Brief Overview of Ῥωμαϊστί (Strong’s G4515: Rhomaisti)

Strong’s G4515: An adverb meaning “in the Roman language” or “in Latin.” Used in John’s Gospel to describe one of the languages in which Jesus’s crucifixion charge was written, emphasizing the universal significance of His death by including the official language of Roman authority.

U- Unveiling the Word

The term Ῥωμαϊστί specifically refers to the use of the Latin language, appearing in John 19:20 where it describes one of the three languages used in the inscription above Jesus’s cross. This trilingual presentation (Hebrew, Greek, and Latin) carries profound theological significance, representing the universal scope of Christ’s sacrifice. The inclusion of Latin, the official language of Roman authority, symbolizes the gospel’s reach to the ruling powers of the world. Early church fathers saw this multilingual inscription as prophetic of the gospel’s spread throughout all nations. Today, this word reminds us that the message of Christ transcends linguistic and cultural barriers.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥωμαϊστί, Rhomaisti, /rho-mah-is-tee’/
• Pronunciation Guide: “rho” (like ‘row’), “mah” (like ‘ma’), “is” (like ‘ease’), “tee” (like ‘tea’)
• Part of Speech: Adverb

Etymology:

• Root: Ῥώμη (Rhōmē) – Rome
• Suffix: -ιστί (-isti) – adverbial suffix indicating “in the manner of”
• Combined meaning: in the Roman manner (specifically regarding language)

D – Defining Meanings

• In the Latin language
• In Roman fashion (linguistically)
• According to Roman usage
• In the manner of Rome

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but the -ιστί suffix transforms the reference to Rome into an adverb describing linguistic usage

Translation Options:

• “in Latin” – most precise for linguistic context
• “in the Roman language” – more explanatory
• “in Roman fashion” – broader contextual meaning

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ἑβραϊστί (Hebraisti) /heb-rah-is-tee’/ – in Hebrew See G1447 – parallel formation for Hebrew language
• Ἑλληνιστί (Hellēnisti) /hel-lay-nis-tee’/ – in Greek See G1676 – parallel formation for Greek language
• Ῥωμαϊκός (Rhomaikos) /rho-mah-ee-kos’/ – Roman See G4513 – adjectival form

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as an adverb:

• Adverbs in Greek are indeclinable
• No changes for case, number, or gender
• Fixed form ending in -ιστί

This word remains unchanged in all contexts, similar to how English adverbs ending in -ly remain constant.

Cross-references:

• Related adjective: Ῥωμαϊκός (Roman)
• Related noun: Ῥωμαῖος (Roman)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes Ῥωμαϊστί’s specific reference to the Latin language in John’s Gospel. Thayer’s notes its significance in multilingual contexts. LSJ provides evidence of its use in describing official Roman communications. Vine’s highlights its importance in the crucifixion narrative. Strong’s connects it to Roman linguistic expression. LEH documents parallel formations in Hellenistic Greek. Moulton and Milligan show its use in official documents requiring multiple languages.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin (in Roman), and in Greek. (John 19:20)

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

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The word Ῥωμαϊστί powerfully illustrates how God used multiple languages to proclaim Christ’s kingship at the crucifixion. The inclusion of Latin alongside Hebrew and Greek demonstrates that King Jesus’s sacrifice was for all peoples, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries. This multilingual proclamation foreshadowed how the gospel would spread throughout the Roman world and beyond.

D – Did You Know?

1. The use of Ῥωμαϊστί in official inscriptions was mandatory in certain Roman provinces.
2. Early Christian manuscripts often noted when Latin was used in important proclamations.
3. The word influenced the development of terms for “in Latin” in several modern languages.

Strong’s G4515: An adverb meaning “in the Roman language” or “in Latin.” Used in John’s Gospel to describe one of the languages in which Jesus’s crucifixion charge was written, emphasizing the universal significance of His death by including the official language of Roman authority.

Part of speech: Adverb

Tags: Latin, language, crucifixion, inscription, John’s Gospel, multilingual, Roman authority, universal message, cross, communication​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​