ἐὰν μή [30 verses](conj particle) "Except" is ean me, which literally means "when not," but it is special construction in Greek that is usually translated as "except" or "unless" in English. "When" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. "Not" is mê (me) is the negative used in when/if-clauses. - - "Except" is from a phrase that literally means "when not". In English, we say "unless" and "except" to capture this idea. The negative used is the one of subjective opinion, used with when/if clauses. It does not negate the verb.