Lexical Summary méte: Neither, nor Original Word: μήτε Strong's Exhaustive Concordance neither, norFrom 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 Originfrom mé 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: μήτεμήτε (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); 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. 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 mḗteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:34 ConjGRK: 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 Matthew 5:35 Conj Matthew 5:36 Conj Matthew 11:18 Conj Matthew 11:18 Conj Luke 7:33 Conj Luke 9:3 Conj Luke 9:3 Conj Luke 9:3 Conj Luke 9:3 Conj Luke 9:3 Conj Acts 23:8 Conj Acts 23:8 Conj Acts 23:12 Conj Acts 23:12 Conj Acts 23:21 Conj Acts 23:21 Conj Acts 27:20 Conj Acts 27:20 Conj 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Conj 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Conj 2 Thessalonians 2:2 Conj 1 Timothy 1:7 Conj 1 Timothy 1:7 Conj |