Romans 16:6
in Romans 16Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on you.
KJV
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
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This verse in Romans 16
Commentary
12 notes on this verseGreet Mary, who has labored much among you. In this too he teaches that women also ought to labor for the churches of God. For they labor when they teach young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to bring up children, to be modest, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, subject to their own husbands, to receive guests with hospitality, to wash the feet of the saints, and to carry out in all chastity everything else that is written concerning the duties of women.
This site's exposition
who has worked very hard for you
on Romans 16:6-7
Mary is greeted for hard work done for the Roman church. Andronicus and Junia were Paul's countrymen and had been in prison with him, and they were in Christ before he was. Junia is a woman's name, and Chrysostom called her worthy of the title of apostle, which carries its wider sense here, a messenger sent out.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us." How is this? a woman again is honored and proclaimed victorious! Again are we men put to shame. Or rather, we are not put to shame only, but have even an honor conferred upon us. For an honor we have, in that there are such women amongst us, but we are put to shame, in that we men are left so far behind by them. But if we come to know whence it comes, that they are so adorned, we too shall speedily overtake them. Whence then is their adorning? Let both men and women listen. It is not from bracelets, or from necklaces, nor from their eunuchs either, and their maid-servants, and gold-broidered dresses, but from their toils in behalf of the truth. For he says, "who bestowed much labor on us," that is, not on herself only, nor upon her own advancement, (see p. 520) (for this many women of the present day do, by fasting, and sleeping on the floor), but upon others also, so carrying on the race Apostles and Evangelists ran. In what sense then does he say, "I suffer not a woman to teach?" (1 Tim. ii. 12.) He means to hinder her from publicly coming forward (1 Cor. xiv. 35), and from the seat on the bema, not from the word of teaching. Since if this were the case, how would he have said to the woman that had an unbelieving husband, "How knowest thou, O woman, if thou shalt save thy husband?" (ib. vii. 16.) Or how came he to suffer her to admonish children, when he says, but "she shall be saved by child-bearing if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety?" (1 Tim. ii. 15.) How came Priscilla to instruct even Apollos? It was not then to cut in sunder private conversing for advantage that he said this, but that before all, and which it was the teacher's duty to give in the public assembly; or again, in case the husband be believing and thoroughly furnished, able also to instruct her. […]
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusINTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS · Written before 458.
proposed
Yet another woman who is praised because of her labors.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he says: greet Mary, who has labored much among you to restore concord among them, and when she failed in her endeavor, she notified the Apostle: the fruit of good labors is renowned (Wis 3:15).
He adorns a woman with labors for the truth. Mariam, he says, labored, kept vigil, and prayed not only for herself, but also, what is more important, fulfilled her duty even on behalf of us, the apostles. How then does he say, "but I do …
The Reformation1 voice
He again testifies his gratitude, in recording the kindness of Mary to him. Nor is there any doubt but that he commemorates these praises, in order to recommend those whom he praised to the Romans.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us - Who this Mary was, or what the labor was which she bestowed upon the apostles, we know not. Her works, though hidden from man, are with God; and her name is recorded with honor in this book of life.
THIS chapter contains Paul's loving salutation to the various Christians dwelling at Rome. Remember that it is an Inspired passage. Although it consists of Christian courtesies addressed to different individuals, yet it was written by an Apostle and written not as an ordinary letter but as a part of the Inspired volume. Therefore there must be valuable matter in it and though, when we read it, it may appear to be uninstructive, there must be edifying matter beneath the surface because all Scripture is given by Inspiration and is meant to benefit us in one way or another.
THIS chapter contains Paul's loving salutation to the various Christians dwelling at Rome. Remember that it is an Inspired passage. Although it consists of Christian courtesies addressed to different individuals, yet it was written by an Apostle and written not as an ordinary letter but as a part of the Inspired volume. Therefore there must be valuable matter in it and though, when we read it, it may appear to be uninstructive, there must be edifying matter beneath the surface because all Scripture is given by Inspiration and is meant to benefit us in one way or another. It shows to us one thing, at any rate, that Paul was of a most affectionate disposition and that God did not select as the Apostle of the Gentiles a man of a coarse, unfeeling, selfish turn of mind. His memory, as well as his heart, must have been in good condition to remember so large a number of names and these were but a few of his many beloved Brethren and spiritual children all over the world whom he mentions by name in his other Epistles. His warm heart, I doubt not, quickened his memory and secured to his remembrance the form, condition, history, character and name of each one of his friends. He loved them too well to forget them! Christians should love one another and should bear one another's names upon their hearts, even as the great High Priest wears the names of all His saints upon His jeweled breastplate. A Christian, because of the love he bears to others, is ever anxious to please by courtesy and desires—never to pain by rudeness. Grace makes the servant of God to be, in the highest sense, a true gentleman. If we learn nothing more from this passage than the duty of acting lovingly and courteously, one to the other, we shall be all the better for it, for there is none too much tender consideration and gentle speech among professors at this time. I.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Who bestowed much labour on us - Who labored much for us. Nothing more is known of her but this honorable mention of her name. It is probable that these persons were formerly residents in Greece, and that the apostle had there become acquainted with them, but that they had now removed to Rome.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀσπάσασθε | aspasasthe | do greet | G782 → | 57 times |
| Μαρίαν, | marian | Mary, | G3137 → | |
| ἥτις | hetis | who | G3748 → | 144 times |
| πολλὰ | polla | much | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἐκοπίασεν | ekopiasen | toiled | G2872 → | 22 times |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ὑμᾶς.¶ | humas | you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ἀσπάσασθεdo greet
aspasastheG782 →57 times
Μαρίαν,Mary,
marianG3137 →
ἥτιςwho
hetisG3748 →144 times
πολλὰmuch
pollaG4183 →367 times
ἐκοπίασενtoiled
ekopiasenG2872 →22 times
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
ὑμᾶς.¶you.
humasG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 6:18
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
- Titus 3:8
This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable…
- Acts 9:36
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
- Titus 3:1
Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 1 Timothy 6:18
Through
Romans 16:12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- 1 Corinthians 16:16
to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
Through
Matthew 27:55And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
it leads to
- Luke 8:2–3
as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
- Luke 8:2–3
Where this verse is studied
About Romans
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1113: “Romans, But Not romanists” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 31; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.