Brief Overview of Ῥωμαϊκός (Strong’s G4513: Rhomaikos)

Strong’s G4513: An adjective meaning “Roman” or “in the Roman language (Latin).” In its sole New Testament appearance in Luke’s Gospel, it describes the Latin inscription on Jesus’s cross, highlighting the universal significance of His crucifixion under Roman authority.

U- Unveiling the Word

The term Ῥωμαϊκός specifically refers to things pertaining to Rome or the Roman culture, particularly the Latin language. Its appearance in Luke 23:38 describing the inscription on Jesus’s cross carries profound significance. The inclusion of Latin alongside Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic symbolizes the universal scope of Christ’s sacrifice, reaching across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Early church fathers saw this trilingual inscription as prophetic of the gospel’s spread throughout the Roman Empire. Today, this word reminds us that the message of Christ transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, speaking to all peoples and nations.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥωμαϊκός, Rhomaikos, /rho-mai-kos’/
• Pronunciation Guide: “rho” (like ‘row’), “mai” (like ‘my’), “kos” (like ‘coast’)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• Root: Ῥώμη (Rhōmē) – Rome
• Suffix: -ικός (-ikos) – adjectival suffix meaning “pertaining to”
• Combined meaning: pertaining to Rome or Roman matters

D – Defining Meanings

• Roman (pertaining to Rome)
• In the Latin language
• Of Roman style or character
• According to Roman custom

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but the -ικός suffix transforms the noun Ῥώμη into an adjective indicating Roman character or origin

Translation Options:

• “Roman” – best captures the general cultural reference
• “Latin” – specifically when referring to language
• “in Roman style” – when describing customs or manner

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ῥωμαῖος (Rhomaios) /rho-mah’-yos/ – a Roman citizen See G4514 – refers to Roman citizenship
• Ῥωμαϊστί (Rhomaisti) /rho-mah-is-tee’/ – in the Roman language See G4515 – specifically about language
• Ἑλληνικός (Hellēnikos) /hel-lay-nee-kos’/ – Greek See G1673 – parallel formation for Greek things

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as an adjective:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter
• Declension: First/Second declension

Example forms:

• Masculine singular: Ῥωμαϊκός
• Feminine singular: Ῥωμαϊκή
• Neuter singular: Ῥωμαϊκόν
• Masculine plural: Ῥωμαϊκοί

Cross-references:

• Related noun: Ῥώμη (Rome)
• Related adjective: Ῥωμαῖος (Roman)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes Ῥωμαϊκός’s specific reference to the Latin language in Luke’s Gospel. Thayer’s notes its broader cultural implications. LSJ provides extensive evidence of its use in describing Roman customs and institutions. Vine’s highlights its significance in the crucifixion narrative. Strong’s connects it to Rome and Roman culture. LEH documents its usage in describing Roman influence in Hellenistic literature. Moulton and Milligan show its common usage in administrative documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

And there was also an inscription over Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS” written in Latin letters (Luke 23:38)

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The word Ῥωμαϊκός, appearing in the crucifixion narrative, powerfully illustrates how King Jesus’s death and resurrection transcended cultural and linguistic boundaries. The Latin inscription, alongside Greek and Hebrew, proclaimed His kingship to the entire known world. This reminds us that the gospel message is universal, reaching across all cultural and linguistic barriers, declaring Jesus as King of all nations.

D – Did You Know?

1. The use of Ῥωμαϊκός in official inscriptions was mandatory in many parts of the Roman Empire.
2. Early Christian manuscripts often used this term when discussing the spread of Christianity in Roman territories.
3. The word influenced the development of terms for “Roman” in many modern languages.

Strong’s G4513: An adjective meaning “Roman” or “in the Roman language (Latin).” In its sole New Testament appearance in Luke’s Gospel, it describes the Latin inscription on Jesus’s cross, highlighting the universal significance of His crucifification under Roman authority.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: Roman, Latin, crucifixion, inscription, Luke’s Gospel, cultural influence, languages, Roman Empire, universal message, cross​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​