κατοικητήριον (katoikētērion)
katoikētērion
dwelling place
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun katoikētērion refers to a permanent dwelling place or habitation. It is derived from the verb katoikeō, which means to settle down and live in a specific location, rather than just visiting briefly. This word emphasizes stability and residence, pointing to a home where one establishes their life.
In the New Testament, this term appears only twice, both in writings attributed to John. In Ephesians 2:22, it describes believers being built together into a spiritual house for God to dwell in. Similarly, Revelation 18:2 uses it to depict Babylon as a dwelling place for demons and unclean spirits. The contrast between these two uses highlights the word’s theological weight: it signifies where one’s true allegiance and existence are anchored.
Translators typically render katoikētērion as "dwelling place" or "habitation." While simple, these translations capture the essence of a fixed, enduring location. The rarity of the word in Scripture suggests its importance when it does appear, marking significant spiritual realities about where God’s people and opposing forces reside.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katoikētērion points to more than just a roof over your head; it describes a permanent home where life is established. In Ephesians 2:22, Paul uses this term to show that believers are being built together into a spiritual house for God to dwell in. This means your faith is not a temporary stop but a settled place where the Holy Spirit makes His home.
Scripture contrasts this holy dwelling with Babylon, described in Revelation 18:2 as a habitation for demons. This distinction reminds us that every heart has a resident. When we invite Christ to settle in our lives, we become part of a community anchored in stability and peace. Your life is becoming a place where God’s presence is real and enduring.
Consider how you treat your own heart as a dwelling place. By staying close to Jesus, you ensure that this home remains filled with light rather than chaos. This promise offers comfort: you are never alone, for God has chosen to reside within those who trust Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a habitation2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κατοικητήριον2×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 2:22
in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
This verse uses the word to describe believers being united as a spiritual structure where God’s Spirit takes up permanent residence.
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Revelation of John 18:2
He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird!
Here the term depicts Babylon as a settled domain for unclean spirits, highlighting the word's use for any place that firmly hosts its inhabitants.