4516. Rhómé
Lexical Summary
Rhómé: Rome

Original Word: Ῥώμη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Rhómé
Pronunciation: HRO-may
Phonetic Spelling: (hro'-may)
KJV: Rome
NASB: Rome
Word Origin: [from the base of G4517 (ῥώννυμι - farewell)]

1. strength
2. Roma, the capital of Italy

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Rome.

From the base of rhonnumi; strength; Roma, the capital of Italy -- Rome.

see GREEK rhonnumi

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Latin origin
Definition
Rome, the capital of Italy and the Rom. Empire (named after Romulus, the legendary founder)
NASB Translation
Rome (8).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4516: Ῥώμη

Ῥώμη, Ῥώμης, (on the article with it cf. Winers Grammar, § 18, 5b.; (on its derivation cf. Curtius, § 517; Vanicek, p. 1212; Pape, Eigennamen, under the word)), Rome, the renowned capital of Italy and ancient head of the world: Acts 18:2; Acts 19:21; Acts 23:11; Acts 28:14, 16; Romans 1:7, 15; 2 Timothy 1:17. (1 Macc. 1:10 1 Macc. 7:1; (Aristotle, Polybius, others).) (On Rome in St. Paul's time cf. BB. DD. under the word; Conybeare and Howson, Life and Epistles etc., chapter xxiv.; Farrar, Life and Work etc. chh. xxxvii., xliv., xlv.; Lewin, St. Paul, vol. ii, chapter vi.; Hausrath, Neutest. Zeltgesch. iii. 65ff; on the Jews and Christians there, see particularly Schürer, Die Gemeindeverfassung der Juden in Rom in d. Kalserzeit nach d. Inschriften dargest. (Leipz. 1879); Seyerlen, Enstehung as above with der Christengemeinde in Rom (Tübingen, 1874); Huidekoper, Judaism at Rome, 2nd edition, N. Y. 1877; Schaff, Hist. of the Chris. Chnrch (1882) vol. i, § 36.)

Topical Lexicon
Occurrences in the New Testament

Acts 18:2; 19:21; 23:11; 28:14; 28:16; Romans 1:7; Romans 1:15; 2 Timothy 1:17. These eight references trace a line from the early missionary journeys of Paul, through his expressed longing, to his eventual arrival, confinement, and ministry in the imperial city.

Historical Setting of First-Century Rome

First-century Rome sat at the political, military, and economic center of the Mediterranean world, a metropolis of perhaps one million inhabitants. Its roads, laws, and common tongue made it the hub from which news—good or ill—could travel across the empire. Jewish communities were firmly established there by the second century B.C., providing fertile soil for the gospel. The expulsion under Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:2) momentarily scattered Jewish believers, yet also stirred wider proclamation among Gentiles.

Rome in Apostolic Strategy

Paul’s evangelistic horizon always extended to strategic centers. After fruitfulness in Asia and Greece, “Paul resolved in the Spirit… ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome’” (Acts 19:21). He viewed the capital not merely as a terminus but as a springboard toward “Spain” (Romans 15:24). Rome represented the greatest possible amplification of the gospel’s voice.

Divine Mandate to Testify in Rome

The Lord Himself confirmed Paul’s strategy: “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11). Providence overruled human plots; chains became the vehicle transporting the apostle under armed guard to accomplish divine purpose.

The Journey and Arrival

After delays, shipwreck, and Maltese hospitality, “we came to Rome” (Acts 28:14). Two verses later Luke notes, “Paul was permitted to stay by himself, with a soldier to guard him” (Acts 28:16). This house arrest created a semi-free environment for preaching, letter-writing, discipling, and receiving visitors, demonstrating that the gospel “is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9).

The Roman Church

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans shows a congregation already flourishing before any apostle arrived. He addresses “all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Romans 1:7). The church was marked by faith “proclaimed all over the world” (Romans 1:8), yet still in need of apostolic teaching to strengthen unity among Jewish and Gentile believers. Their hospitality later refreshed the chained apostle: “There we found some brothers who invited us to spend the week with them” (Acts 28:14).

