The Two Greek Negatives
"No" and "Not"
There are two different Greek words that are used as negatives. We cannot tell the difference in English translation because they are both translated as "no" or "not". However, the use of one or the other changes the sense of what Jesus is saying in many passages. Greek negatives usually precede the word they negate. When they come before a verb, the negate the whole clause.
The Solid Negative
The basic Greek negative is the objective negative for facts. To simplify this article, let us call this the “solid” negative. It is the more emphatic and certain “no.” Its use indicates that the sentence is a simple statement or question, not a command or something that might happen.
This negative denies that something is true.
This is an absolute negative, not a comparison with something else.
This is objective, saying nothing about the opinion of the person using it.
While "no" usually captures the idea, "no" is a somewhat weaker word in English, since the English “no” can also cover opinions, desires, and comparisons. This solid negative might be translated as "no really" or "in fact, no" rather than "no" alone to capture its feeling, but is isn’t usually.
The Negative of Opinion
The other Greek negative is the negative of opinion. This is the negative used when expressing will, feeling, or thought. Let us call this the “opinionated negative.” In some ways this negative is softer than the solid negative, but some opinions can carry a lot of force.
This negative rejects something as true. In English, we might say, “I don’t think that is true.” In Greek, using this negative says that this is our opinion.
This is a relative negative indicating something is less desirable or believable. In English, we would use the word “less” in many of these comparisons.
This is subjective, giving information about the speaker’s opinion or perspective.
This negative does not express the idea that something doesn't happen or can't exist. It expresses what someone doesn’t want or does think. It often implies a choice and a comparison of alternatives.
The opinionate negative should theoretically always be used with certain forms of verbs including:
Verbs that give a command (the imperative verb form). “Don’t argue!”
Verbs that express a possibility as in “if” or “when” clauses (the subjunctive verb form). “If you do not answer…”
Verbs that express a physical action that is not desired. “I do not fight.”
Common Use
A good verse to see the contrast in meaning between these two negatives is Matthew 5:17:
NIV: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
This verse uses both forms of the negative in a way that is easy to see. It shows why the difference is important and how adding extra words in English can add clarity.
When Christ says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law", he is obviously talking about thinking so the subjective negative is used. However, when he says "I have not come", he naturally switches to the objective version. He is stating a fact.
So, in translating Matthew 5:17, let's clarify those Greek negatives to add the sense that Christ meant and his listeners would have heard. We are also going to fix a few other things, like poorly translated tenses and moods in the process, while keeping the basic translation the same. The added words to complete the negatives are in italics.
Listeners Heard: You might not want to think that I've shown up to annul the Law or the Luminaries. I really didn't show up to break up but to fill up.
More Complex Negatives
These two negative words are also used together. Unlike the double negative in English, in Greek, the effect is to intensify the negative sense. When these two different negatives are used together, the sense is "no, you don’t think/want that". This is often translated as "never" in the NT, but it is also incorrectly translated as a simple "no" or "not".
Both words can also appear with other Greek words in a series with a specific meaning. For example, the objective negative plus the conjunction usually translated as “but” means "neither...nor" is
The objective negative is combined with the Greek word meaning “one.” This means "no man", "no one", and "nothing" depending on the words form. For example, in saying "no man can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24), the solid negative is used the before the Greek word for “one” in the singular, masculine.
There is also a more emphatic form of the negative with a particle that emphasizes the word to which it is attached. It means "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This negative is used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected or where a "yes" must be supplied. Its use is like when we add “isn’t it?” or similar question at the end of a question. “You understand, don’t you?”
Uncommon Use
While certain forms of verbs commonly take a specific form of negative, different negatives can also be used to change the sense of the verb. A solid negative strengthens the negative. An opinionated negative limits or softens it.
Surprising examples are many of the negative “commandments.” When Jesus cites the commandments from the Old Testament, they are never phrased as commands using the imperative(command) verb form. Instead, they are the form of possibility, things that might or should be done. This makes them more like suggestions than “commands.” This verb form of possibility (the subjunctive) should be used with the negative of opinion, but Jesus doesn’t do that.
When Jesus offers a negative commandment, he uses the solid negative. For example in Matthew 19:18, the English Bible has Jesus saying:
NIV: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony…”
The “shall” looks like a future tense in English. But this “shall” indicates the form of opinion or possibility. It is a misleading concession to the verb form, which should be expressed with a “might” or a “should.”
This translated is closer:
Listeners Heard: You really shouldn't murder. You really shouldn't be unfaithful. You really shouldn't steal. You really shouldn't testify falsely.
The “really” is misleading because the word isn’t in the Greek, but we don’t have a stronger form of negative in English without adding a word like this.
Note
This article is provided so that future articles on interesting verses can refer to it without having to reexplain the oddities of the Greek negatives.