lest

Greek Particle Neuter

μήποτε (= μή ποτε, and so written in WH, exc. Mat.25:9), negative particle, related to οὔποτε as μή to οὐ. 1) As neg. particle, never: Heb.9:17 (R, mg, but see 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): Mat.4:6 (LXX) Mat.5:25 7:6 13:15 " (LXX), Mat.13:29 15:32 27:64, Mrk.4:12 " (LXX) Mrk.14:2, Luk.4:11 12:58 14:12, 29, Act.28:27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Luk.21:34, Heb.2:1 3:12 4:1; with ellipse of the verb or ptcp, Luk.14:8, Act.5:39; in later writers (see M, Pr., 192 f.), perhaps, Mat.25:9. 3) As interrogative; (a) in direct questions, like μή, expecting a negative answer: Jhn.7:26, Heb.9:17, (R, txt, cf. Westc, in l; but see supr.); (b) in indirect questions, whether haply, if haply: Luk.3:15, 2Ti.2:25. (AS)

lest

Greek Particle Neuter

μήποτε or μή ποτε, Ionic dialect μή κοτε (see. below 11): I) as adverb never, on no account, after ὡς, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; after εἰ, [Refs]: with infinitive, [Refs]; especially in oaths, never, ὀμοῦμαι, μή ποτε τῆς εὐνῆς ἐπιβήμεναι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; in aposiopesis, ἢ μήπορ᾽ ἆρ᾽. [Refs 8th c.BC+] I.2) in prohibition or warning, with aorist subjunctive, μή ποτε καὶ σὺ. ὀλέσσῃς [Refs 8th c.BC+]infinitive for imperative, [Refs] I.3) in later Gr, perhaps, [LXX+4th c.BC+] II) as conjunction, lest ever, αἰσχυνόμενοι φάτιν ἀνδρῶν, μή ποτέ τις εἴπῃσι [Refs 8th c.BC+]

Greek

Conjunction

not ever; also if (or lest) ever (or perhaps); if peradventure, lest (at any time, haply), not at all, whether or not; from g3361 (μή) and g4218 (ποτέ)