Bible Strands
Romans 16:4
who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church, naming Prisca and Aquila as his fellow workers in Christ Jesus immediately before describing their sacrifice.
The words — The Greek ὑπὲρ τῆς ψυχῆς (huper tēs psuchēs) literally means "for the life," while τράχηλον (trachēlon) translates to "neck," together denoting the extreme physical danger they endured.
The thread — This pattern of risking one's life for others appears in 1 John 3:16 regarding Christ's sacrifice and in Philippians 2:30 where a believer nearly died to complete Paul's ministry.
Why it lands — The text states that Paul and all Gentile churches owe gratitude to Prisca and Aquila for their personal risk, requiring readers to acknowledge that faithful service demands tangible sacrifice and earns communal thankfulness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Cross-references
- 1 John 3:16 By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
- Philippians 2:30 because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit of service to me.
- Joshua 10:24 When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.
- 2 Samuel 22:41 You have made my enemies retreat before me; I destroyed those who hated me.
- Micah 2:3 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
- John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- Acts 15:41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
- Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
- Romans 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.