3513. né
Lexical Summary
né: Truly, indeed, yes

Original Word: νέ
Part of Speech: Particle, Disjunctive Particle
Transliteration:
Pronunciation: nay
Phonetic Spelling: (nay)
KJV: I protest by
NASB: affirm
Word Origin: [probably an intensive form of G3483 (ναί - Yes), a particle of attestation (accompanied by the object invoked or appealed to in confirmation)]

1. as sure as

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
by, as sure as

Probably an intensive form of nai; a particle of attestation (accompanied by the object invoked or appealed to in confirmation); as sure as -- I protest by.

see GREEK nai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
probably an intens. form of nai
Definition
by (a particle of affirmation employed in oaths)
NASB Translation
affirm (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3513: νή

νή, a particle employed in affirmations and oaths (common in Attic), and joined to an accusative of the person (for the most part, a divinity) or of the thing affirmed or sworn by (Buttmann, § 149, 17); by (Latinper, German bei): 1 Corinthians 15:31 (Genesis 42:15f).

Topical Lexicon
Semantic and Linguistic Background

The particle conveyed solemn affirmation in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine usage, introducing an oath that calls upon a person, object, or circumstance as witness. Its presence signals that the speaker wishes to remove all doubt about the truthfulness of what follows.

Occurrence in Scripture

The New Testament employs the particle once, in 1 Corinthians 15:31, where the Apostle Paul assures the Corinthians of the peril and self-denial he endures for the gospel.

The Pauline Oath in 1 Corinthians 15:31

“Every day I face death, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

Paul invokes the Corinthians’ own “boast”—their confidence in his ministry in Christ—as the witness to his statement. The oath functions pastorally, stressing how deeply resurrection hope shapes his life. By staking his declaration on something the readers themselves regard highly, Paul heightens the urgency of his argument that bodily resurrection is essential to the faith (1 Corinthians 15:12-34).

Theological Implications

1. Veracity and Integrity: Scripture consistently upholds truth-telling; the particle highlights the seriousness with which believers ought to speak (Proverbs 12:22; Ephesians 4:25).
2. Daily Dying: Paul’s oath underscores a lifestyle “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), showing that authentic ministry involves continual self-sacrifice.
3. Resurrection Certainty: Linking his peril to the certainty of resurrection affirms that present sufferings are meaningful in light of future glory (Romans 8:18).

Historical Context of Oath Language

Greco-Roman society frequently relied on oaths for legal and social transactions, while the Old Testament permits carefully governed oaths (Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21). Yet Jesus redirected His disciples toward simple truthfulness (Matthew 5:33-37). Paul’s rare employment of a formal oath here therefore stands out, functioning not as casual speech but as an exceptional rhetorical device meant to strengthen the hearers’ faith.

Ministry Significance

• Accountability: Spiritual leaders today may legitimately use solemn affirmation when the gravity of a matter demands, provided it is done reverently and sparingly.
• Sacrificial Example: Paul’s willingness to “die daily” invites believers to embrace costly obedience for the sake of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:10-11).
• Apologetic Force: In a culture that questioned resurrection, Paul’s sworn testimony offers a model for combining personal experience with doctrinal truth.

Related Biblical Principles

Matthew 5:37; James 5:12 – Encourage straightforward honesty, limiting oaths to situations of genuine necessity.

Hebrews 6:17 – God Himself used an oath to confirm His promise, demonstrating that such affirmations, when employed appropriately, carry weighty covenantal significance.

Forms and Transliterations
νη νὴ ne nē nḕ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Corinthians 15:31 Prtcl
GRK: ἡμέραν ἀποθνήσκω νὴ τὴν ὑμετέραν
NAS: I affirm, brethren, by the boasting
KJV: I protest by your rejoicing
INT: day I die by our

Strong's Greek 3513
1 Occurrence


νὴ — 1 Occ.

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