The term "only" in the Bible often signifies exclusivity, uniqueness, or singularity, and it is used in various contexts to emphasize the distinctiveness of God, His actions, or His commands. In the Berean Standard Bible , "only" is employed to highlight the sole nature of certain divine attributes, the exclusivity of worship, and the singularity of certain biblical truths.

1. Divine Uniqueness: The Bible frequently uses "only" to underscore the uniqueness of God. In Deuteronomy 6:4, the Shema declares, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." This foundational statement emphasizes the monotheistic belief that Yahweh is the only God, distinct from the polytheistic beliefs of surrounding nations. Isaiah 45:5 further reinforces this, stating, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God."

2. Exclusive Worship: The exclusivity of worship is a recurring theme, where "only" is used to command the Israelites to worship Yahweh alone. In Exodus 20:3, the first of the Ten Commandments states, "You shall have no other gods before Me." This commandment establishes the principle that worship is due only to the one true God, rejecting idolatry and the worship of false gods.

3. Salvation through Christ Alone: The New Testament emphasizes the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." This statement highlights the belief that salvation is found only in Christ, a central tenet of Christian faith. Acts 4:12 echoes this sentiment: "Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

4. Faith and Obedience: The concept of "only" is also applied to faith and obedience. In James 2:24, it is written, "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." This passage emphasizes that genuine faith is accompanied by actions, underscoring the belief that faith is not only a matter of belief but also of practice.

5. God's Sovereignty and Power: The Bible often uses "only" to describe God's unmatched power and sovereignty. In Psalm 62:5-6, the psalmist writes, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken." This passage highlights the belief that God is the sole source of strength and security for believers.

6. Moral and Ethical Exclusivity: The term "only" is used to delineate moral and ethical boundaries. In Matthew 19:17, Jesus says, "Why do you ask Me about what is good? There is only One who is good." This statement points to the belief that true goodness is found only in God, setting a standard for moral conduct.

In summary, the use of "only" in the Bible serves to emphasize the exclusivity and singularity of God, His commands, and the path to salvation. It underscores the distinctiveness of the Christian faith and the call to worship and serve God alone.1. (a.) One alone; single; as, the only man present; his only occupation.

2. (a.) Alone in its class; by itself; not associated with others of the same class or kind; as, an only child.

3. (a.) Hence, figuratively: Alone, by reason of superiority; preeminent; chief.

4. (a.) In one manner or degree; for one purpose alone; simply; merely; barely.

5. (a.) So and no otherwise; no other than; exclusively; solely; wholly.

6. (a.) Singly; without more; as, only-begotten.

7. (a.) Above all others; particularly.

8. (conj.) Save or except (that); -- an adversative used elliptically with or without that, and properly introducing a single fact or consideration.

ONLY BEGOTTEN

on'-li be-got-'-'n (monogenes): Although the English words are found only 6 times in the New Testament, the Greek word appears 9 times, and often in the Septuagint. It is used literally of an only child: "the only son of his mother" (Luke 7:12); "an only daughter" (Luke 8:42); "mine only child" (Luke 9:38); "Isaac.... his only begotten" (Hebrews 11:17). In all other places in the New Testament it refers to Jesus Christ as "the only begotten Son of God" (John 1:14, 18; John 3:16, 18 1 John 4:9). In these passages, too, it might be translated as "the only son of God"; for the emphasis seems to be on His uniqueness, rather than on His sonship, though both ideas are certainly present. He is the son of God in a sense in which no others are. "Monogenes describes the absolutely unique relation of the Son to the Father in His divine nature; prototokos describes the relation of the Risen Christ in His glorified humanity to man" (Westcott on Hebrews 1:6). Christ's uniqueness as it appears in the above passages consists of two things:

(a) He reveals the Father: "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). Men therefore behold His glory, "glory as of the only begotten from the Father" (1:14).

(b) He is the mediator of salvation: "God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9 John 3:16); "He that believeth not (on him) hath been judged already" (John 3:18). Other elements in His uniqueness may be gathered from other passages, as His sinlessness, His authority to forgive sins, His unbroken communion with the Father, and His unique knowledge of Him. To say that it is a uniqueness of nature or essence carries thought no farther, for these terms still need definition, and they can be defined only in terms of His moral consciousness, of His revelation of God, and especially of His intimate union as Son with the Father.

See also BEGOTTEN; PERSON OF CHRIST; SON OF GOD.

