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μηδέποτε (mēdepote)

mēdepote

never

G3368 · Greek · New Testament · 1 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
1 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The Greek adverb mēdepote carries the absolute force of "never" or "not ever." It combines two negative elements to create a strong, emphatic denial that leaves no room for exception. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Second Timothy 3:7.

Paul uses it to describe those who constantly listen but never truly understand or arrive at knowledge of the truth. The intensity of mēdepote underscores the finality of their spiritual failure; it is not merely a delay but a permanent state of unreachability. Translators render this as "never" to capture the definitive nature of the prohibition.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word μηδέποτε appears just once in the New Testament, carrying a heavy emphasis on finality. It is not simply saying something will not happen soon; it declares that an event is impossible or absolutely excluded. In 2 Timothy 3:7, Paul uses this strong negative to describe people who are always seeking information but never reach the truth. This highlights that knowledge alone does not equal understanding.

For your faith, this serves as a gentle reminder that spiritual growth requires more than just accumulating facts or staying busy with study. It invites you to look beyond surface-level learning toward a genuine connection with God's truth. The promise is that those who seek with sincerity will find clarity, rather than remaining in endless confusion.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • never1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • μηδέποτε1×

Key Verses

  • II Timothy 3:7
    always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

    This verse uses the word to emphasize the permanent inability of certain individuals to grasp the truth despite their constant efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does μηδέποτε mean?

It is a Greek adverb that means 'never' or 'not ever.' It combines two negative elements to create an absolute denial, leaving no room for exception or future change.

Where does this word appear in the Bible?

It appears only once in the New Testament, in 2 Timothy 3:7. Paul uses it to describe those who are always learning but never arrive at the knowledge of the truth.

How is it different from other words for 'never'?

While other Greek words simply negate an action, μηδέποτε adds emphasis through its compound structure. It stresses that something will absolutely not happen, reinforcing the finality of the statement.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)

II Timothy 1 verse
II Timothy 3:7

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.