1A.  THE TWO NEGATIVE PARTICLES--ου and μή

ου is almost always used with the indicative mood. For an explanation of the indicative mood, see Chapter 8.

μή is almost always used with moods other than the indicative, such as the subjunctive and imperative.  It is also used with participles and infinitives.

The difference between these negatives is pictured graphically by a young man proposing to his lady friend.  If she answers him with μή it may only mean that she wants to be coaxed a little longer, or that she is still in a state of uncertainty; but if she responds with  ουj he may as well get his hat and leave at once (Dr. A.T. Robertson).  When John the Baptist was asked if he was "that prophet" (compare Deut. 18:18-19) he simply replied   ου   (see John 1:21).

1A.  THE USE OF THE NEGATIVE IN QUESTIONS

1B.  QUESTIONS EXPECTING A NEGATIVE ANSWER (NO!)

When μή  or μήτι is used with the indicative mood, most often a negative answer is expected.

Examples

1)  The classic example of Judas--Matthew 26:25.  Judas expected a negative answer from the Lord even though in his heart he knew that the answer was YES.

2)  Matthew 7:98-10  "Will he give him a serpent?"  (Expected answer:  "NO, of course not!")

3)  Luke 22:35.  The expected answer is negative and that's exactly the answer that was given!

4)  Luke 17:9.   The expected answer is negative and that's exactly the answer that was given!

5)  1 Corinthians 1:13  "Was Paul crucified for you?"  Expected answer:  Obviously not!   This verse could be rendered as follows:  "Certainly Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he?"

AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE:

Sometimes  μή  with the indicative is used in a question that does not demand a negative answer, but on the contrary, it almost seems to demand a positive answer yet with some HESITANCY.  See John 4:29 and Matthew 12:23.

2B.  QUESTIONS EXPECTING A POSITIVE ANSWER (YES!)

When  ου (sometimes written as  oujk or oujc) or ουχι  is used with the indicative mood, a positive answer is expected.

Examples

1)  Matthew 13:55  "Is not this the carpenter's son?"  (Expected answer:  "Yes, He certainly is")

2)  Luke 12:6; Luke 17:17.  Both of these expect a "YES" answer.

3)  Acts 13:10  "Will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?"  (Expected answer:  "Yes, you will not cease!  You will continue to pervert the right ways of the Lord!")

4)  1 Corinthians 14:23

5)  1 Corinthians 6:19 (6:9 etc.).  Paul knew that they knew these things, but he was putting them in remembrance of these vital truths.  1 Corinthians 6:19 could be rendered, "Certainly you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, don't you?"  

3B.  VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF BOTH. 

See Mark 4:21 and Luke 6:39.  In each of these verses you will find an example of both kinds of questions (a question expecting a negative answer and a question expecting a positive answer).  Read each verse.  Which question expects a negative answer?  Which question expects a positive answer?

The following passages are of doctrinal interest.  The letter "N" before the verse indicates that the question expects a negative answer and the letter "P" before the verse indicates that the question expects a positive answer.

1A.  THE DOUBLE NEGATIVE (ouj mhv)

The double negative occurs slightly less than 100 times in the New Testament (a listing of all these occurrences can be found in The Englishman's Greek Concordance, listed under  μή).  In these cases the negative idea is greatly strengthened. It becomes a very powerful negative.  "This is the strongest way to negate something in Greek" (Daniel Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, p. 468). The meaning is something like this:  "Never, positively not!  It will never happen!  It's unthinkable!  There is not even the slightest possibility that it will ever happen!"

The double negative is of great doctrinal interest as seen from the following examples:

Probably the best example of the use of Greek negatives is found In Hebrews 13:5.  In this one verse the double negative occurs twice and there is another negative that occurs once.  This makes a total of five negatives in one verse!  It could be translated as follows:

I will (1) never (2) ever leave thee, (3) no, I will (4) never (5) ever forsake thee.

It's the strongest negative way that the Bible could say that He will be with us forever!  Five negatives with a very positive message!