Νάρκισσος (Narkissos)
Narkissos
Narcissus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Narkissos refers to a specific individual mentioned in Romans 16:11, not the flower. Paul greets him as a fellow Jew who remained faithful during difficult times, likely when the Christian community in Rome faced persecution or social pressure. The lexicon sources identify this person as a resident of Rome, highlighting his personal connection to the early church there.
Etymologically, the name derives from the Greek word for narcotic properties, linked to the plant known for its stupefying effects. While the flower shares this root, Paul’s usage here is strictly onomastic, serving as a proper noun for a believer rather than a metaphorical reference to the plant’s characteristics or symbolic meanings often associated with it in later literature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Narkissos appears only once in the New Testament, greeting us through Paul’s letter to the Romans. He is not a famous apostle or a church leader listed by title. Instead, he is part of the 'household of Narcissus,' a group of believers who remained faithful in the Lord despite the pressures of their time.
This simple mention reminds us that God values ordinary faithfulness. Whether you work in a home office or a large estate, your service to Christ matters. The early church was made up of many such individuals, whose quiet loyalty helped spread the Gospel across the Roman world.
May this verse encourage you to see your own daily life as sacred ground. Your consistent presence in the community of believers is a gift to the body of Christ. Rest in the knowledge that God sees and remembers every act of love done in His name.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of Narcissus1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ναρκίσσου1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 16:11
Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.
This verse uniquely identifies Narkissos as a household head or owner whose family members were active believers, showing that entire domestic units could be converted and serve the church together.