Romans 16 · Verse 12

Romans 16:12

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
Romans 16:12, King James Version

Romans 16:12 in other translations

BSBGreet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
WEBGreet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
ASVSalute Tryphæna and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
YLTsalute Tryphaena, and Tryphosa, who are labouring in the Lord; salute Persis, the beloved, who did labour much in the Lord.
DARBYSalute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute Persis, the beloved, who has laboured much in the Lord.
BBEGive my love to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Give my love to my dear Persis, who did much work in the Lord.
WebsterSalute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

What does Romans 16:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord--two active women. Salute the beloved Persis--another woman. which laboured much in the Lord--referring probably, not to official services, such as would fall to the deaconesses, but to such higher Christian labors--yet within the sphere competent to woman--as Priscilla bestowed on Apollos and others (Ac 18:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. Tryphena and Tryphosa. These names, with the participle rendered "who labour," are in the feminine gender, and these were probably two holy women, who performed the office of deaconesses, or who ministered to the sick, and who with Persis, thus by example, and perhaps by instruction, laboured to promote the spread of Christianity. Pious females then, as now, were able to do much in their proper sphere to extend the truths and blessings of the gospel.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Tryphena and Tryphosa - Two holy women, who it seems were assistants to the apostle in his work, probably by exhorting, visiting the sick, etc. Persis was another woman, who it seems excelled the preceding; for, of her it is said, she labored much in the Lord. We learn from this, that Christian women, as well as men, labored in the ministry of the word. In those times of simplicity all persons, whether men or women, who had received the knowledge of the truth, believed it to be their duty to propagate it to the uttermost of their power. Many have spent much useless labor in endeavoring to prove that these women did not preach. That there were some prophetesses, as well as prophets in the Christian Church, we learn; and that a woman might pray or prophesy, provided she had her head covered, we know; and that whoever prophesied spoke unto others to edification, exhortation, and comfort, St. Paul declares, 1Cor 14:3. And that no preacher can do more, every person must acknowledge; because to edify, exhort, and comfort, are the prime ends of the Gospel ministry. If women thus prophesied, then women preached. There is, however, much more than this implied in the Christian ministry, of which men only, and men called of God, are capable.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 16:1-16

Paul recommends Phebe to the Christians at Rome. It becomes Christians to help one another in their affairs, especially strangers; we know not what help we may need ourselves. Paul asks help for one that had been helpful to many; he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Though the care of all the churches came upon him daily, yet he could remember many persons, and send salutations to each, with particular…

Read the full comment on Romans 16:1-16 →

Romans 16:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀσπάσασθεaspasasthedo greetG782
ΤρύφαινανTruphainanTryphenaG5170
καὶkaiandG2532
ΤρυφῶσανTruphōsanTryphosaG5173
τὰςtasthoseG3588
κοπιώσαςkopiōsastoilingG2872
ἐνenin [the]G1722
κυρίῳ.kuriōLord.G2962
ἀσπάσασθεaspasasthedo greetG782
ΠερσίδαPersidaPersisG4069
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἀγαπητήν,agapētēnbeloved,G27
ἥτιςhētiswhoG3748
πολλὰpollamuchG4183
ἐκοπίασενekopiasentoiledG2872
ἐνenin [the]G1722
κυρίῳ.¶kuriōLord.G2962

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 16:12

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

    And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:16

    That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

  • Hebrews 6:10-11

    For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

  • 1 Timothy 4:10

    For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

  • Colossians 4:12

    Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:3

    Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

  • Matthew 9:38

    Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

  • 1 Timothy 5:17-18

    Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • Colossians 1:29

    Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
labour.
Mt 9:38; 1Co 15:10,58; 16:16; Col 1:29; 4:12; 1Th 1:3; 5:12,13
1Ti 4:10; 5:17,18; Heb 6:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 16:11

    Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.

  • Romans 16:12

    Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.

  • Romans 16:13

    Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

Read all of Romans 16

Romans 16:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Saludad á Trifena y á Trifosa, las cuales trabajan en el Señor. Saludad á Pérsida amada, la cual ha trabajado mucho en el Señor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Saluez Tryphène et Tryphose, lesquelles travaillent dans le Seigneur. Saluez Persis, la bien-aimée, qui a beaucoup travaillé dans le Seigneur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Grüßet Tryphäna und Tryphosa, die im Herrn arbeiten. Grüßet Persis, die Geliebte, die viel gearbeitet hat im Herrn.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Salutate Tryphænam et Tryphosam, quæ laborant in Domino. Salutate Persidem carissimam, quæ multum laboravit in Domino.