νή G3513
a particle of strong affirmation used in oaths, 'by' or 'I swear by' (followed by the thing invoked)
Paul employs a solemn oath in 1 Corinthians 15:31: 'I die every day—I swear it by (νή) the pride I have in you in Christ Jesus our Lord.' The particle νή introduces oaths in classical Greek, typically followed by the name of a god or sacred object. Athenian orators swore 'by Zeus' (νὴ Δία) or 'by the gods' (νὴ τοὺς θεούς) to emphasize the truth of their statements. Paul adapts the formula, swearing not by a deity but by his legitimate apostolic pride in the Corinthians—a rhetorical move that simultaneously affirms his claim and reminds them of their identity as his spiritual children. The oath underscores the seriousness of his point: resurrection is not optional doctrine but the heart of the gospel.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Functions as an oath particle introducing the thing by which Paul swears to validate his claim. The multilingual glosses preserve the prepositional force (English 'by', Spanish 'por', German 'bei'), though the formulaic oath context is less familiar in modern language. The domain (Nature, Class, Example) seems misassigned—this is a discourse particle, better suited to Communication or Modality domains. 1×
AR["بِـ"]·ben["হ্যাঁ"]·DE["bei"]·EN["by"]·FR["je-protège"]·heb["חַי"]·HI["हाँ"]·ID["demi"]·IT["per-"]·jav["inggih"]·KO["-을-걸고"]·PT["pela-"]·RU["клянусь-"]·ES["por"]·SW["naam"]·TR["övüncümü-"]·urd["قسم"]
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
νή, Particle of strong affirmation, with accusative of the divinity invoked, once in Trag., ν. τὼ Λαπέρσα, ν. τὸν Εὐρώταν τρίτον, ν. τοὺς ἐν Ἄργει καὶ κατὰ Σπάρτην θεούς Refs 5th c.BC+; frequently in Comedy texts and Prose, especially in the phrase νὴ Δία, Refs 5th c.BC+; with the Article, ν. τὸν Δία Refs 4th c.BC+; with the names of other gods, usually with Article, ν. τὴν Δήμητρα Refs 5th…