οὐδέ

neither, nor, not even

Definition

Οὐδέ is a strong negative conjunction meaning 'neither, nor, not even, and not.' It is used to connect two or more negative ideas, emphasizing that both are excluded or denied. In some contexts, it intensifies a negation, meaning 'not even,' as in Matthew 6:29 where Solomon's glory is said to be 'not even' clothed like the lilies. In other passages, it simply links two negated clauses, as in Matthew 6:20 where treasures are stored 'where neither moth nor rust destroys.'

Biblical Usage

This conjunction appears frequently in the Gospels, especially in Matthew's Sermon on the Mount (e.g., Matthew 5:15, 6:15, 6:26, 6:28), and in Pauline epistles. It is used to create emphatic, cumulative negations in teachings, arguments, and narrative descriptions. A common pattern is its use in lists of things that are not true or do not happen, reinforcing a point by excluding multiple possibilities.

Etymology

Derived from the combination of the Greek negative particle οὐ ('not') and the conjunction δέ ('but, and'). Literally, it means 'and not' or 'but not.' It functions as a single, strengthened negative connective, similar to the English 'nor.'

Semantic Range

While primarily a grammatical connector, οὐδέ's emphatic force is theologically significant in passages about God's provision and human inability. In Matthew 6:26-29, its repetition ('they neither sow nor reap... not even Solomon...') underscores God's meticulous care, contrasting human anxiety with divine faithfulness. In statements about human nature (e.g., Matthew 7:18, 'a bad tree cannot bear good fruit'), it strengthens the negation, emphasizing the completeness of a spiritual condition without God's grace.

In Koine Greek, οὐδέ was a standard, forceful way to link negations in both common speech and formal writing. Its usage would have been immediately understood by original readers as creating an absolute, exclusionary list. The modern English 'nor' or 'and not' captures its sense, but the Greek often carries a more emphatic, rhetorical punch in Jesus's teachings and apostolic arguments.

μήτε (mēte, G3383) — A weaker negative conjunction, often used in alternative or indirect statements; οὐδέ is generally stronger and more definitive. οὐδείς (oudeis, G3762) — The compound adjective meaning 'no one, nothing,' sharing the οὐδέ root but functioning as a pronoun.

Word Details

Scripture References