What Does Romans 16:2 Mean in the King James?

That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Romans 16:2 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Greek repeats the image of standing: she has stood before many, and the community is asked to stand beside her.

THE MEANING

She is received as one who belongs in the Lord, with a welcome fitting the set-apart, and her practical needs are met. The verse holds her as both a giver of support and someone who needs support: she has stood for many, and now others stand beside her in the work at hand. Her history of helping does not make her present need less real.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that someone who has supported many should be able to manage without support herself is undone here.

THE ROOT

παρίστημι

paristēmi

GROWS FROM

ἵστημι

Stand; set or establish.

“assist / succourer” in this verse is paristēmi. The Greek behind “assist” is ⁨παρίστημι⁩ (paristēmi, “stand beside” or “present”); “succourer” is ⁨προστάτις⁩ (prostatis, “patron” or “protectress”), related to ⁨προΐστημι⁩ (proistēmi, “stand before” or “lead”). The shared ⁨ἵστημι⁩ (histēmi, “stand”) family makes the relation vivid: she stands before many, and they stand beside her.

ALSO GROWS

paristēmi: Stand beside; present, assist.

παρίστημι

This is the word rendered “assist her,” picturing support as taking a place beside her.

proistēmi: Stand before; lead or protect; a patron or protectress.

προΐστημι → προστάτις

This family illuminates “succourer”: she has taken a place before many as their supporter.

THE PATTERN

Belonging takes visible form when people receive one another and meet the needs that make shared work possible.

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

2 Kings 4:8 · KJVHer welcome becomes practical provision for someone who passes through, making hospitality a repeated act.

Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:7 · KJVReceiving one another is presented as a shared practice that gives belonging visible form.

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

3 John 1:8 · KJVWelcome becomes partnership when the community receives people and joins in the work they carry.

THE THREAD

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:13 · KJV

Ephesians uses ⁨στῆναι⁩ (stēnai, “to stand”) and ⁨ἀντιστῆναι⁩ (antistēnai, “to withstand”), from the same ⁨ἵστημι⁩ (histēmi, “stand”) family. Here the stand-root faces in different directions: she stands before many, the community stands beside her, and Ephesians speaks of standing against what presses in.

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