4491. rhiza
Lexical Summary
rhiza: Root

Original Word: ῥίζα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: rhiza
Pronunciation: HREE-zah
Phonetic Spelling: (hrid'-zah)
KJV: root
NASB: root, roots
Word Origin: [apparently a primary word]

1. a root
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
root.

Apparently a primary word; a "root" (literally or figuratively) -- root.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a root
NASB Translation
root (16), roots (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4491: ῤίζα

ῤίζα, ῤίζης, (akin to German Reis (cf. Latinradix; English root; see Curtius, § 515; Fick, Part 3:775)), from Homer down; the Sept. for שֹׁרֶשׁ;

1. a root: properly, Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9; ἐκ ῤιζῶν, from the roots (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 51, 1 d.), Mark 11:20; ῤίζαν ἔχειν, to strike deep root, Matthew 13:6; Mark 4:6; tropically, οὐ ῤίζαν ἔχειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, spoken of one who has but a superficial experience of divine truth, has not permitted it to make its way into the inmost recesses of his soul, Matthew 13:21; Mark 4:17; Luke 8:13; in figurative discourse, ῤίζα πικρίας (see πικρία) of a person disposed to apostatize and induce others to commit the same offence, Hebrews 12:15; the progenitors of a race are called ῤίζα, their descendants κλάδοι (see κλάδος, b.), Romans 11:16-18. Metaphorically, cause, origin, source: πάντων τῶν κακῶν, 1 Timothy 6:10; τῆς σοφίας, Sir. 1:6 (5), 20 (18); τῆς ἀθανασίας, Wis. 15:3; τῆς ἁμαρτίας, of the devil, Ev. Nicod. 23; ἀρχή καί ῤίζα παντός ἀγαθοῦ, Epicur. quoted in Atlmn. 12, 67, p. 546f; πηγή καί ῤίζα καλοκἀγαθίας τό νομίμου τυχεῖν παιδείας, Plutarch, de purr. educ. c. 7 b.

2. after the use of the Hebrew שֹׁרֶשׁ, that which like a root springs from a root, a sprout, shoot; metaphorically, offspring, progeny: Romans 15:12; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16 (Isaiah 11:10).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 4491 pictures the unseen “root” that anchors, nourishes, and ultimately determines the destiny of the whole plant. In Scripture this image is applied to Israel, to Messiah, to sin, to apostasy, and to final judgment and renewal. Seventeen New Testament occurrences develop a unified theology: what lies beneath will in due course manifest itself in fruit, for blessing or for destruction.

Old Testament Background

The Septuagint frequently uses the same noun for the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1, 10) and for roots that dry up under divine judgment (Isaiah 40:24). Jewish hearers therefore brought to the New Testament an awareness that root can denote both Messianic hope and the lurking source of evil.

Roots and Judgment in John the Baptist’s Preaching

Matthew 3:10 and Luke 3:9 place the “axe…at the root of the trees,” announcing imminent wrath on fruitless Israel. The imagery bypasses superficial foliage; God strikes at origin and essence. It warns that lineage and outward religiosity cannot protect a heart estranged from covenant faithfulness.

Roots, Perseverance, and the Parable of the Soils

In the rocky-soil scenes (Matthew 13:6, 13:21; Mark 4:6, 4:17; Luke 8:13) lack of root explains spiritual withering. True discipleship requires depth that draws life from Christ when the sun of tribulation beats down. The repeated emphasis on “no root” exposes the danger of emotional but shallow response to the gospel.

Roots and Prophetic Sign-Acts

Mark 11:20 notes that the cursed fig tree “withered from its roots,” showing that Jesus’ verdict on the unfruitful temple system reached to its very core. External vibrancy cannot survive when the hidden source of life has been judged.

Roots and the Olive-Tree Analogy (Romans 11)

Paul extends the metaphor to Israel’s salvation-history.

Romans 11:16: “If the root is holy, so are the branches.”
Romans 11:17-18 reminds Gentile believers that they “share in the nourishing sap from the root” and must not “boast over those branches.”

The patriarchal promises form the holy root; faithless branches are broken off, yet the root remains sound, assuring future grafting in of ethnic Israel. Paul’s argument underscores the irrevocability of God’s covenant purposes while warning against arrogance born of grace.

The Messianic Root of Jesse

Romans 15:12 cites Isaiah: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will hope.” Revelation 5:5 and 22:16 reveal Jesus as “the Root of David,” grounding David’s dynasty rather than merely stemming from it. The same root that guarantees Israel’s hope now spreads worldwide, fulfilling the Abrahamic promise that all nations will be blessed.

Roots of Sin and Apostasy

1 Timothy 6:10 exposes the love of money as “a root of all kinds of evil,” tracing diverse transgressions to one hidden desire. Hebrews 12:15 warns of “a root of bitterness springing up” that defiles community. Both passages press believers to examine underlying attitudes before destructive fruit appears.

