Luke 8:42

One only. Gr. monogenes, “only” (see on John 1:14; cf. on Luke 1:35). It is worthy of note that two of the three instances of Luke’s use of monogenes have to do with cases of raising from the dead — that of the son of the widow of Nain (see on Luke 7:12), and that of Jairus’ daughter recorded here. The third instance of monogenes in Luke is in connection with the healing of the lunatic son (see ch. 9:38). In the mind of an Oriental an only son or daughter is looked upon as the one to preserve the family name, and thus the bearer of a most important responsibility. The death of such a son or daughter was looked upon as particularly tragic. The Israelites considered it a tragedy for a family to become extinct (see on Deut. 25:6).