οὐκοῦν

οὐκοῦν — oukoûn

οὐκοῦν (from οὐκ and οὖν), adverb, not therefore; and since a speaker often introduces in this way his own opinion (see Krüger, as below), the particle is used affirmatively, therefore, then, the force of the negative disappearing. Hence, the saying of Pilate οὐκοῦν βασιλεύς εἰ σύ must be taken affirmatively: "then (since thou speakest of thy βασιλεία) thou art a king!" (German alsobistdudocheinKönig!), Joh 18:37 (cf. Buttmann, 249 (214)); but it is better to write οὐκοῦν, so that Pilate, arguing from the words of Christ, asks, not without irony, art thou not a king then? or in any case, thou art a king, art thou not? cf. Winer's Grammar, 512 (477). The difference between οὐκοῦν and οὐκοῦν is differently stated by different writers; cf. Herm. ad Vig., p. 792ff; Krüger, § 69, 51, 1 and 2; Kühner, § 508, 5 ii., p. 715ff, also the 3rd excurs. appended to his edition of Xenophon, memor.; (Bäumlein, Partikeln, pp. 191-198).

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