Πατροβᾶς

Patrobâs

G3969 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A masculine proper name, Patrobas; used as a personal name. The likely meaning is 'father's life,' indicating one whose life is dedicated to, derived from, or perpetuates that of the father. Attested in the New Testament as a personal name of a member of an early Christ-movement community in Rome (Romans 16:14).

Semantic Range

a personal name ('father's life'), used as a proper noun, name of an early Christ-community member

Root / Etymology

From the Greek elements πατήρ (patēr, 'father') and βίος (bios, 'life'), possibly as a contraction or combination meaning 'life of the father' or 'father-lived.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Πατροβᾶς is a Hellenistic personal name, attested in inscriptions and literary sources outside the New Testament. In Romans 16:14, Πατροβᾶς is listed among those greeted in the Roman congregation, likely a member of the early urban Christ-movement community. The name was not uncommon in Greek-speaking Jewish and non-Jewish circles in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, reflecting general naming trends rather than exclusively Israelite, Judean, or early Christian identity. English translations typically transliterate the name directly; its semantic value as a compound ('father's life') is not indicated in translation. The name does not carry theological meaning within the text; its presence is specifically onomastic (name usage).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps a contraction for (a compound of πατήρ and βίος); father's life; Patrobas, a Christian:--Patrobas.

Root Family

πατρ-, βιο- (Patrobâs) — father, life

Root πατρ-, βιο- father, life

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3969-01 Πατροβᾶν patroban N ACC M SG Patrobas Father-Life Patrobas 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3969-01 Romans 16:14 Πατροβᾶν patroban N ACC M SG Patrobas Father-Life Patrobas