ῥίζα (rhiza)
rhiza
root
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun rhiza refers to the root of a plant, serving as the hidden foundation that anchors life and draws nourishment from the soil. In the Gospels, Jesus uses this concrete image to describe spiritual vitality and its absence. For instance, in the Parable of the Sower, seeds that sprout but lack a root wither under pressure (Matthew 13:6; Mark 4:6), illustrating how superficial faith fails when tested.
Beyond botany, the word carries significant metaphorical weight regarding origin and consequence. Paul employs it to describe the ancestral roots of Israel in Romans 11, where Gentile believers are grafted into the cultivated olive tree, sharing in the richness of the root rather than supporting it. Conversely, Timothy warns that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), highlighting how deep-seated motivations can corrupt the entire structure of a person’s life.
The term also connects to lineage and hope. In Revelation 5:5 and Romans 15:12, Jesus is called the Root of Jesse, linking his human ancestry to prophetic promises. This usage emphasizes that true spiritual fruitfulness depends on being firmly connected to this source, whether through generational faith or divine election.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word rhiza describes the hidden foundation that anchors life. In the soil, roots draw nourishment unseen, sustaining what we see above ground. Jesus used this image to show how our faith holds up under pressure. When storms come, shallow belief withers because it lacks depth. True spiritual vitality comes from being firmly connected to God’s word, allowing it to take hold in the deepest parts of your heart.
This connection is not about self-effort but about receiving life from a source greater than ourselves. Paul reminds us that we are grafted into the richness of the olive tree, sharing in its root rather than supporting it. Even when we feel weak or uncertain, we rest in the fact that Christ Himself is called the Root of David and Jesse. He is the stable ground beneath our feet, offering hope and stability when everything else feels unstable.
Be encouraged that your faith does not depend on your own strength alone. It rests on the One who has overcome the world. Let this truth bring you peace, knowing that you are held by a root that cannot be shaken.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- root14×
- roots.1×
- a root1×
- A root1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ῥίζαν8×
- ῥίζα7×
- ῥίζης1×
- ῥιζῶν.1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 13:6
When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
This verse illustrates how superficial faith fails under pressure because it lacks the deep anchoring of a true root.
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Romans 11:18
don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you.
Paul uses this image to remind Gentile believers that they are sustained by the spiritual heritage of Israel, not the other way around.
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Revelation of John 5:5
One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
Here Jesus is identified as the Root of David, linking His messianic authority to ancient prophetic promises and offering hope to the nations.
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I Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
This warning shows how a deep-seated love for money can corrupt the entire structure of a person's life, acting as a destructive root.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word rhiza mean?
How is rhiza different from other words for foundation?
Why is Jesus called the Root of David?
Every Occurrence (16 verses across 7 books)
Matthew 3 verses
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and…
Matthew 13:6When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
Matthew 13:21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word,…