Eschatological Consummation

Revelation presents the Root of David as the victorious Lion who opens the scroll (5:5) and the eternal King who sends His message to the churches (22:16). What began as a promise in Isaiah will close history in triumph; the righteous root yields the harvest of a new creation.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Conversion: Evangelism must seek not merely immediate response but Spirit-wrought rooting in Christ through doctrine, fellowship, and trials that prove authenticity.
2. Discipleship: Leaders cultivate depth by constant exposure to Scripture, prayer, and sacramental life, guarding against the shallow emotionalism condemned in the parable of the soils.
3. Church Discipline: Hebrews 12:15 authorizes vigilant removal of hidden bitterness before it infects the body.
4. Stewardship: Teaching on 1 Timothy 6:10 confronts materialism as a root issue rather than a secondary symptom.
5. Hope for Israel and the Nations: Romans 11 fuels missions with confidence that the same holy root sustains both Jewish and Gentile believers until “all Israel will be saved.”

Doctrinal Synthesis

The root motif unifies biblical teaching on:

• Covenant continuity—patriarchal holiness sustains future fulfillment.
• Christology—Jesus is both source and scion, the Root and Offspring of David.
• Sanctification—holy roots produce holy fruit; corrupt roots yield judgment.
• Eschatology—the final harvest reflects the nature of the root embraced or rejected.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 4491 points beneath the visible to the determining source. Scripture employs the figure to expose hidden sin, warn of shallow faith, affirm the abiding covenant, and exalt the Messiah who embodies and secures the root of divine life for all who believe.

Forms and Transliterations
ριζα ρίζα ῥίζα ρίζαι ριζαν ρίζαν ῥίζαν ριζας ρίζας ριζης ρίζης ῥίζης ριζων ριζών ῥιζῶν rhiza rhíza rhizan rhízan rhizes rhizēs rhízes rhízēs rhizon rhizôn rhizōn rhizō̂n riza rizan rizes rizēs rizon rizōn
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 3:10 N-AFS
GRK: πρὸς τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων
NAS: laid at the root of the trees;
KJV: unto the root of the trees:
INT: to the root of the trees

Matthew 13:6 N-AFS
GRK: μὴ ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη
NAS: they had no root, they withered away.
KJV: they had no root, they withered away.
INT: not having root were dried up

Matthew 13:21 N-AFS
GRK: ἔχει δὲ ῥίζαν ἐν ἑαυτῷ
NAS: no [firm] root in himself,
KJV: hath he not root in himself,
INT: he has moreover root in himself

Mark 4:6 N-AFS
GRK: μὴ ἔχειν ῥίζαν ἐξηράνθη
NAS: it had no root, it withered away.
KJV: it had no root, it withered away.
INT: no having root it withered away

Mark 4:17 N-AFS
GRK: οὐκ ἔχουσιν ῥίζαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς
NAS: no [firm] root in themselves,
KJV: have no root in themselves,
INT: not have root in themselves

Mark 11:20 N-GFP
GRK: ἐξηραμμένην ἐκ ῥιζῶν
NAS: withered from the roots [up].
KJV: dried up from the roots.
INT: dried up from [the] roots

Luke 3:9 N-AFS
GRK: πρὸς τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων
NAS: laid at the root of the trees;
KJV: unto the root of the trees:
INT: to the root of the trees

Luke 8:13 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν
NAS: no [firm] root; they believe
KJV: have no root, which for
INT: and these a root not have

Romans 11:16 N-NFS
GRK: εἰ ἡ ῥίζα ἁγία καὶ
NAS: and if the root is holy,
KJV: [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so
INT: if the root [be] holy also

Romans 11:17 N-GFS
GRK: συνκοινωνὸς τῆς ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος
NAS: with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
KJV: them partakest of the root and fatness
INT: a fellow-partaker of the root of the fatness

Romans 11:18 N-AFS
GRK: σὺ τὴν ῥίζαν βαστάζεις ἀλλὰ
NAS: [remember that] it is not you who supports the root, but the root
KJV: bearest not the root, but the root
INT: you the root support but

Romans 11:18 N-NFS
GRK: ἀλλὰ ἡ ῥίζα σέ
NAS: the root, but the root [supports] you.
KJV: the root, but the root thee.
INT: but the root you

Romans 15:12 N-NFS
GRK: Ἔσται ἡ ῥίζα τοῦ Ἰεσσαί
NAS: THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE,
KJV: There shall be a root of Jesse,
INT: There will be the root of Jesse

1 Timothy 6:10 N-NFS
GRK: ῥίζα γὰρ πάντων
NAS: For the love of money is a root of all
KJV: is the root of all
INT: a root indeed of all

Hebrews 12:15 N-NFS
GRK: μή τις ῥίζα πικρίας ἄνω
NAS: that no root of bitterness
KJV: lest any root of bitterness springing
INT: lest any root of bitterness up

Revelation 5:5 N-NFS
GRK: Ἰούδα ἡ ῥίζα Δαυίδ ἀνοῖξαι
NAS: of Judah, the Root of David,
KJV: of Juda, the Root of David,
INT: of Judah the root of David [so as] to open

Revelation 22:16 N-NFS
GRK: εἰμι ἡ ῥίζα καὶ τὸ
NAS: I am the root and the descendant
KJV: I am the root and the offspring
INT: am the root and the

Strong's Greek 4491
17 Occurrences


ῥίζα — 7 Occ.
ῥίζαν — 8 Occ.
ῥίζης — 1 Occ.
ῥιζῶν — 1 Occ.

4490
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