prolongation from (to dart; probably akin to ῥύομαι); to strengthen, i.e. (impersonal passive) have health (as a parting exclamation, good-bye):--farewell.
Transliteration:rhṓnnymi
Pronunciation:hrone'-noo-mee
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ῥώννυμι (rhṓnnymi, `{{G4517}}`) derives from a root signifying "to strengthen" or "to make strong." Its etymological connection to concepts like "to dart" or ῥύομαι (rhyomai, to draw, rescue) suggests an underlying sense of vigor, power, and active preservation. While its core meaning is "to strengthen," in common Hellenistic usage, particularly in the impersonal passive voice (ἔρρωσο, ἔρρωσθε), it evolved into an idiomatic expression for "to be strong," "to be in good health," or "farewell." This shift reflects a wish for the recipient's continued well-being and robustness upon parting. Thus, its semantic range extends from physical or intrinsic strength to a benevolent valedictory wish for health and flourishing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ῥώννυμι (rhṓnnymi, `{{G4517}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in the book of Acts:
* **[[Acts 15:29]]**: "Farewell." (ἔρρωσθε)
This occurrence is found at the very end of the letter issued by the Jerusalem Council to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. The council, comprising apostles and elders, had convened to address the contentious issue of Gentile converts and their adherence to Mosaic Law, particularly concerning circumcision and dietary regulations. The letter communicates the council's decision, which eased the burden on Gentiles by requiring abstinence only from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. The concluding "Farewell" (ἔρρωσθε) serves as a formal and benevolent closing to this authoritative apostolic decree. It is not merely a casual goodbye but conveys a sincere wish for the recipients' well-being, health, and perhaps spiritual fortitude as they receive and implement these significant directives. In this context, it underscores the pastoral care and concern of the early church leaders for the spiritual and communal health of the nascent Christian communities.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of "strengthening" or "well-being" is prevalent throughout the New Testament, often expressed through various Greek terms:
* **Strengthening/Empowering:**
* `{{G1743}}` (endynamoo): To empower, strengthen, often used of God strengthening believers (e.g., [[Philippians 4:13]]).
* `{{G2901}}` (kratayoo): To make strong, to be strong, often in relation to spiritual growth (e.g., [[Ephesians 3:16]]).
* `{{G4599}}` (stherizo): To make firm, establish, strengthen, particularly in faith (e.g., [[Romans 1:11]]).
* `{{G4741}}` (stereoo): To make firm, strengthen, often referring to physical healing or spiritual steadfastness (e.g., [[Acts 3:7]]).
* **Health/Well-being:**
* `{{G5198}}` (hygiaino): To be healthy, sound, often used of physical health but also sound doctrine (e.g., [[1 Timothy 1:10]]).
* `{{G5485}}` (charis): Grace, frequently used in epistolary greetings and closings to convey a wish for divine favor and blessing (e.g., [[Romans 1:7]]).
* `{{G1515}}` (eirene): Peace, another common element in biblical greetings and farewells, signifying holistic well-being and reconciliation (e.g., [[Romans 1:7]]).
The use of `{{G4517}}` as a formal closing in [[Acts 15:29]] aligns with common Greco-Roman epistolary practice, where "ἔρρωσο" (singular) or "ἔρρωσθε" (plural) was a standard valedictory formula, akin to "farewell" or "be well."
### Theological Significance
While ῥώννυμι (rhṓnnymi, `{{G4517}}`) in its New Testament usage is primarily a conventional epistolary closing, its underlying semantic root of "strengthening" lends it a subtle theological nuance. In [[Acts 15:29]], the apostles' wish of "Farewell" (ἔρρωσθε) to the Gentile believers is more than a polite formality; it embodies a pastoral desire for their holistic well-being. This includes not only physical health but, more importantly in a spiritual context, their spiritual strength and steadfastness in the faith. As the recipients of significant new directives, the wish for them to "be strong" or "be well" implies a prayer for their endurance, unity, and flourishing within the Christian community. It reflects the benevolent and caring nature of apostolic leadership, which sought not merely to issue commands but to foster the health and vitality of the churches under their care. The use of this word, therefore, subtly underscores the New Testament emphasis on the well-being and strengthening of believers, both individually and corporately, as they live out their faith.
### Summary
The Greek word ῥώννυμι (rhṓnnymi, `{{G4517}}`) fundamentally means "to strengthen" or "to make strong." In its New Testament occurrence in [[Acts 15:29]], it appears in the impersonal passive form, ἔρρωσθε, functioning as a standard Hellenistic valedictory expression meaning "farewell" or "be well." This single instance concludes the letter from the Jerusalem Council to the Gentile believers, conveying a formal and benevolent wish for their continued well-being, health, and spiritual fortitude as they receive and adhere to the council's decisions. Though a common idiom, its underlying sense of strengthening imbues the apostolic farewell with a deeper pastoral concern for the recipients' holistic flourishing. It serves as a concise expression of Christian leadership's desire for the robust health and steadfastness of the early church communities.
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