μονόφθαλμος (monophthalmos)
monophthalmos
one-eyed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective monophthalmos describes a person who is one-eyed or has lost one eye. Derived from the roots for "one" and "eye," it functions as a straightforward physical descriptor in the New Testament. It appears only twice, both times within Jesus’ teachings on radical self-discipline found in Matthew 18:9 and Mark 9:47.
In these passages, the term is used metaphorically rather than literally. Jesus employs the image of plucking out a monophthalmos eye to illustrate the extreme measures one must take to avoid sin. The vividness of the phrase underscores the seriousness of moral purity, suggesting that losing a part of oneself is preferable to spiritual ruin.
Translators typically render this word simply as "one-eyed" or "single." Because the context is hyperbolic, the focus remains on the severity of the choice rather than medical accuracy. The word serves as a stark visual aid in Jesus’ call for total commitment, highlighting that anything causing sin must be removed without hesitation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word monophthalmos simply means "one-eyed," appearing only twice in the New Testament within Jesus’ teachings on sin. In Matthew and Mark, He uses this stark image not as a medical instruction, but as a vivid metaphor for radical self-discipline. The point is to highlight the extreme seriousness of avoiding sin, suggesting that we should be willing to give up anything that leads us away from God.
This teaching invites us to examine what habits or relationships might cause spiritual harm. It calls for honesty about our own vulnerabilities and a willingness to make difficult choices for the sake of our faith. The focus is not on physical loss, but on preserving our relationship with God and the hope of eternal life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with one eye1×
- one-eyed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μονόφθαλμον2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 18:9
If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
This verse uses monophthalmos to contrast entering life with one eye against being cast into Gehenna, emphasizing the priority of spiritual survival over physical wholeness.
-
Mark 9:47
If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,
Here the term appears in a similar context but specifies entering God’s Kingdom, reinforcing that radical action against sin is necessary for participation in divine life.