Greek · G1247, G3441 · unreviewed

μόνην διακονεῖν

To serve · alone

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

διακονέω G1247 to serve
Pronunciation diakonéō
Active service to others' concrete needs, especially humble practical care, not abstract duty
Open lexicon entry →
μόνος G3441 alone
Pronunciation mónos
Emphasizes exclusive solitude or singularity; theologically, God's unique, incomparable oneness distinct from all creation.
Open lexicon entry →

What does μόνην διακονεῖν (monēn diakonein) mean in the Bible?

διακονέω · μόνος is a Greek word meaning "to serve alone".

Full entry for μόνην διακονεῖν (G1247, G3441) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to serve alone
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Imperfect Present Aorist Future
Voices
Active Passive
Indicative states a fact or reality 13×
Imperfect Active Matt 4:11 · Mark 1:13 · Mark 15:41 · Luke 8:3 · 1 Pet 1:12 · Matt 8:15 · Mark 1:31 · Luke 4:39 · John 12:2
Aorist Active Matt 25:44 · 2 Tim 1:18
Future Active Luke 12:37
Present Active 1 Pet 4:11
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 13×
Present Active Luke 22:26 · Luke 22:27 · Rom 15:25 · Heb 6:10 · 1 Pet 4:10 · Matt 27:55 · Acts 19:22
Present Passive 2 Cor 8:19 · 2 Cor 8:20
Aorist Active 1 Tim 3:13 · Heb 6:10
Aorist Passive 2 Cor 3:3
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose
Present Active John 12:26 · Phlm 1:13
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Aorist Passive Matt 20:28 · Mark 10:45
Aorist Active Matt 20:28 · Mark 10:45
Present Active Luke 10:40 · Acts 6:2
Imperative command or strong request
Present Active Luke 17:8 · 1 Tim 3:10
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 35 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 2 ongoing 1 prospective 1 imperative 2 background 9 subjunctive 3 infinitive 6 participle 11
Tense
present 17 imperfect 9 aorist 8 future 1
Voice
active 30 passive 5
Mood
indicative 13 participle 11 infinitive 6 subjunctive 3 imperative 2
NT Occurrences
Matthew 4:11 διηκόνουν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 8:15 διηκόνει imperfect active indicative background Matthew 20:28 διακονηθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive Matthew 20:28 διακονῆσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 25:44 διηκονήσαμέν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 27:55 διακονοῦσαι present active participle participle Mark 1:13 διηκόνουν imperfect active indicative background Mark 1:31 διηκόνει imperfect active indicative background Mark 10:45 διακονηθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive Mark 10:45 διακονῆσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Mark 15:41 διηκόνουν imperfect active indicative background Luke 4:39 διηκόνει imperfect active indicative background Luke 8:3 διηκόνουν imperfect active indicative background Luke 10:40 διακονεῖν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 12:37 διακονήσει future active indicative prospective Luke 17:8 διακόνει present active imperative imperative Luke 22:26 διακονῶν present active participle participle Luke 22:27 διακονῶν present active participle participle Luke 22:27 διακονῶν present active participle participle John 12:2 διηκόνει imperfect active indicative background John 12:26 διακονῇ present active subjunctive subjunctive John 12:26 διακονῇ present active subjunctive subjunctive Acts 6:2 διακονεῖν present active infinitive infinitive Acts 19:22 διακονούντων present active participle participle Romans 15:25 διακονῶν present active participle participle 2 Corinthians 3:3 διακονηθεῖσα aorist passive participle participle 2 Corinthians 8:19 διακονουμένῃ present passive participle participle 2 Corinthians 8:20 διακονουμένῃ present passive participle participle 1 Timothy 3:10 διακονείτωσαν present active imperative imperative 1 Timothy 3:13 διακονήσαντες aorist active participle participle 2 Timothy 1:18 διηκόνησεν aorist active indicative completed Philemon 1:13 διακονῇ present active subjunctive subjunctive 1 Peter 1:12 διηκόνουν imperfect active indicative background 1 Peter 4:10 διακονοῦντες present active participle participle 1 Peter 4:11 διακονεῖ present active indicative ongoing

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources