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)5:257:613:15(LXX), 2915:3227:64, Mk 4:12(LXX)14:2, Lk 4:1112:5814:12, 29, Ac 28:27; after verbs of fearing or taking heed, Lk 21:34, He 2:13:124:1; 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.†