The reading "God only begotten" in John 1:18 the Revised Version margin, though it has strong textual support, is improbable, and can well be explained as due to orthodox zeal, in opposition to adoptionism. See Grimm-Thayer, Lexicon; Westcott, at the place

T. Rees

3439. monogenes -- only begotten
... only begotten. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: monogenes Phonetic Spelling:
(mon-og-en-ace') Short Definition: only, only-begotten, unique Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3439.htm - 7k

1473. ego -- I (only expressed when emphatic)
... I (only expressed when emphatic). Part of Speech: Personal Pronoun Transliteration:
ego Phonetic Spelling: (eg-o') Short Definition: I Definition: I, the first ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1473.htm - 6k

3441. monos -- alone
... alone. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: monos Phonetic Spelling:
(mon'-os) Short Definition: only, solitary, desolate Definition: only, solitary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3441.htm - 7k

3440. monon -- merely
... merely. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: monon Phonetic Spelling: (mon'-on)
Short Definition: alone, but, only Definition: alone, but, only. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3440.htm - 6k

1487. ei -- forasmuch as, if, that
... for the sake of argument) (). Accordingly, 1487 () should be translated "," but
rather always "" -- since the assumption may only be as valid (true, factual). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1487.htm - 7k

1129. gumnasia -- exercise
... 1129 ("bodily exercise"), used only in 1 Tim 4:8, refers to used for .
That is, when physical exercise (like yoga) is viewed as ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1129.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... we can receive faith only as he gives it . . . you cannot manufacture faith, you
can not work it up . . . ... it is the faith that only God can give . . . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

1510. eimi -- I exist, I am
... omnitemporal," like the Hebrew imperfect tense). Only the indicates whether the
tense also has "" implications. For example, 1510 () is aptly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1510.htm - 9k

2569. kalopoieo -- to do well
... make") -- properly, doing good that others to rise up and also do what is (), ie
to "act with holy affections." 2569 (" that inspires") can only happen through ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2569.htm - 7k

4875. sunanapauomai -- to lie down to rest with, fig. to be ...
... 4875 (from 4862 , "identified " and 373 , "pause completely") -- properly, , ie
when people enjoy God's which only results from first in the unity of the Spirit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4875.htm - 7k

3173. yachid -- only, only one, solitary
... 3172, 3173. yachid. 3174 . only, only one, solitary. Transliteration: yachid
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-kheed') Short Definition: only. ...
/hebrew/3173.htm - 6k

7534. raq -- thin, only, altogether, surely
... 7533, 7534. raq. 7535 . thin, only, altogether, surely. Transliteration:
raq Phonetic Spelling: (rak) Short Definition: only. Word ...
/hebrew/7534.htm - 6k

2108. zulah -- except, only
... 2107, 2108. zulah. 2109 . except, only. Transliteration: zulah Phonetic Spelling:
(zoo-law') Short Definition: except. ... beside, but, only, save. ...
/hebrew/2108.htm - 6k

1297. beram -- only, nevertheless
... 1296, 1297. beram. 1298 . only, nevertheless. Transliteration: beram
Phonetic Spelling: (ber-am') Short Definition: however. Word ...
/hebrew/1297.htm - 6k

6985. qat -- perhaps only
... 6984, 6985. qat. 6986 . perhaps only. Transliteration: qat Phonetic Spelling:
(kat) Short Definition: too. Word Origin of uncertain ...
/hebrew/6985.htm - 6k

389. ak -- surely, howbeit
... 388, 389. ak. 390 . surely, howbeit. Transliteration: ak Phonetic Spelling:
(ak) Short Definition: only. Word Origin of uncertain ...
/hebrew/389.htm - 6k

518. im -- if
... than* (1), most assuredly* (1), never (2), never* (1), nevertheless* (1), no (6),
no means (1), none (1), nor (7), nothing (1), O (1), Oh (2), only (4), only ...
/hebrew/518.htm - 6k

657. ephes -- a ceasing
... lack (1), less...nothing (1), neither (1), nevertheless* (3), no more (1), no one
(6), no other (1), non-existent (1), nor (1), nothing (2), only (2), there (1 ...
/hebrew/657.htm - 6k

3697. kasam -- to shear, clip
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to shear, clip NASB Word Usage only trim (1).
only, poll. A primitive root; to shear -- X only, poll. Compare kircem. ...
/hebrew/3697.htm - 6k

905. bad -- separation, a part
... 2), aside (2), bars (1), besides* (40), disease (1), except (1), except* (1), himself
(6), including (1), itself (7), limbs (2), Myself (1), only (11), part of ...
/hebrew/905.htm - 6k

