A compound conditional particle (εἰ μή) meaning 'if not' or 'unless,' often functioning as a strong exception marker meaning 'except' or 'but only.' When it introduces an exception, it carves out the one case that doesn't fall under a general statement—'no one can do this except God alone.' With imperatives or commands, it can express urgent conditions. In certain constructions it functions like 'only' or 'but,' narrowing focus to a single option or possibility. The phrase combines the conditional 'if' with the negative 'not' to create exception clauses that are fundamental to precise theological and logical statements in New Testament Greek.