From μόνος, “only” and γένος, “descendent, kind” [footnote text=”Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. <i>A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature</i> 2000 : 658. Print.”]
In compounds like διο-γενής, γη-γενής, εὐ-γενής, συγ-γενής the -γενής suggests derivation (γένος) rather than birth. [footnote text=”Büchsel, Friedrich. "Μονογενής." Ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich. <i>Theological dictionary of the New Testament</i> 1964– : 737–738. Print.”]
Definition [footnote text=”Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. <i>A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature</i> 2000 : 658. Print.”]
Pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship, “one and only, only”
Pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, “unique (in kind)”
Usage
In the LXX [footnote text=”Büchsel, Friedrich. "Μονογενής." Ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich. <i>Theological dictionary of the New Testament</i> 1964– : 737–738. Print.”]
In Judg 11:34, the word means the only child
In [bible text=”Ps 21:21, LXX” ref=”Ps 21:21” version=”LXX”] and [bible text=”Ps 34:17, LXX” ref=”Ps 34:17” version=”LXX”], reference is to the uniqueness of the soul. The translation is possible on the basis of the general use of monogenēs, μονογενής for “unique,” “unparalleled,” “incomparable.”
In the NT
In Luke and Hebrews, the word is used of an only child (son or daughter).
In John, the word expresses Jesus’ unique relationship to the Father.
Occurrences
In the New Testament
Lk 7:12 – As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.
Lk 8:42 – for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
Lk 9:38 – And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
Jn 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jn 1:18 – No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Jn 3:16 – "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Jn 3:18 – Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Heb 11:17 – By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
1 Jn 4:9 – In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
In the LXX
Judg 11:34 – Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
Ps 22:20 – Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! (ESV)
[bible text=”Ps 21:21, LXX” ref=”Ps 21:21” version=”LXX”] – Deliver my soul from the sword; my only-begotten one from the power of the dog. (Brenton LXX)
[bible text=”Ps 24:16, LXX” ref=”24:16” version=”LXX”] – Look upon me, and have mercy upon me; for I am an only child and poor. (Ps 24:16, Brenton LXX)
Ps 35:17 – How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! (ESV)
[bible text=”Ps 34:17, LXX” ref=”Ps 34:17” version=”LXX”] – O Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? Deliver my soul from their mischief, mine only-begotten one from the lions. (Brenton LXX)
Tob 3:15 – and that I never polluted my name, nor the name of my father, in the land of my captivity: I am the only daughter of my father, neither hath he any child to be his heir, neither any near kinsman, nor any son of his alive, to whom I may keep myself for a wife: my seven husbands are already dead; and why should I live? but if it please not thee that I should die, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of me, that I hear no more reproach. (Brenton LXX)
Tob 6:11 – the angel said to the young man, Brother, to day we shall lodge with Raguel, who is thy cousin; he also hath one only daughter, named Sara; I will speak for her, that she may be given thee for a wife. (Brenton LXX)
Tob 8:17 – Thou art to be praised, because thou hast had mercy of two that were the only begotten children of their fathers: grant them mercy, O Lord, and finish their life in health with joy and mercy. (Brenton LXX)
Wis 7:22 – For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit, holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good, (Brenton LXX)
Translation as “only begotten” [footnote text=”See Fennema, D. A. "John 1.18: ‘God the Only Son’." New Testament Studies, Vol. 31, 1985, pp. 135-142 and Moody, Dale. “God's Only Son: The Translation of John 3:16 in the Revised Standard Version.” <i>Journal of Biblical Literature</i>, Vol. 72, No. 4, 1953, pp. 213-219”]
The Old Latin translated monogenēs, μονογενής as unicus (only).
Jerome likewise translated the word as unicus where the word was not applied to Jesus.
But to answer the Arian claim that Jesus was not begotten but made, Jerome translated monogenēs, μονογενής as unigenitus, “only begotten” in John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9. As such, his translation of the word in these verses reflects a trinitarian theology.
Subsequently, the influence of the Vulgate on the Authorized Version and later English translations perpetuated this error.