Jesus Only!
... JESUS ONLY! 'They saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.'"Mark
9:8. ... The King's name only will at last be found inscribed on the pyramid. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/jesus only.htm

Whether the Will is of Good Only?
... OF THE WILL, IN REGARD TO WHAT IT WILLS (THREE ARTICLES) Whether the will is of
good only? Objection 1: It would seem that the will is not of good only. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will is of.htm

Only one Vote
... ONLY ONE VOTE. A local option contest was going on in W", and Mrs. Kent
was trying to influence her husband to vote "No License ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/only one vote.htm

'Impossible, --Only I Saw It'
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS IMPOSSIBLE,"ONLY I SAW IT'. ... Or, how does the pert objector
know that that is the only way of fulfilling the promise? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/impossibleonly i saw it.htm

The Only Atoning Priest
... The Only Atoning Priest. A Sermon (No.1034). ... And we are told further, by the apostle,
that as there was but one priest, so there was only one sacrifice. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the only atoning priest.htm

Penitence the Only Helper.
... Penitence The Only Helper. I. The Only Helper. 8,6,8,6,8,8,8,4,8. Allein zu dir
Herr Jesu Christ. [268]J. Schneesing.1522. Lord Jesus Christ, in Thee alone. ...
/.../lyra germanica second series the christian life/penitence the only helper.htm

Now this is the Only Knowledge that You Can Possibly have of an ...
... [Way-3-9] Now this is the only knowledge that you can possibly have of
an outward hell? Now this is the only knowledge that you ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-3-9 now this is the.htm

But among You, is it Only the Males who Lust...
... Book IV. 27 But among you, is it only the males who lust? But among you, is it only
the males who lust; and has the female sex preserved its purity? ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/27 but among you is.htm

Whether Prudence is in Subjects, or Only in their Rulers?
... TREATISE ON THE CARDINAL VIRTUES (QQ -170)OF PRUDENCE, CONSIDERED IN ITSELF (SIXTEEN
ARTICLES) Whether prudence is in subjects, or only in their rulers? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether prudence is in subjects.htm

Whether There is Only one Aeviternity?
... The difference of aeviternity and time Whether there is only one aeviternity?
Objection ... angels. Therefore there is not only one aeviternity. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is only one.htm

Only (3813 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) One alone; single; as, the only man present; his
only occupation. ... 6. (a.) Singly; without more; as, only-begotten. ...
/o/only.htm - 10k

Only-begotten (5 Occurrences)
Only-begotten. Only, Only-begotten. Ono . Multi-Version Concordance
Only-begotten (5 Occurrences). John 1:14 And the ...
/o/only-begotten.htm - 7k

Sacrificing (39 Occurrences)
... offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on
the point of sacrificing his only son (WEY). Exodus 13:15 ...
/s/sacrificing.htm - 19k

Kenosis
... For in Philippians 2:7 the only "emptying" in point is that of the (external) change
from the "form of God" to the "form of a servant." Elsewhere in the New ...
/k/kenosis.htm - 14k

Zimri (16 Occurrences)
... He reigned only seven days, for Omri, whom the army elected as king, laid siege
to Tirzah, whereupon Zimri set fire to the palace and perished amid its ruins ...
/z/zimri.htm - 18k

Sacraments
... The Council of Trent was more exact when it declared that visible forms are sacraments
only when they represent an invisible grace and become its channels, and ...
/s/sacraments.htm - 19k

Seducer
... dus', se-dus'-er (Hiphil of (Ta`ah, or ta`ah, "to err"; of pathah, "to be simple";
planao, apoplanao, "to lead astray"): (1) The word "seduce" is only used in ...
/s/seducer.htm - 9k

Seduce (8 Occurrences)
... dus', se-dus'-er (Hiphil of (Ta`ah, or ta`ah, "to err"; of pathah, "to be simple";
planao, apoplanao, "to lead astray"): (1) The word "seduce" is only used in ...
/s/seduce.htm - 12k

Spoiled (69 Occurrences)
... YLT). Deuteronomy 2:35 only, the cattle we have spoiled for ourselves,
and the spoil of the cities which we have captured. (YLT). ...
/s/spoiled.htm - 27k

Sychar (1 Occurrence)
... si'-kar (Suchar): Mentioned only once, in connection with the visit of Jesus to
Jacob's Well (John 4:5). He was passing through Samaria on His way to Galilee ...
/s/sychar.htm - 10k

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