Only Begotten?

μονογενηες – (Monogenes)

The Greek word μονογενηες has long been part of what is often called the “Golden Text” of scripture among evangelicals – John 3:16. If your familiarity with the verse is limited to its frequency in crowd shots at sports games allow me to inform you of its content. The verse in the King James Version reads “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” μονογενηες comes into play with the words “only begotten.” According to A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature the word means “”(1) pertaining to being the only one of its kind within a specific relationship, one and only, only; … (2) pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, unique (in kind)” Some might argue that this beloved verse should not be translated “only begotten” but rather simply “only.” This translation is seen in the English Standard Version, The Revised Standard Version, and even the Tyndale Bible.

μονογενηες is used 8 other times in the New Testament which can be seen in the chart below:

μονογενηες is also seen in the Septuagint ten times. Four times on Hebrew Bible and Six times in the deuterocanonicals.

As you can see the uses of the word in sacred literature can communicate a great number of things and tend to focus on both when something is unique and precious. Most translators follow what Thayer says in his Lexicon and translate the word “only” in most cases.