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οὐδέ

oudé

G3761 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

A conjunction expressing a negative coordination, meaning 'neither' or 'nor,' used to link two negative clauses, concepts, or words, denying both together or extending a previous negation. Also conveys 'not even' to intensify a negative statement and express exclusion or extremity. Further, can introduce an additional item in a list that is also included in the prior negation, or to strongly emphasize that not even an expected or notable case is an exception.

Semantic Range

neither, nor, not even, not so much as, and not, nor yet

Root / Etymology

Compound of οὐ ('not', negation) and δέ (a conjunctive particle, 'and,' 'but'). The formation brings together negation and coordination. The underlying roots οὐ and δέ are well-attested in classical Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

οὐδέ is a classical and Koine Greek coordinating conjunction found throughout extant Greek literature, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, with the basic forces of linking negatives ('neither...nor...'). It often appears to add another element or clause to a previously made negative statement, expanding and reinforcing the denial. In combination with infinitives, clauses, or single words, it functions to deny both elements simultaneously. In some cases, it carries an adversative nuance: 'not even' or 'not so much as,' giving emphasis to the exclusion of even the most likely or expected alternatives. In translation traditions, the English "neither...nor" usually represents it, but emphatic nuanced renderings such as "not even" are also frequent where required by context. Because it relies on the function of prior negation, its force depends on syntactic context. In both the Septuagint and New Testament, οὐδέ is used in formal, narrative, and dialogic text without significant semantic shift from earlier Greek. Compare μηδέ (used where μή is required, e.g., in prohibitions or hypothetical contexts), with οὐδέ used for strong factual negation. Early papyri and inscriptions confirm its idiomatic and syntactic range matches literary sources throughout the Hellenistic period. Standard English translations generally capture the core syntactic value, but may miss the heightened negative emphasis in some contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "nor" 132 occurrences

οὐδέ primarily functions to link an additional negative idea to a prior negation (neither/nor, and not), and in the P2 renderings 'nor' is by far the most frequent choice. 'Nor' best captures the negative coordination and extension senses in natural English and allows context (e.g., 'nor even') to convey intensified exclusion when needed.

Alternatives (11 occurrences):
"even" (10x) "does not even" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from οὐ and δέ; not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even:--neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as.

Root Family

οὐδέ (oudé) — and not, nor, neither, not even

Root οὐδ- and not, nor, neither

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3761-02 οὐδὲ oude PART nor nor nor 133
G3761-01 οὐδ’ oud CONJ nor nor nor 10

Occurrences in Scripture

143 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3761-02 Matthew 5:15 οὐδὲ oude PART nor nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 6:15 οὐδὲ oude ADV neither nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 6:20 οὐδὲ oude CONJ nor nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 6:26 οὐδὲ oude CONJ.C nor nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 6:26 οὐδὲ oude-2 CONJ.C nor nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 6:28 οὐδὲ oude CONJ neither nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 6:29 οὐδὲ oude ADV not even nor not even
G3761-02 Matthew 7:18 οὐδὲ oude CONJ neither nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 9:17 οὐδὲ oude CONJ Neither nor nor
G3761-02 Matthew 10:24 οὐδὲ oude CONJ nor nor nor
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