Brief Overview of Ῥόδη (Strong’s G4498: Rhodē)

Strong’s G4498: A feminine proper noun meaning “rose,” referring to the servant girl at Mary’s house who recognized Peter’s voice at the gate. Her name, common among slaves, appears in the dramatic account of Peter’s miraculous release from prison, illustrating early Christian faith and community life.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥόδη, meaning “rose,” represents more than just a personal name in its New Testament context. As a servant girl who recognized Peter’s voice and became part of a significant moment in early church history, she exemplifies how God uses people of all social standings in His purposes. Early church writers often highlighted her role as demonstrating the dignity of servants in the Christian community and the reality of divine intervention. Today, her story continues to illustrate how God includes and uses those whom society might overlook.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥόδη, Rhodē, /hro-day/
• Detailed pronunciation: HROH-day (with emphasis on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (feminine)

Etymology:

• From ῥόδον (rose)
• Common Greek female name
• Related to flower imagery
• Often given to slave girls in Greek culture

D – Defining Meanings

• A personal name meaning “rose”
• The servant girl at Mary’s house
• A witness to Peter’s deliverance

For compound words:
This is not a compound word but a simple noun used as a name.

Translation Options:

• “Rhoda” – traditional English rendering
• “Rhode” – alternative transliteration
• “Rose” – meaning-based translation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ῥόδον (rhodon) /hro-don/ – the common noun for rose
  See G4499
• παιδίσκη (paidiskē) /pay-dis-kay/ – female servant or slave
  See G3814

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular only (as a proper name)
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First declension (though typically indeclinable as a proper name)

Being a proper noun, Ῥόδη typically remains unchanged in different grammatical contexts.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies her as the servant girl at Mary’s house. Thayer’s notes the meaning “rose” and its common use as a slave name. LSJ provides examples of the name in Greek culture. Vine’s connects her to the account of Peter’s release. Strong’s emphasizes the floral meaning. Moulton and Milligan document the name’s frequency in papyri.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named [Ῥόδη] Rhoda came to answer.” Acts 12:13

Additional References:
None in the New Testament

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: Work	Text
Menander: Fragments	“The faithful servant [Ῥόδη] Rhoda carried out her duties.”
Lucian: Dialogues	“Young [Ῥόδη] Rhoda brought messages to the household.”
Athenaeus: Deipnosophistae	“Beautiful [Ῥόδη] Rhoda served at the banquet.”

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ῥόδη stands as a testament to God’s inclusion of all people in His redemptive work. Her story proclaims the good news that King Jesus values and uses those whom society might discount. Through her example, we see that faith and service to God’s kingdom know no social boundaries, and that every believer has a significant role in God’s unfolding plan.

D – Did You Know?

1. The name was particularly popular among freed slaves in ancient Rome.
2. Early church tradition suggests she later became a prominent member of the Roman Christian community.
3. Her name shares its root with the island of Rhodes, both referring to roses.

Strong’s G4498: A feminine proper noun meaning “rose,” referring to the servant girl at Mary’s house who recognized Peter’s voice at the gate. Her name, common among slaves, appears in the dramatic account of Peter’s miraculous release from prison, illustrating early Christian faith and community life.

Part of speech: Proper Noun (feminine)

Tags: Rhoda, servant girl, Peter’s release, Acts, early church, divine intervention, faith, servants, women in the Bible, miraculous deliverance, Christian community​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​