μήν G3375
indeed, truly; an emphatic particle strengthening asseveration or affirmation
This intensive particle serves to strengthen oaths, promises, and solemn declarations. In Hebrews 6:14, it appears in the quotation of God's oath to Abraham, emphasizing the absolute certainty of the divine promise. The multilingual glosses consistently express strong affirmation (Spanish ciertamente, French/German gewiss). Classical usage shows this particle following the emphasized word to add solemnity and certainty to the statement, particularly in oaths and pledges.
Senses
1. sense 1 — In Hebrews 6:14, this emphatic particle strengthens God's oath to Abraham, intensifying the certainty of the promise. The cross-linguistic evidence uniformly conveys strong affirmation (certainly, assuredly). The context stresses the unbreakable nature of God's word: because God could swear by nothing greater, He swore by Himself, adding this emphatic particle to underscore the absolute reliability of His blessing promise to Abraham and his descendants. 1×
AR["حَقًّا"]·ben["অবশ্যই"]·DE["gewiss"]·EN["indeed-"]·FR["gewiss"]·heb["אָכֵן"]·HI["ही"]·ID["sesungguhnya"]·IT["mēn"]·jav["sayektos"]·KO["진실로"]·PT["-"]·RU["воистину"]·ES["ciertamente"]·SW["kweli"]·TR["gerçekten"]·urd["ضرور"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μήν, Doric dialect Refs 5th c.BC+, Aeolic dialect Refs 7th c.BC+, and old Epic dialect μάν (in Hom.always followed by a vowel except Refs 8th c.BC+ is followed by a consonant except in Refs 8th c.BC+; original μάν has probably been changed to μέν except when the metre prevented), a Particle used to strengthen asseverations, verily, truly; a synonym of μέν but stronger, and like it always…