Οὐρβανός (Ourbanos)
Ourbanos
Urbanus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Ourbanos is a Latin loanword meaning "urban" or "of the city," reflecting its origin as a common Roman slave name that signified an urban background. In the New Testament, it appears only once, identifying Urbanus as a fellow worker of Paul mentioned in Romans 16:9.
This single occurrence highlights the global reach of early Christianity, where names from different linguistic traditions coexisted among believers. The use of a Latin name in a Greek letter to a predominantly Gentile audience underscores the cross-cultural nature of the early church community in Rome.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Urbanus means "of the city" or "urban." It was a common Latin name in the Roman world, often given to slaves or freedmen who lived in urban settings. In Romans 16:9, Paul greets Urbanus as his fellow worker in Christ. This simple greeting shows that the early church included people from all walks of life, not just the elite or the religiously prominent.
For your faith, this reminds us that God’s work is not limited to a specific social class or background. Urbanus was a co-worker with Paul, meaning he contributed significantly to the spread of the Gospel despite his ordinary name and likely modest status. His inclusion in Scripture encourages believers today that every person, regardless of their origin or title, can be an active participant in God’s mission.
When we read about Urbanus, we see a picture of unity across cultural lines. The early Christian community was diverse, blending Jewish and Gentile backgrounds, Greek and Latin names, and various social statuses. This diversity is not a weakness but a strength, reflecting the universal nature of the Gospel. It invites us to value every member of our own communities as essential workers in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Urbanus1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Οὐρβανὸν1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 16:9
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
This verse identifies Urbanus as a fellow worker with Paul, showing that his contribution to the early church was significant enough to be recorded alongside apostolic ministry.