Romans 16:4

Romans 16:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
• New International Version (NIV)They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.
• New King James Version (NKJV)who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Context of Romans 16:4

2that you may receive her in the Lord [with love and hospitality], as God’s people ought to receive one another. And that you may help her in whatever matter she may require assistance from you, for she has been a helper of many, including myself. 3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks [endangering their very lives] for my life. To them not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Also greet the church that meets in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor]. 6Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you.

Romans 16:4 word by word

οἵτινες ὑπὲρ τῆς ψυχῆς μου τὸν ἑαυτῶν τράχηλον ὑπέθηκαν, οἷς οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνος εὐχαριστῶ ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τῶν ἐθνῶνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Whoὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• haveὑποτίθημιhupotithēmi · to layG5294
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• lifeψυχήpsuchē · soul: lifeG5590
• their ownἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• necksτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
• unto whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
• give thanksεὐχαριστέωeucharisteō · to thankG2168
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• the churchesἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484

Cross-references for Romans 16:4

• Romans 5:7Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a good man [one who is noble and selfless and worthy] someone might even dare to die.
• John 15:13No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.
• Philippians 2:30because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me [which distance prevented you from rendering personally].
• 1 John 3:16By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.
• Joshua 10:24When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and told the commanders of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come up close, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and put their feet on the necks [of the five kings].
• 2 Samuel 22:41You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me [in retreat], And I destroyed those who hated me.
• Micah 2:3Therefore, thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am planning against this family a disaster (exile) [Like a noose] from which you cannot remove your necks; Nor will you be able to walk haughtily and erect, For it will be an evil time [of subjugation to the invaders].
• Acts 15:41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
• Acts 16:5So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they continually increased in number day after day.
• 1 Corinthians 7:17Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]. This is the rule I make in all the churches.
• 1 Corinthians 16:1Now concerning the money collected for [the relief of] the saints [in Jerusalem], you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same [kind of] persecution from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews,
• Revelation 1:4John, to the seven churches that are in [the province of] Asia: Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne,

Commentaries on Romans 16:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks - What transaction this refers to we know not; but it appears that these persons had, on some occasion, hazarded their own lives to save that of the apostle; and that the fact was known to all the Churches of God in that quarter, who felt themselves under the highest obligations to these pious persons, for the important service which they had thus rendered.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Who have for my life - In order to save my life. Laid down their own necks - To “lay down the neck” is to lay the head on a block to be cut off with the axe; or to bow down the head as when the neck was exposed to be cut off by the sword of the executioner. The meaning is, that they had hazarded their lives, had exposed themselves to imminent danger, to save the life of Paul. On what occasion this was done, is not known, as it is not referred to in the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-16Although Paul had not yet visited the Christian community in Rome, he built a relationship with these believers by greeting many of them by name. The names show that the Roman church was very diverse. Jews and Gentiles, enslaved people and free people, men and women all formed a new community in the church (see Galatians 3:26–29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-53-5. Salute Priscilla--The true reading here is "Prisca" (as in 2Ti 4:19), a contracted form of Priscilla, as "Silas" of "Silvanus." and Aquila my helpers--The wife is here named before the husband (as in Ac 18:18, and Ro 16:26, according to the true reading; also in 2Ti 4:19), probably as being the more prominent and helpful to the Church.Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 16:4

• Aquila and Priscilla
• Constancy
• Friendship
• Love
• Priscilla
• Thankfulness
• Unselfishness

In the dictionaries

• Apostle
• Commend
• Mark
• Neck
• Romans, Epistle to the
• Aquila
• Bible, the
• Caesar's Household
• Church Government
• Epaenetus

Commentaries on Romans 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings