Sometimes, “no” really means, “NO!”

I used to think that learning another language simply meant learning another vocabulary. When I began studying Greek, however, I learned that other languages also have different rules of grammar, different idioms, and just quirky things that are completely different than how we understand English. Slavish, word-for-word translations will seldom convey the same meaning in the original language and the target language. In English, for example, we tend to avoid using double negatives. We wouldn't say, “I don't have no money.” However, in Greek, the language of the New Testament, there are frequent examples of double negatives.

The reason we avoid double negatives in English is because the two negatives tend to cancel each other and the literal meaning becomes the opposite of the intended meaning. If you carefully consider the above example, to say you don't have no money, would seem to mean you're saying you do have money. You should say instead, “I have no money” or “I don't have money.”

https://unsplash.com/@jannerboy62

In Greek, there are different ways of saying, “no.” One way is with the word, ou [οὐ, Strong's word 3756] which is a simple term of negation: The Greek word legō [λέγω, Strong's word 3004] means, “I say.” So ou legō would mean, “I do not say.” Another way is with the word, mē [μὴ, Strong's word 3361]. mē is used in the oblique moods - the moods of contingency: legēte “you should say,” becomes mē legēte, “you should not say.”

Unlike English, where two negatives cancel each other, two negatives in Greek create an emphatic expression. Ou mē legēte, together wouldn't be translated as “You don't not say.” Rather it's an emphatic denial: “You absolutely should not say!”

Because of the different uses of double negatives in Greek and English, the emphatic force of the verse is sometimes lost in translation. Here are some verses that have double negatives in the original Greek. As you read them, try to mentally insert a strong negation – something like, “not in any way possible.” I've highlighted the ou mē occurrence with bold font.

• “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

• “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst” (John 4:14)

• “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

• “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

• “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John 8:51)

• “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

• “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:26)

• “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelation 2:11)

• “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

Isn't Jesus wonderful?! I can just imagine the gospel writers trying to recreate the passion Jesus displayed as He spoke these verses. In just that first verse above, it's like I can see Jesus speaking to his disciples, promising them that if they only gave a drink of cold water in His name, there is no way, at all, ever, they would not be rewarded for it! He didn't speak promises lightly or insincerely. He spoke them emphatically and we know He is able to keep His word.

So remember, as you read those verses where Jesus says, “no,” He sometimes is saying, “NO!”