For God so loved the world, that he gave his only BEGOTTEN Son

[tonychanyt]

New King James Version, John 3:

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [G3439], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus is God's only begotten son. What does "begotten" mean applying to Jesus?

G3439 (μονογενής, monogenés) occurs 9 times.

HELPS Word-studies:

3439 monogenḗs (from 3411 /misthōtós, "one-and-only" and 1085 /génos, "offspring, stock") – properly, one-and-only; "one of a kind" – literally, "one (monos) of a class, genos" (the only of its kind).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon:

single of its kind ... used of Christ, denotes the only son of God or one who in the sense in which he himself is the son of God has no brethren.

Monogenés means "one and only of its kind". It identifies uniqueness.

English Standard Version didn't think the word "begotten" here is helpful:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is the unique-monogenḗs Son of God. He is the only one of his kind.

See also

• Abraham offered up his only BEGOTTEN son
• The only begotten God