ἑνότης G1775
unity, oneness; the state or quality of being one, unified, or in harmonious union
This abstract noun denotes the state of being one or the quality of unity. Paul urges believers to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). He speaks of growing to the unity of the faith and knowledge of God's Son (Eph 4:13). The term appears only in Ephesians and emphasizes not just numerical oneness but harmonious union—the opposite of division, faction, or fragmentation. It relates to the fundamental Christian conviction that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Unity, oneness; the state or quality of being unified. Both occurrences in Eph 4 emphasize preserving or attaining unity. In v. 3, believers maintain the unity (τὴν ἑνότητα) of the Spirit through peace. In v. 13, maturity involves reaching the unity of faith and knowledge of Christ. The term emphasizes harmonious union, not mere numerical singularity. Classical usage includes philosophical unity and concrete manifestations of oneness. Cross-linguistic glosses preserve the unity concept: 'unidad', 'Einheit', 'unité'. 2×
AR["وَحدَةَ", "وَحدَةِ"]·ben["ঐক্য", "ঐক্যে"]·DE["Einheit"]·EN["unity"]·FR["ἑνότητα"]·heb["אַחְדוּת"]·HI["एक्त"]·ID["kesatuan"]·IT["enotēta"]·jav["kasatunggilan"]·KO["하나됨에", "하나됨을"]·PT["unidade"]·RU["единство"]·ES["unidad"]·SW["umoja"]·TR["birligine", "birligini"]·urd["یگانگت"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἑνότης, ητος, ἡ, (εἷς) unity, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II union, συμπάθεια πρὸς ἀλλήλους καὶ ἑ. ἰδιότροπος NT+4th c.BC+ __III in concrete sense, ἀπογεγεννημένη ἑ. Refs 4th c.BC+