μονόω (monoō)
monoō
to leave alone
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb monōō means to leave someone or something in a state of solitude, effectively describing the act of leaving alone or forsaking. Its root connects to the idea of being single or solitary, emphasizing isolation rather than mere physical absence. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, carrying a specific emotional weight regarding social and familial abandonment.
This sole occurrence is found in 1 Timothy 5:5, where it describes a widow who is "left alone" (widowed). The context highlights her vulnerability and lack of family support, framing her not just as unmarried, but as someone abandoned by the usual structures of care. The term underscores the reality of being solitary in a community that typically provides for its members.
Translators often render this as "left alone" or "forsaken," capturing the passive experience of the subject. Unlike general words for loneliness, monōō points to the external action of others leaving the individual behind. It serves as a stark reminder of the social conditions faced by widows in the early church, where being left without kin meant facing life in complete isolation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word monōō describes the heavy reality of being left alone. It is not just about physical solitude, but the painful experience of abandonment by those who were supposed to provide care. In the first century, this often meant a widow without family support, facing life in complete isolation within a community that valued kinship networks.
Yet, 1 Timothy 5:5 shows us how God meets those who are truly desolate. When human systems fail and we find ourselves without support, our hope can remain fixed on the Lord. This verse reminds us that even in our most vulnerable moments of being left behind, we are seen by God, who invites us to bring our petitions and prayers to Him night and day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- abandoned1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μεμονωμένη1×
Key Verses
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I Timothy 5:5
Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
This verse uses the word to describe a widow who is truly desolate, highlighting her complete lack of human support while maintaining hope in God.