Nothing is something

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Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. [kjv]

τοτε επετιμησεν τοις μαθηταις ινα μηδενι ειπωσιν οτι αυτος εστιν ο χριστος [gnt]

An ancient Greek word for "nothing" is the modern Greek word for "zero".

The ancient Greek word "μηδέν" ≈ "not one" which is from the ancient Greek word "μηδέ" ≈ "and not, nor".
The modern Greek word "μηδέν" (mee-THEHN) ≈ "zero, nothing"..

Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. [kjv]

τοτε επετιμησεν τοις μαθηταις ινα μηδενι ειπωσιν οτι αυτος εστιν ο χριστος [gnt]

Matthew 16:20

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KJV: Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Greek: τοτε διεστειλατο επετιμησεν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ινα μηδενι ειπωσιν οτι αυτος εστιν ιησους ο χριστος

Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. [kjv]

εκτεινων βορεαν επ ουδεν κρεμαζων γην επι ουδενος [lxx]

Job says the earth hangs on "nothing".

*H1099 בְּלִימָה (bel-ee-mah') : from H1097 and H4100; (as indef.) nothing whatever:--nothing.

Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. [kjv]

εκτεινων βορεαν επ ουδεν κρεμαζων γην επι ουδενος [lxx]

What is meant by the "north"?

What exactly is the "empty place"?

What is "nothing"?

The Latin word "nihili" ≈ "nothing".
The Spanish word "nada" ≈ "nothing".
The Portuguese word "nada" ≈ "nothing".

Job 26:7

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KJV: He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

Hebrew: נטה צפון על תהו תלה ארץ על בלי מה׃

Greek: εκτεινων βορεαν επ ουδεν κρεμαζων γην επι ουδενος

Brenton: He stretches out the north wind upon nothing, and he upon nothing hangs the earth;

Latin: qui extendit aquilonem super vacuum et adpendit terram super nihili

Spanish: Él extiende el norte sobre vacío, cuelga la tierra sobre nada.

Portuguese: Ele estende o setentrião sobre o vácuo e suspende a terra sobre o nada.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [kjv]

μηδεν κατ εριθειαν κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλους ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντας εαυτων [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "μηδέν" ≈ "nothing" and means, literally, "not one". The modern Greek word "μηδέν" (mee-THEHN) ≈ "zero, nothing".

How does one think about "nothing"?

Kanisza Triangle

One sees a Kanizsa triangle but it does not exist. The idea of "nothing" does not exist. It is just the perceived absence of what would otherwise be there. The philosophical question is "Do holes exist?".

More: Kanizsa triangle: seeing what is not there

More: Philippians 2:3-5 strife and vain glory

Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. [kjv]

α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα του χριστου [gnt]

Examples of "nothing" or "holes".

Keyhole (place to insert a key).
Donut hole (idea turned into an actual product).
Electrons and current as "holes".
Beer with "bubbles" going up and "beer" going down.

A "shadow" is like a "hole" in that it cannot exist without some physical object and some "true light" source. A "false light" is "darkness". A "shadow" has philosophical connections with Plato.

The Cat Stevens song "Moon shadow" comes indirectly from the sun.

More: Philippians 2:3-5 strife and vain glory

Colossians 2:17

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KJV: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Greek: α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα του χριστου

Related to the idea of "nothing" is that of a "double negative".

In "correct" English, one is not to use double negatives.

I do not have none.
I don't have none.
I ain't got none.

Most languages of the world use double negatives to emphasize the negative aspect of what is being said. So too does Ancient (and modern) Greek. This can create certain translation issues in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

A double negative, translated as "no wise", is used in Greek to be an emphatic negative as in "absolutely no way".

"ου" ≈ "no" and "μη" ≈ "not".
"ου μη" ≈ "no not" and appears in 137 verses in the GNT. Aristotle uses this combination so it appears to be not just an Hebrew or Aramaic idea that shows through in Greek.

More: Do not no way use double negatives