Περσίς
Persís
G4069 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Persís is a proper noun, used as a personal name referring to a specific woman identified in the New Testament. The primary lexical meaning is 'Persian woman' or 'woman from Persia.' The term is used as a name, indicating either ethnic origin (a woman of Persian descent), birth in Persia, or possibly cultural association with Persia. It does not convey a general or abstract meaning beyond its use as a personal name.
Semantic Range
(personal name) Persian woman; (by extension) person of Persian origin or descent, as an identifier or given name
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from the Greek adjective Περσικός ('Persian') or the substantive Πέρσης ('Persian man'), with the suffix -ίς forming a feminine noun. Thus, Περσίς means 'Persian woman.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the context of early Christianity, Περσίς appears in Romans 16:12 as the name of a woman whom Paul commends among the Jesus-followers in Rome. The name denotes either Persian ethnicity or origin, which would make her one of the few individuals in the New Testament directly identified by such an ethnic label. Use of ethnic names as personal names was common in the Greek and Roman world. English Bible translations typically retain Περσίς as 'Persis,' treating it as a proper name. This usage is paralleled in both Jewish and Greco-Roman naming conventions, where names indicating regional origin (such as Αἰγυπτίος, 'Egyptian') occur. The name does not indicate social status or religious affiliation beyond what can be inferred from the context in which the individual is mentioned.
Root Family
Περσίς (Persis) — Persian, woman from Persia
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4069-01 |
Περσίδα | persida | N ACC F SG |
Persis | Persian woman | Persis | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4069-01 |
Romans 16:12 | Περσίδα | persida | N ACC F SG |
Persis | Persian woman | Persis |