[CynicalBear]

>>Yea rather<<

Rather - used to introduce a statement that indicates what is true after you have said what is not true - used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said.

[annalex]

Nope. The same word, μενουνγε, is used also in Romans 9:20 and Romans 10:18; one can argue about the former, but in the latter the meaning is clearly "yes, rather" (KJV translates "yes, verily"). Note that Christ's version of the veneration is still veneration: "blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it", just applied more broadly. Negation would be "no, not blessed at all".