adjective
monos
Strong’sG3441
only, solitary, desolate
stem mon-111 times in the New Testamentin 23 of 27 books11 of 26 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Alone, only, apart from others 1234. As an adjective it describes someone or something by itself, unaccompanied by anyone else, often used with a verb, pronoun, or noun ("he was alone," "you alone," "God alone") 13. As an adverb (monon) it means simply "only," and is common in the pattern "not only... but also" 1. It is also used in the fixed phrase kata monas, meaning "alone" 13.
Solitary or forsaken, describing someone left by themselves or deserted 4; Strong's likewise notes the underlying sense of "remaining," giving rise to the idea of "sole" or "single," and by extension "mere" 2.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
μόνος, -η, -ον,
[in LXX chiefly for לְבַד;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G3441 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidmon'-os
remaining, i.e. sole or single; by implication, mere
Fromprobably from G3306;
King Jamesalone, only, by themselves.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Epic dialect and Ionic dialect μοῦνος, the only form used by Refs 8th c.BC+ both in iambic and Lyric poetry, by Refs 5th c.BC+: Doric dialect μῶνος Refs 3rd c.BC+:— alone, solitary, μοῦνος ἐὼν πολέσιν μετὰ Καδμείοισιν Refs 8th c.BC+; φυγὴ μόνου πρὸς μόνον Refs 3rd c.AD+
2 with genitive, σοῦ μόνος bereft of thee, without thee, Refs 5th c.BC+
II only, μοῦνον Λαέρτην Ἀρκείσιος υἱὸν ἔτικτε, μοῦνον δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ Ὀδυσῆα πατὴρ τέκεν Refs 8th c.BC+; χοίνικος μόνας ἁλῶν for a gallon of salt only, Refs 5th c.BC+; single, οὐκ ἄρα μοῦνον ἔην Ἐρίδων γένος, ἀλλὰ.. δύω Refs 8th c.BC+; εἷς μοῦνος or μόνος, Refs 8th c.BC+
II.2 with genitive, μοῦνος ποταμῶν alone of rivers, Refs 5th c.BC+; but μοῦνος πάντων ἀνθρώπων he and no other of all men, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος he and no other, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.3 frequently repeated in the same clause, ξυμπεσὼν μόνος μόνοις Refs 5th c.BC+; Ἕκτορος μόνος μόνου.. ἐναντίοςRefs 5th c.BC+
II.4 expressing rhetorically pre-eminence in an action or quality, μόνα κατέχεσθαι ποιεῖ are unique for causing possession, Refs 5th c.BC+
III superlative μονώτατος one above all others, Refs 5th c.BC+
IV made in one piece, τάπης Refs
B adverb μόνως, on one condition only, followed by εἰ, Refs 5th c.BC+; in one way only, Refs 4th c.AD+; in a unique manner, Refs 5th c.AD+: later, simply, only, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.II neuter as adverb, μόνον alone, only, οὐχ ἅπαξ μ. Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐὰν μ. if only, Refs 4th c.BC+; οὐσίαν.., οὐ χωριστὴν μ. only not separable, Refs
B.II.2 οὐ μόνον.., ἀλλὰ καὶ.. Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐ μ., ἀλλὰ.. Refs 5th c.BC+ is sometimes omitted, μὴ τοὺς ἐγγύς, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ἄπωθεν Refs 5th c.BC+
B.II.3 μόνον οὐ all but, well nigh, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.III κατὰ μόνας alone, Refs 5th c.BC+
B.IV μόνῃ, ={μόνον}, Refs 1st c.AD+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | masculine singular | feminine singular | neuter singular | masculine plural | feminine plural | neuter plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | monos20×μόνος | monas | monem60×μόνον | monois4×μόνοι | monais | moneim1×μόνα |
| object accusative | monon11×μόνον | monan1×μόνην | monoin3×μόνους | monain2×μόνας | ||
| direct address vocative | monor | monar | monoir | monair | ||
| of, belonging to genitive | monou2×μόνου | monau | moneu | monoiu | monaiu | moneiu |
| to, for dative | mono6×μόνῳ | mona | mone | monoi1×μόνοις | monai | monei |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
mon is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Other words sharing the exact same stem — not merely related in meaning.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
111 occurrences, 100 of them printed here — the rest are in the reader
monos“alone”subjectnominative singular20×
Matthew 14:23… kata idian proseuchera. opsēau de generantau monos ate ekei.… When evening came, He was there alone,
Matthew 24:36… tos huios, ei mē tos patros monos.… in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 6:47… en mese tau thalassau, kai autos monos epi tau gēau.… of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
