Ῥοῦφος (Rhouphos)
Rhouphos
Rufus
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Rhouphos is the Greek transliteration of the Latin Rufus, which literally means "red." It appears only twice in the New Testament, identifying two distinct individuals who were known enough to early Christians for their names to carry weight without further explanation.
In Mark 15:21, Simon of Cyrene is described as the father of Alexander and Rufus. This detail suggests that Mark’s original readers likely knew this family personally, perhaps in the Roman church where the gospel was being circulated. The mention serves as a historical anchor, connecting the crucifixion narrative to real people in the early community.
The second reference is in Romans 16:13, where Paul sends greetings to "Rufus, chosen in the Lord," and adds that his mother has also been a mother to Paul. While some scholars speculate this is the same man from Mark’s gospel, the text itself does not explicitly link them. Instead, it highlights Rufus as a respected believer whose spiritual family included even the apostle Paul.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Rhouphos means "red" in Latin, but its appearance in Scripture points to something far deeper than a simple label. It appears only twice in the New Testament, yet it carries significant weight because it identifies real people known to the early church. In Mark 15:21, we meet Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to carry Jesus’ cross. The text notes he was the father of Alexander and Rufus, suggesting that Mark’s original readers knew this family well. This detail grounds the crucifixion story in real history, showing that ordinary people were drawn into God’s redemptive plan.
In Romans 16:13, Paul greets a believer named Rufus, calling him "chosen in the Lord." He adds that Rufus’s mother has also been a mother to him. While scholars debate whether this is the same person as Simon’s son, both references highlight the value of spiritual family. These names remind us that faith connects us across generations and circumstances. We are part of a community where love and service define our relationships, just as they did in the early church.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Rufus,1×
- Rufus1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ῥοῦφον1×
- Ῥούφου,1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 15:21
They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them that he might bear his cross.
This verse anchors the crucifixion narrative in history by naming Simon’s sons, indicating that Mark’s audience likely knew this family personally.
-
Romans 16:13
Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Paul’s greeting highlights Rufus as a respected believer chosen by God, emphasizing the deep bonds of spiritual kinship within the early church.