κατάλυμα (kataluma)
kataluma
guest room/inn
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kataluma refers to a place where travelers rest or eat, functioning as either an inn or a private guest room. In the New Testament, it appears in only three verses, yet its meaning shifts depending on the context. In Luke 2:7, it describes the crowded inn in Bethlehem where Mary laid Jesus in a manger, highlighting the lack of space for strangers.
However, in Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11, the word denotes a specific guest room prepared for the Last Supper. This distinction shows that kataluma was not limited to commercial lodging but could also mean a designated upper room in a home. Translators often render it as "inn" or "guest room," reflecting this dual usage in Scripture.
The term derives from a verb meaning to break up camp or settle down, suggesting a temporary stay rather than a permanent residence. This etymology aligns with its use for travelers seeking rest during their journeys. Understanding these two senses helps clarify the narrative details in both the nativity story and the final days of Jesus.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kataluma reminds us that God often works in the most humble places. In Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth, there was no room for Mary and Joseph in the inn. This detail highlights how deeply Jesus entered into the human experience, starting life not in a palace but in a setting where travelers found rest. It shows that divine presence is not limited by comfort or status.
Later, at the Last Supper, kataluma refers to a prepared guest room. Here, the same word points to intimacy and preparation. Jesus chose a private space to share His final meal with friends before His death. This shift from a crowded inn to a quiet upper room illustrates how God meets us in both our public struggles and our private moments of connection.
Whether we find ourselves in crowded circumstances or in prepared spaces, this word invites us to see God’s hand in our daily lives. It encourages trust that He is present whether we are resting from a long journey or sharing a meaningful meal with loved ones.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- guest room2×
- inn.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατάλυμά1×
- κατάλυμα1×
- καταλύματι.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:7
She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This occurrence highlights the humility of Jesus' birth by noting the lack of space in the inn, emphasizing God's identification with the marginalized.
-
Mark 14:14
and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’
Here the word refers to a specific upper room prepared for the Last Supper, showing Jesus' intentional planning for His final Passover meal.
-
Luke 22:11
Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’
Luke uses this term to describe the same guest room, reinforcing the significance of the location where Jesus instituted the new covenant.