Luke 5:21… tinos dunotō hamartain afiēkara ei mē monos tos theos?… Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 9:36“alone”… te genera tan fōnan heuriskita Iēsus monos. kai autois sigala kai oudeno apangelala …After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not …
Luke 24:18… onome Kleopos legata pros auton; Sis monos paroikasō Ierousalēm kai ouk gnōskasa teim …… Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not …
John 6:15“alone”… anachōrata palin eis tem orem autos monos.… by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
John 8:9“alone”… archerantois apo toiu presbuteroiu, kai kataleipita monos, tos Iēsus kai tas gunaikas en …… by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
John 8:16… krisias tas ēmas alēthinas atō, hoti monos ouk amō, alla mis kai tos …… is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who …
John 12:24“alone”… piptarantos eis tan gēan apothnēskateia, autos monos menatō; ean de apothnēskateia, pollon karpon …… of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
John 16:32… kamin monon afiēkaveia; kai ouk amō monos, hoti tos patros meta mu atō.… all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
Romans 11:3“alone”… teim thusiastērieim su kataskaptala, kamis hupoleipima monos, kai zētalō tan psuchan mu.… prophets and torn down Your altars. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well”?
Romans 16:4… heautoiu trachēlon hupotithala, hoi ouk mis monos eucharistamō alla kai pantais tais ekklēsais …… risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of …
1 Corinthians 9:6ē monos mis kai Barnabos ouk echanō exousian …Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a …
1 Timothy 6:15… kairoi idioi deikati tos makarios kai monos dunastos, tos basilevos toiu basilarōntoiu kai …which the blessed and only Sovereign One— the King of kings …
1 Timothy 6:16tos monos echarōntos athanasian, fōtem oikarōntos aprositem, hon …He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable …
2 Timothy 4:11Loukos atō monos meta mu. Markon analabarantos agasōr meta …Only Luke is with me. Get Mark …
Hebrews 9:7… de tan deuteran hapax tou eniautou monos tos archierevos, ouk chōris haimeu, hem …… entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without …
2 John 1:1“only”… agapamō en alētheia, kai ouk mis monos alla kai pantois tois gnōskarēntois tan …… whom I love in the truth — and not I alone, but also all who know the truth —
Revelation 15:4… kai doxazati tem onomem su, hoti monos hosios? hoti panteim teim ethneim hēkali …… and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come …
monon“only”objectaccusative singular11×
Matthew 17:8“alone”… oudenon horala ei mē auton Iēsun monon.… up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Mark 9:8“only”… ouketi oudenon horala alla ton Iēsun monon meta heautoiu.… around, they saw no one with them except Jesus.
John 8:29… meta mu atō; ouk afiēkata min monon, hoti mis teim aresteim auto poiamō …… Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases …
John 12:9… kai erchala ouk dia ton Iēsun monon, alla hina kai ton Lazaron horaleia …… was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to …
John 16:32… skorpiziveia hekastos eis teim idieim kamin monon afiēkaveia; kai ouk amō monos, hoti …… and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because …
John 17:3… aiōnias zōas hina gnōskaleiō sin ton monon alēthinon theon kai hon apostelasa Iēsun …… that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom …
Acts 26:29… en olige kai en mege ouk monon sin alla kai pantoin toin akouarōntoin …… I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me …
Romans 4:23“alone”Ouk grafita de dia auton monon hoti logizita auto,Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,
Galatians 6:4… dokimazatōr hekastos, kai tote eis heauton monon tem kauchēmem echati kai ouk eis …… have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
Philippians 2:27… theos elēata auton, ouk auton de monon alla kai min, hina mē lupan …… had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me …
Jude 1:4… charitan metatitharōntois eis aselgeian kai ton monon despoton kai kurion nu Iēsun Christon …… for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
monou“only”of, belonging togenitive singular2×
Matthew 18:15“alone”… elenchasar auton metaxu su kai autou monou. ean su akouateia, kerdainasa ton adelfon …… you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
John 5:44… kai tan doxan tan para tou monou theou ouk zētavō?… the glory that comes from the only God?
