Words That Appear Only Once in Scripture
Hapax legomena are words that occur exactly once in a body of text. Explore these rare, singular words across the Old and New Testaments -- and discover what makes them significant.
What is a Hapax Legomenon?
A hapax legomenon (plural: hapax legomena) is a word that appears only once in a given body of text. The term comes from the Greek phrase meaning 'said once.' In biblical studies, hapax legomena are words that occur only once in the entire Hebrew Old Testament or Greek New Testament. These rare words have fascinated scholars for centuries because they present unique challenges for translation and interpretation.
When a word appears only once in scripture, translators cannot compare its usage across multiple passages to determine its meaning. They must rely on cognate languages, context, and ancient translations like the Septuagint to make educated guesses. This means that hapax legomena are often the most uncertain words in our English Bibles -- the places where translation is closest to interpretation.
The Hebrew Old Testament contains approximately 1,500 hapax legomena, while the Greek New Testament has around 700. Some are famous: the Hebrew word 'tappuach' in Song of Solomon 2:3 (usually translated 'apple tree') appears only once and its exact identification remains debated. The Greek word 'epiousios' in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:11, 'daily bread') is so rare it may have been coined by the Gospel writer.
Gospel Daily provides hapax legomena analysis across the entire Bible, covering both the Old and New Testaments. You can explore words that appear only once across the entire Bible, or only once within a specific book or testament. Each entry includes the original language context (where applicable), the full verse, and analysis of why this particular word is significant and what it tells us about the text.
How It Works
Browse by volume
Select a scripture volume to see all hapax legomena within it, or search across the Old and New Testaments to find words that appear only once in the entire Christian canon.
Explore each word
Each hapax legomenon shows the word, its original Hebrew or Greek form (where applicable), the verse where it appears, and its significance.
Understand the implications
Learn why certain words appear only once, what translation challenges they present, and what they reveal about the text's composition and vocabulary.
Key Features
Old and New Testaments
Hapax legomena identified across the Old and New Testaments.
Original Language Links
Hebrew and Greek hapax legomena include the original word, transliteration, and Strong's concordance reference for deeper study.
Searchable Database
Search for specific words or browse the full list. Filter by volume, language, or significance category.
Statistical Analysis
See how hapax legomena distribution compares across volumes, revealing patterns in vocabulary richness and authorial style.
A real hapax legomenon from the Old Testament:
Lilith (לִילִית — liyliyth)
Reference: Isaiah 34:14 | Original: Hebrew | Transliteration: liyliyth. This word appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah's apocalyptic vision of the desolation of Edom.
The Verse
KJV: 'The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.' (Isaiah 34:14)
Significance & Interpretive Challenge
This word appears only here in scripture, making its meaning entirely dependent on context. Variously translated as 'screech owl,' 'night creature,' 'night demon,' or left untranslated as a proper noun referencing a demonic or mythological figure, it has generated centuries of interpretive debate about demonology and ancient Near Eastern mythology. The Hebrew term is a true hapax with no cognate in related Semitic languages, making definitive identification impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hapax legomenon?
A hapax legomenon (from Greek, meaning 'said once') is a word that appears exactly once in a given body of text. In biblical studies, it refers to words found only once in the Hebrew Old Testament or Greek New Testament. These rare words are significant because their meaning must often be inferred from context rather than confirmed by multiple usages.
How many hapax legomena are in the Bible?
The Hebrew Old Testament contains approximately 1,500 hapax legomena, and the Greek New Testament contains around 700. Together, these represent a significant portion of the total vocabulary in scripture and include some of the most debated translation choices in the Bible.
How does Gospel Daily identify hapax legomena?
Gospel Daily analyzes the full text of the Bible to identify words that appear only once within a specific book, within a testament, or across the entire biblical canon. Each rare word is cataloged with its context, original language data, and an analysis of its significance for translation and interpretation.
Why do hapax legomena matter for scripture study?
Hapax legomena matter because they represent the most uncertain points in translation. When a word appears only once, translators have less evidence for its precise meaning. Understanding which words in your Bible are hapax legomena helps you identify places where the English translation may not fully capture the original meaning -- and where deeper study is most rewarding.
What is the most famous hapax legomenon in the Bible?
One of the most discussed is 'epiousios' in Matthew 6:11, translated as 'daily' in 'Give us this day our daily bread.' This Greek word appears nowhere else in ancient literature and may have been coined specifically for this prayer. Scholars continue to debate whether it means 'daily,' 'necessary,' 'for tomorrow,' or 'supernatural.'
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