ΜΉΠΟΤΕ: μήποτε [ (= μή ποτε, and so written in WH, exc. Mt 25:9), ] negative particle, [ related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ. ] 1. . As neg. particle, never: He 9:17 (R, mg., but v. infr.; WH, txt., μή τότε).
2. . As conjc., lest ever, lest haply (the idea of chance rather than of time seems to prevail in NT): Mt 4:6(LXX) 5:25 7:6 13:15(LXX), 29 15:32 27:64, Mk 4:12(LXX) 14:2, Lk 4:11 12:58 14:12, 29, Ac 28:27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Lk 21:34, He 2:1 3:12 4:1; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp., Lk 14:8, Ac 5:39; in later writers (v. M, Pr., 192 f.), perhaps, Mt 25:9.
3. . As interrogative; (a) . in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Jo 7:26, He 9:17, (R, txt., cf. Westc., in l.; but v. supr.); (b) . in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Lk 3:15, II Ti 2:25.†