither to eat not

Acts 23:21 Conj
GRK: μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε πιεῖν ἕως
KJV: neither eat nor drink till
INT: neither to eat not to drink until

Acts 27:20 Conj
GRK: μήτε δὲ ἡλίου
NAS: Since neither sun nor
KJV: And when neither sun nor
INT: neither moreover sun

Acts 27:20 Conj
GRK: δὲ ἡλίου μήτε ἄστρων ἐπιφαινόντων
NAS: Since neither sun nor stars appeared
KJV: when neither sun nor stars in
INT: moreover sun nor stars appearing

2 Thessalonians 2:2 Conj
GRK: μηδὲ θροεῖσθαι μήτε διὰ πνεύματος
NAS: or be disturbed either by a spirit or
KJV: in mind, or be troubled, neither
INT: nor to be troubled neither by spirit

2 Thessalonians 2:2 Conj
GRK: διὰ πνεύματος μήτε διὰ λόγου
NAS: either by a spirit or a message or
KJV: or be troubled, neither by spirit,
INT: by spirit nor by word

2 Thessalonians 2:2 Conj
GRK: διὰ λόγου μήτε δι' ἐπιστολῆς
NAS: or a message or a letter as if
KJV: by spirit, nor by word,
INT: by word nor by letter

1 Timothy 1:7 Conj
GRK: μὴ νοοῦντες μήτε ἃ λέγουσιν
NAS: even though they do not understand either what
KJV: understanding neither what they say,
INT: not understanding neither what they say

1 Timothy 1:7 Conj
GRK: ἃ λέγουσιν μήτε περὶ τίνων
NAS: they are saying or the matters about
KJV: they say, nor whereof
INT: what they say nor concerning what

Strong's Greek 3383
34 Occurrences


μήτε — 34 Occ.

3382
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