Ministry Achievements in Rome

1. Evangelism among the Praetorian Guard and Caesar’s household (Philippians 1:13; 4:22).
2. Composition of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and possibly 2 Timothy.
3. Consolidation of a leadership team—Luke, Timothy, Tychicus, Onesimus, Epaphras, Mark—preparing churches beyond Rome.
4. A living demonstration of gospel courage: “I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome” (Romans 1:15).

Supportive Believers and Personal Loyalty

While some deserted Paul under pressure (Philippians 1:15–17; 2 Timothy 4:16), figures like Onesiphorus displayed exemplary devotion: “When he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me” (2 Timothy 1:17). Such loyalty underscores the calling to identify openly with suffering servants of Christ.

Legal and Political Context

Roman jurisprudence granted citizens rights of appeal; Paul utilized this privilege (Acts 25:11), thereby securing a hearing before Caesar and providing legal precedent for Christian presence in the capital. The initial trial seemingly ended in acquittal, but a later Neronian persecution may have led to Paul’s martyrdom, sealing his witness with blood.

Theological Significance

1. Universal Reach: Rome symbolizes the gospel’s penetration to “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
2. Sovereign Guidance: God harnesses imperial structures—roads, laws, courts—to advance His redemptive plan.
3. Unity of Jew and Gentile: The Roman congregation embodies the “one new man” in Christ (Ephesians 2:15).
4. Triumph in Suffering: Chains become pulpits; imprisonment produces Scripture.

Lessons for the Contemporary Church

• Aim strategically: unreached centers today warrant intentional prayer, planning, and sending.
• Trust providence: detours and hardships may open doors otherwise closed.
• Cultivate gospel partnerships that cross ethnic and social lines.
• Stand with persecuted believers; Onesiphorus still sets the standard.

Thus the New Testament’s eight mentions of Rome map a sovereignly directed mission, culminating in a vibrant witness at the heart of the empire and reminding every generation that the gospel is powerful to save in every place and circumstance.

Forms and Transliterations
Ρωμη Ῥώμῃ Ρωμην Ῥώμην Ρωμης Ῥώμης Rhome Rhōmē Rhṓmei Rhṓmēi Rhomen Rhōmēn Rhṓmen Rhṓmēn Rhomes Rhōmēs Rhṓmes Rhṓmēs Rome Rōmē Romen Rōmēn Romes Rōmēs
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 18:2 N-GFS
GRK: ἀπὸ τῆς Ῥώμης προσῆλθεν αὐτοῖς
NAS: to leave Rome. He came
KJV: from Rome:) and came
INT: out of Rome he came to them

Acts 19:21 N-AFS
GRK: με καὶ Ῥώμην ἰδεῖν
NAS: also see Rome.
KJV: also see Rome.
INT: me also Rome to see

Acts 23:11 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ εἰς Ῥώμην μαρτυρῆσαι
NAS: you must witness at Rome also.
KJV: also at Rome.
INT: also at Rome bear witness

Acts 28:14 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην ἤλθαμεν
NAS: and thus we came to Rome.
KJV: we went toward Rome.
INT: to Rome we came

Acts 28:16 N-AFS
GRK: εἰσήλθομεν εἰς Ῥώμην ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος
NAS: When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed
KJV: to Rome, the centurion
INT: we came to Rome the centurion

Romans 1:7 N-DFS
GRK: οὖσιν ἐν Ῥώμῃ ἀγαπητοῖς θεοῦ
NAS: of God in Rome, called
KJV: that be in Rome, beloved of God,
INT: are in Rome beloved of God

Romans 1:15 N-DFS
GRK: τοῖς ἐν Ῥώμῃ εὐαγγελίσασθαι
NAS: to you also who are in Rome.
KJV: to you that are at Rome also.
INT: who [are] in Rome to preach the gospel

2 Timothy 1:17 N-DFS
GRK: γενόμενος ἐν Ῥώμῃ σπουδαίως ἐζήτησέν
NAS: but when he was in Rome, he eagerly
KJV: when he was in Rome, he sought me
INT: having been in Rome more earnestly he sought out

Strong's Greek 4516
8 Occurrences


Ῥώμῃ — 3 Occ.
Ῥώμην — 4 Occ.
Ῥώμης — 1 Occ.

4515
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