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Lk 7:
G3439 (μονογενής, monogenés) occurs 9 times.
HELPS Word-studies:
How is the word applied to Jesus?
New King James Version, John 3:
BDAG μονογενής:
① pert. to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship, one and only, only (so mostly, incl. Judg 11:34; Tob 3:15; 8:17) of children: of Isaac, Abraham’s only son (Jos., Ant. 1, 222) Hb 11:17. Of an only son (PsSol 18:4; TestSol 20:2; ParJer 7:26; Plut., Lycurgus 59 [31, 8]; Jos., Ant. 20, 20) Lk 7:12; 9:38. Of a daughter (Diod S 4, 73, 2) of Jairus 8:42. (On the motif of a child’s death before that of a parent s. EpigrAnat 13, ’89, 128f, no. 2; 18, ’91, 94 no. 4 [244/45 a.d.]; GVI nos. 1663–69.)
② pert. to being the only one of its kind or class, unique (in kind) of someth. that is the only example of its category
The birthing process was not necessarily part of its meaning. In modern English, "begotten" implies a temporal or biological act of procreation, which may lead to misunderstandings about Jesus' eternal relationship with the Father. The English Standard Version deemed the word "begotten" here unhelpful:
In Lk 7:12, 40 versions translated μονογενής as 'only' while 1 used 'begotten'. However, in Jn 3:16, for the same Greek word, 20 used 'begotten' and 18 did not.
Jesus is the unique monogenḗs Son of God, the only one of his kind. He is not begotten in the way many people use the term "begotten" today. It is more accurate to say that Jesus is the monogenes Son of God.
See also
On Biblehub, 40 versions used 'only' while 1 version used 'begotten'.
G3439 (μονογενής, monogenés) occurs 9 times.
HELPS Word-studies:
Thayer's Greek Lexicon:
Monogenés meant "one and only of its kind". It identified uniqueness.
How is the word applied to Jesus?
New King James Version, John 3:
Jesus is God's only begotten son.
BDAG μονογενής:
① pert. to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship, one and only, only (so mostly, incl. Judg 11:34; Tob 3:15; 8:17) of children: of Isaac, Abraham’s only son (Jos., Ant. 1, 222) Hb 11:17. Of an only son (PsSol 18:4; TestSol 20:2; ParJer 7:26; Plut., Lycurgus 59 [31, 8]; Jos., Ant. 20, 20) Lk 7:12; 9:38. Of a daughter (Diod S 4, 73, 2) of Jairus 8:42. (On the motif of a child’s death before that of a parent s. EpigrAnat 13, ’89, 128f, no. 2; 18, ’91, 94 no. 4 [244/45 a.d.]; GVI nos. 1663–69.)
② pert. to being the only one of its kind or class, unique (in kind) of someth. that is the only example of its category
The birthing process was not necessarily part of its meaning. In modern English, "begotten" implies a temporal or biological act of procreation, which may lead to misunderstandings about Jesus' eternal relationship with the Father. The English Standard Version deemed the word "begotten" here unhelpful:
At Biblehub, 20 translations used "begotten"; 18 did not.
In Lk 7:12, 40 versions translated μονογενής as 'only' while 1 used 'begotten'. However, in Jn 3:16, for the same Greek word, 20 used 'begotten' and 18 did not.
Jesus is the unique monogenḗs Son of God, the only one of his kind. He is not begotten in the way many people use the term "begotten" today. It is more accurate to say that Jesus is the monogenes Son of God.
See also
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