Στάχυς (Stachus)
Stachus
Stachys
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun stachus refers to a single head or ear of grain, such as wheat or barley. It describes the cluster of seeds that forms at the top of the stalk after flowering. In the New Testament, this agricultural term appears only once, in Romans 16:9.
Paul uses it here not for farming advice, but as a proper name. He greets Rufus and his mother, and then mentions Stachys, calling him "chosen in the Lord." The word itself means nothing more than a spike of grain, but its use as a personal name suggests a family that valued simple, biblical imagery. Early church tradition sometimes identifies this man as a disciple or bishop, though the text itself only confirms his status as a faithful Christian in Rome.
Translators typically leave the name unchanged as Stachys rather than translating it to "ear of grain," preserving its function as a specific identifier. The brief mention highlights how ordinary names in Scripture often carry quiet theological weight, marking individuals who are recognized for their faithfulness within the early church community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Stachys appears only once in the New Testament, tucked into Paul’s greeting list in Romans 16:9. It literally means a single head of grain, a simple agricultural image that would have been familiar to anyone in the ancient world. When Paul calls Stachys "beloved," he is not describing a crop but honoring a person who stood firm in faith within the early Roman church.
This brief mention reminds us that God values quiet faithfulness as much as public ministry. Stachys is not known for miracles or long sermons; he is remembered simply because he was loved and chosen in the Lord. His name, meaning grain, suggests a life rooted in the earth and sustained by grace.
For you, this word offers comfort. You do not need to be famous to be significant in God’s eyes. Like the grain that feeds many, your steady presence in the church matters. Paul’s greeting shows that every believer, whether well-known or unknown, is cherished by the apostle and, more importantly, by Christ Himself.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Stachys1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Στάχυν1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 16:9
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
Paul includes Stachys in a list of fellow workers, identifying him as beloved to show that faithful service is recognized and valued within the early Christian community.