The Meaning of Romans 16:6 Explained

Romans 16:6

KJV: Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

YLT: Salute Mary, who did labour much for us;

Darby: Salute Maria, who laboured much for you.

ASV: Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Greet  Mary,  who  bestowed  much  labour  on  us. 

What does Romans 16:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Romans 16:1-16 - Personal Interest In Fellow-Christians
Here is a window into Paul's heart. He was apparently disowned by his own kindred, yet, as the Lord had promised, He had mothers, sisters, and brothers a hundred-fold. What a contrast there is between the spirit of this chapter and that of the mere disputant or theologian, the stoic or monk. We see also the courtesy, purity, thoughtfulness, and tenderness of Christian relationships.
Women are here-Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Junia, Persis, Julia, and others. The Apostle realized the immense help that holy women could furnish in the ministry of the gospel. Men are here-old and young, fathers, brothers, and sons. Lovely titles are given with a lavish, though a discriminating hand-succorer, helpers, beloved, approved in Christ, saints. How especially beautiful the appellation, the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord! The kiss was the common mode of greeting, but there was to be a new sanctity in it, as though Christ were between. This church in Rome was a model for other churches. Would that we could realize the same spiritual unity that presided over the gatherings of these early saints! [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 16

1  Paul wills the brothers to greet many;
17  and advises them to take heed of those which cause dissension and offenses;
21  and after various salutations ends with praise and thanks to God

Greek Commentary for Romans 16:6

Mary [Μαριαν]
Some MSS. have Μαριαμ — Mariam the Hebrew form. The name indicates a Jewish Christian in Rome. Paul praises her toil. See note on Luke 5:5. [source]
Mary [Μαριάμ Mariam)]
Westcott and Hort read Μαρίαν . A Jewish name, the same as Miriam, meaning obstinacy, rebelliousness. [source]
Bestowed labor [ἐκοπίασεν]
See on Luke 5:5. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 16:6

Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided [εσχιστη δε το πλητος της πολεως]
First aorist passive indicative of σχιζω — schizō old verb to split, to make a schism or factions as Sadducees and Pharisees (Acts 23:7). This division was within the Gentile populace. Part held Common demonstrative of contrast The Jewish leaders made some impression on the Gentiles as at Antioch in Pisidia and later at Thessalonica (Acts 17:4.). This is the first time in the Acts that Paul and Barnabas are termed “apostles” (see also Acts 13:14). Elsewhere in the Acts the word is restricted to the twelve. Certainly Luke does not here employ it in that technical sense. To have followed Jesus in his ministry and to have seen the Risen Christ was essential to the technical use (Acts 1:22.). Whether Barnabas had seen the Risen Christ we do not know, but certainly Paul had (1 Corinthians 9:1.; 1 Corinthians 15:8). Paul claimed to be an apostle on a par with the twelve (Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:16-18). The word originally means simply one sent (John 13:16) like messengers of the churches with the collection (2 Corinthians 8:23). The Jews used it of those sent from Jerusalem to collect the temple tribute. Paul applies the word to James the Lord‘s brother (Galatians 1:19), to Epaphroditus (Philemon 2:25) as the messenger of the church in Philippi, to Silvanus and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 2:6; Acts 18:5), apparently to Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:9), and to Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:6.). He even calls the Judaizers “false apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:13). [source]
Galatians 6:4 In himself [εἰς ἑαυτὸν]
Better, with regard to himself, or as concerns. For this use of εἰς see Romans 4:20; Romans 15:2; Romans 16:6; Ephesians 3:16. Not, he will keep his glorying to himself or abstain from boasting. He means that if, on examination, one finds in himself anything to boast of, his cause of boasting will lie simply and absolutely in that, and not in his merit as compared, to his own advantage, with that of another. [source]
Galatians 4:11 Upon you [εἰς ὑμᾶς]
Lit. into you. The labor, though in vain, had born directly upon its object. See the same phrase Romans 16:6. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 16:6 mean?

Greet Mary who much toiled for you
Ἀσπάσασθε Μαριάν ἥτις πολλὰ ἐκοπίασεν εἰς ὑμᾶς

Ἀσπάσασθε  Greet 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀπασπάζομαι 
Sense: to draw to one’s self.
Μαριάν  Mary 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Μαρία 
Sense: Mary the mother of Jesus.
πολλὰ  much 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ἐκοπίασεν  toiled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κοπιάω  
Sense: to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief).

What are the major concepts related to Romans 16:6?

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