mono“only”to, fordative singular6×
Matthew 4:4… apokrinirantos legata; Grafotē; Ouk epi arto mono zōeti tos anthrōpos, alla epi pante …… Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes …
Matthew 4:10… ton theon su proskunasi kai auto mono latreuasi.… Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Luke 4:4… Iēsus; Grafotē hoti Ouk epi arto mono zōeti tos anthrōpos.… Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Luke 4:8… ton theon su proskunasi kai auto mono latreuasi.… Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
1 Timothy 1:17… de basilevo toiu aiōnoiu, aftharto, aorato, mono theo, timas kai doxas eis toin …… King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever …
Jude 1:25mono theo sōtēro nu dia Iēsu Christou …to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty …
monan“alone”objectaccusative singular1×
Luke 10:40… meleiatō si hoti tas adelfas mu monan min kataleipate diakonarō? legasar oun auta …… sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”
monem“only”subject or objectdirect singular60×, 49 shown
Matthew 5:47kai ean aspazeveia toin adelfoin vu monem, tinem perissem poiavō? ouchi kai tois …And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing …
Matthew 8:8“only”… mu hupo tan stegan eiserchaseia; alla monem legasar logo, kai iiti tos paidos …… have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matthew 9:21legate gar en heauta; Ean monem haptemeia teu himatieu autou sōzimi.She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will …
Matthew 14:36“only”kai parakalale auton hina monem hapteleia teu kraspedeu teu himatieu autou; …and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all …
Matthew 21:19“only”… heuriskata en auta ei mē fulleim monem, kai legatō auta; Mēketi ek su …… it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately …
Matthew 21:21… echaveiō pistian kai mē diakriniveia, ouk monem tem tau sukau poiavi, alla kan …… faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done …
Mark 5:36“only”… lalorōnton legatō to archisunagōgo; Mē fobosōr, monem pisteuasōr.… conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”
Mark 6:8“only”… airaleiō eis hodan ei mē rabdan monem, mē arton, mē pēran, mē eis …… them to take nothing but a staff for the journey — no bread, no bag, no money in their belts —
Luke 8:50“only”… Iēsus akouarantos apokrinita auto; Mē fobosōr, monem pisteuasar, kai sōziti.But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will …
John 5:18… auton tois Ioudaiois apoktenara hoti ouk monem luate tem sabbatem, alla kai patron …… the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but …
John 11:52kai ouk huper teu ethneu monem, alla hina kai teim tekneim tou …and not only for the nation, but also for …
John 13:9… Petros; Kurior, mē toin podoin mu monem alla kai tain cheirain kai tan …“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and …
John 17:20“only”Ouk peri houtoiu de erōtamō monem, alla kai peri toiu pisteuarōntoiu dia …I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message,
Acts 8:16“only”… gar ate epi oudeno autoiu epipiptarēntem, monem de baptizorēntois huparchale eis tem onomem …For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the …
Acts 11:19… mēdeno lalarōntois ton logon ei mē monem Ioudaioi.… Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
Acts 18:25… akribōs teim peri tou Iēsu, epistorōntos monem tem baptismem Iōannou.… accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Acts 19:26kai theōravō kai akouavō hoti ouk monem Efesau alla schedōs pantau tau Asiau …… can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the …
Acts 19:27ouk monem de houtem kinduneuatō ni tem merem …There is danger not only that our business will fall into …
Acts 21:13… mu tan kardian? mis gar ouk monem dira alla kai apothnēskara eis Ierousalēm …… my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to …
Acts 27:10… meta hubriau kai pollau zēmiau ouk monem teu fortieu kai teu ploieu alla …… with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to …
Romans 1:32… toiouteim prassarōntois axiois thanatou alō, ouk monem auteim poialō alla kai suneudokalō toi …… are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but …
Romans 3:29ē Ioudaioiu tos theos monem? ouchi kai ethneiu? nai kai ethneiu,Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of …
Romans 4:12… patron peritomau toi ouk ek peritomau monem alla kai toi stoicharōntoi tei ichnei …… father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk …
Romans 4:16… sperme, ouk te ek tou nomou monem alla kai te ek pistiau Abraam …… guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring — not only to those who are of the …
Romans 5:3ouk monem de, alla kai kauchonō en tai …Not only that, but we also rejoice in …
Romans 5:11ouk monem de, alla kai kauchorōntois en to …Not only that, but we also rejoice in …
Romans 8:23ouk monem de, alla kai autois tan aparchan …Not only that, but we ourselves, who have …
Romans 9:10ouk monem de, alla kai Rebekkas ek henou …Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived …
Romans 9:24hoin kai kalata nin ouk monem ek Ioudaioiu alla kai ek ethneiu… us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from …
Romans 13:5dio anankas hupotassorō, ouk monem dia tan organ alla kai dia …… necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as …
1 Corinthians 7:39“only”… andros, eleutheras atō ho thelatō gamira, monem en kurio;… to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:19“only”… zōa houta en Christo elpizarēntois anō monem, eleeinoterois pantoiu anthrōpoiu anō.If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.
