irregular feminine of εἷς; one or first:--a (certain), + agree, first, one, X other.
Transliteration:mía
Pronunciation:mee'-ah
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word μία (mía, `{{G3391}}`) serves as the irregular feminine form of εἷς (heis, `{{G1520}}`), which fundamentally means "one." As such, its primary semantic range revolves around the concept of singularity.
1. **Numerical "One":** Most straightforwardly, μία denotes a single unit or entity. This can refer to a solitary item, person, or instance.
2. **Unity and Agreement:** Beyond mere number, μία frequently conveys a profound sense of unity, cohesion, or agreement. When applied to groups or concepts, it signifies a shared purpose, mind, or identity, emphasizing a singular, undivided nature.
3. **"First" or "Only":** In specific idiomatic constructions, particularly in reference to days of the week, μία takes on the meaning of "first." While πρῶτος (prōtos, `{{G4413}}`) is the more common word for "first," μία in these contexts points to the initial instance of a recurring sequence. It can also, by extension, imply uniqueness or singularity in a qualitative sense, though this is less common than its numerical or unifying uses.
4. **Indefinite Article (Implied):** Although Koine Greek lacks a true indefinite article, μία can sometimes function similarly to "a" or "a certain" in English, introducing an unspecified singular entity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The usage of μία in the New Testament illuminates its multifaceted meaning:
* **Numerical Singularity:**
* [[Luke 15:8]]: "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin (δραχμὴν μίαν), does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?" Here, μία clearly denotes a single, lost coin.
* [[John 19:23]]: "When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom with one piece (ἐκ μιᾶς ὑφαντὸν)." The emphasis is on the garment's singular, seamless construction.
* [[Revelation 18:8]]: "For this reason her plagues will come in a single day (ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ)—death and mourning and famine—and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her." This refers to a specific, singular day.
* **Unity and Agreement:**
* [[Acts 4:32]]: "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul (καρδία καὶ ψυχὴ μία), and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common." This is a powerful expression of the early church's profound spiritual and communal unity.
* [[Ephesians 4:5]]: "one Lord, one faith (μία πίστις), one baptism,". Here, μία underscores the singular, unified nature of Christian faith, implying an essential core of belief that binds all believers.
* **"First Day of the Week":** This idiomatic usage is highly significant:
* [[Matthew 28:1]]: "Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week (εἰς μίαν σαββάτων), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb."
* [[Mark 16:2]]: "And very early on the first day of the week (τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων), when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb."
* [[Luke 24:1]]: "But on the first day of the week (τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων), at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared."
* [[John 20:1]]: "Now on the first day of the week (τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων) Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb."
* [[Acts 20:7]]: "On the first day of the week (ἐν τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων), when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight."
* [[1 Corinthians 16:2]]: "On the first day of every week (κατὰ μίαν σαββάτου), each of you is to put aside and store up whatever he may prosper in, so that no collections need to be made when I come."
In all these instances, μία (often in the genitive plural σαββάτων, referring to the "first day *of* the Sabbaths/week") consistently denotes Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection.
### Related Words & Concepts
μία (mía, `{{G3391}}`) is intrinsically linked to other terms and theological concepts:
* **εἷς (heis, `{{G1520}}`):** This is the masculine and neuter form of "one," of which μία is the feminine. Understanding εἷς is crucial for grasping the full scope of "oneness" in the New Testament, especially in statements about God's singular nature (e.g., [[Mark 12:29]]).
* **ἕνωσις (henōsis, `{{G1749}}`):** While not directly related etymologically, this noun explicitly means "union" or "unity," expressing the concept that μία often implies.
* **μονογενής (monogenēs, `{{G3439}}`):** Meaning "only begotten" or "unique," this word emphasizes singularity in terms of origin or kind, resonating with the qualitative "oneness" that μία can sometimes suggest.
* **πρῶτος (prōtos, `{{G4413}}`):** Meaning "first" in sequence or importance, πρῶτος overlaps with μία in the "first day of the week" idiom, though μία maintains its numerical root.
* **Concepts of Unity and Individuality:** μία contributes significantly to the biblical understanding of the church as a unified body, the coherence of divine truth, and the distinctness of individual entities within God's creation.
### Theological Significance
The theological import of μία extends beyond simple numeration, touching upon core doctrines:
* **The Unity of the Church:** The description of the early believers as "of one heart and soul" ([[Acts 4:32]]) is a foundational theological statement about the nature of the Christian community. μία here signifies a profound spiritual and relational unity, a shared purpose and identity rooted in their common faith in Christ. This unity is not merely organizational but existential, reflecting the very nature of God as one.
* **The Singularity of Faith:** In [[Ephesians 4:5]], "one faith" (μία πίστις) points to the singular, unadulterated truth of the Gospel. It implies that there is one saving message, one object of faith (Jesus Christ), and one body of doctrine essential for salvation. This stands in contrast to fragmented or multiple "faiths," emphasizing the unique and unified nature of Christian revelation.
* **The Resurrection and the Lord's Day:** The consistent use of μία to denote the "first day of the week" (μία σαββάτων) is profoundly significant. This phrase, rather than using πρῶτος (first), literally means "one of the Sabbaths" or "the first day of the Sabbath cycle," implicitly marking a new beginning. It underscores the pivotal event of Christ's resurrection on this specific day, establishing it as the new day of Christian worship and assembly, distinct from the Jewish Sabbath. This linguistic choice subtly highlights the inauguration of a new covenant era.
* **Divine Coherence:** While μία does not directly describe God's singular nature (for which εἷς is typically used), its pervasive use in conveying unity and singularity across various contexts reinforces the biblical emphasis on the coherence and indivisible nature of God's plan, truth, and people.
### Summary
μία (mía, `{{G3391}}`), the feminine form of εἷς (heis, `{{G1520}}`), primarily denotes "one" in a numerical sense. Its semantic range, however, extends significantly to encompass profound concepts of unity, agreement, and, in specific idiomatic expressions, the notion of "first." Contextual analysis reveals its use in describing singular entities (e.g., [[Luke 15:8]] "one drachma") and, more importantly, in conveying critical theological truths. It is central to understanding the early church's communal unity as "one heart and soul" ([[Acts 4:32]]) and the foundational "one faith" ([[Ephesians 4:5]]) that binds believers. Crucially, μία consistently designates the "first day of the week" ([[Matthew 28:1]], [[John 20:1]], etc.), thereby marking the day of Christ's resurrection and the subsequent establishment of Sunday as the primary day of Christian worship. Theologically, μία underscores the unified nature of the Church, the singular truth of the Christian faith, and the transformative significance of the resurrection day as a new beginning, reflecting a divine emphasis on coherence and unique truth in God's redemptive plan.
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