conjunction (averting, or deprecating), lest (origin dubious: Thes Kö^{ii. 334} from מָּנָה, properly substantive construct in accusative for the aversion of; but פָנָה is intransitive: Nö^{M. 474} compares the enclitic particle מּוֺן in ᵑ7, then ἄν, 'etwa,' thinking that a particle with the meaning 'es möchte etwa,' spoken in a tone of alarm, might readily acquire a deprecatory force); — lest:

1 with imperfect Genesis 3:3 ye shall not eat thereof . . . מֶּןתְּֿמֻתוּן lest ye die, Genesis 11:4 let us build a city מֶּןנָֿפוּץ lest we be scattered, Genesis 19:15,17,19; Genesis 38:23; Genesis 45: Exodus 1:10; Exodus 23:29; Exodus 23:33 etc., 2 Kings 10:23 (followed by יֵשׁ), Isaiah 6:10; Isaiah 27:3; Isaiah 28:22; Isaiah 48:5,7; Psalm 2:12; Psalm 7:3 etc.; often after הִשָׁמֶרלְֿךָ take heed to thyself Genesis 24:6; Genesis 31:24, and especially in Deuteronomy, as Deuteronomy 4:9,23; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11 and elsewhere; after a verb of fearing Genesis 32:12, and once, even, of swearing Judges 15:12; deprecating pathetically, Genesis 44:34 how shall I go up, etc.? lest I look upon the evil that will befal my father. Once, unusually, preceding the principal clause, Proverbs 5:6 אֹרַח חַיִּים מֶּןתְּֿפַלֵּס lest she should make level the path of life, her ways are unstable, etc. (Ew Be Now; see also Toy). Note especially

a. the idiom כִּי אָמַר (אָמַרְתִּי) מֶּןֿ for he (I) said, Lest..., implying always that some precaution has been taken to avert the dreaded contingency, Genesis 26:9 for I said, Lest I die on account of her (to obviate which, Isaac had called Rebecca his sister), Genesis 31:31; Genesis 38:11; Genesis 42:4; Exodus 13:17; Numbers 16:34; 1 Samuel 13:19; 1 Samuel 27:11 (לֵאמֹר), Psalm 38:17; with כי אמר implied Genesis 26:7; compare, with an aposiop., Genesis 3:22 and now, lest he put forth his hand, etc. (implying that measures are taken to prevent this, see Genesis 3:23): compare Tob 8:9.

b. מֶּןֿ at the beginning of a sentence, with a dissuasive force, (Beware) lest: + Isaiah 36:18 מֶּןיַֿסִּית אֶתְכֶם חזקיהו (beware) lest Hezekiah deceive you, Deuteronomy 29:17 (twice in verse) (followed by יֵשׁ), Jeremiah 51:46; Job 32:13; Job 36:18.

2 with Perfect, the result feared being conceived as having possibly already taken place; 2 Samuel 20:6 pursue after him, מֶּןמָֿצָא לוֺ ֗֗֗ וְהִצִּיל lest he have found him fenced cities, etc. (but the tense of והציל makes יִמְצָא probably, Dr^sm Bu Kö^{iii. 486}), 2 Kings 2:16 ׳וַיַּשְׁלִכֵהוּ וגו ׳מֶּןנְֿשָׂאוֺ רוּחַ י.