2 Corinthians 7:7ouk monem de en ta parousia autou, alla …and not only by his arrival, but also by …
2 Corinthians 8:10… houtem gar vi sumferatō, hotinois ouk monem tem poiara alla kai tem thelarō …… year you were the first not only to give, but even to have …
2 Corinthians 8:19“only”ouk monem de alla kai cheirotonirantos hupo taiu …… was chosen by the churches to …
2 Corinthians 8:21pronoanō gar kaleim ouk monem enōpion kuriou alla kai enōpion anthrōpoiu.… to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord …
2 Corinthians 9:12… tas diakonias tau leitourgiau houtau ouk monem atō prosanaplērarōntas teim husterēmeim toiu hagioiu, …… this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints …
Galatians 1:23monem de akouarōntois ale hoti Tos diōkarōntos …They only heard the account: “The man who …
Galatians 2:10monem toiu ptōchoiu hina mnēmoneuaneiō, hem kai …They only asked us to remember the poor …
Galatians 3:2“only”houtem monem thelamō mathara apo vu, ek ergeiu …… like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the …
Galatians 4:18… zēlorō en kale pantote, kai mē monem en te pareiarō min pros vin,… purpose — at any time, and not only when I am with you.
Galatians 5:13“only”Vis gar epi eleutheria kaliva, adelfoir; monem mē tan eleutherian eis aforman ta …For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather …
Galatians 6:12… en sarka, houtois anankazalō vin peritemorō, monem hina to stauro tou Christou mē …… compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for …
Ephesians 1:21… kuriotau kai panteu onomeu onomazorōnteu ouk monem en to aiōno houto alla kai …… every name that is named, not only in the present age but also …
Philippians 1:27Monem axiōs teu euangelieu tou Christou politeuovōr, …… I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence …
Philippians 2:12… mē hōs en ta parousia mu monem alla nun polle mallon en ta …… as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even …
1 Thessalonians 1:5… ouk genita eis vin en logo monem alla kai en dunamia kai en …… our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power …
1 Thessalonians 1:8… exēchotē tos logos tou kuriou ouk monem en ta Makedonia kai Achaia, alla …For not only did the message of the Lord …
1 Thessalonians 2:8… homeirorōntois vu eudokane metadōara vi ouk monem tem euangeliem tou theou alla kai …… delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our …
monois“alone”subjectnominative plural4×
John 6:22… tos Iēsus eis tem ploiem alla monois tois mathētois autou aperchala;… disciples, but they had gone away alone.
Philippians 4:15“alone”… dosiau kai lēmpsiau ei mē vis monois,… church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.
Colossians 4:11… Ioustos, tois arōntois ek peritomau, houtois monois sunergois eis tan basileian tou theou, …… also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for …
1 Thessalonians 3:1“alone”… mēketi stegarōntois eudokana kataleipira en Athēnai monois,… we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.
monoin“alone”objectaccusative plural3×
Mark 9:2“alone”… autoin eis orem hupsēlem kata idian monoin. kai metamorfita emprosthen autoiu,… and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.
Luke 6:4“alone”… hoin ouk exestinatō esthiara ei mē monoin toin hierevoin?… what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”
1 Corinthians 14:36… tou theou exerchata, ē eis vin monoin katantata?… with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
monoi“only”to, fordative plural1×
Matthew 12:4… meta autou, ei mē toi hierevoi monoi?… lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
monain“alone”objectaccusative plural2×
Mark 4:10“* himself,”Kai hote geneta kata monain, erōtale auton tois peri auton sun …… as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the …
Luke 9:18“alone”… en te arō auton proseuchorōnton kata monain suneiale auto tois mathētois, kai eperōtata …… as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them …
moneim“by themselves”subject or objectdirect plural1×
Luke 24:12“by themselves”… mnēmeiem; kai parakuptarantos blepatō teim othonieim moneim; kai aperchata pros heauton thaumazarōntos tem …… to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what …