κοίτη (koitē)
koitē
bed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun koitē refers simply to a bed, a place for resting or sleeping. In the New Testament, it appears in only four verses, yet its usage carries significant weight regarding human relationships and moral conduct. It translates the Hebrew word mishkab, which also denotes a bed or couch in the Old Testament.
While it can describe a literal piece of furniture, as when a servant complains about being woken up in Luke 11:7, the term often points to the intimacy of marriage. Hebrews 13:4 praises the "marriage bed" as undefiled, highlighting its role in lawful union. Conversely, Romans 13:13 uses the plural form to describe illicit sexual intercourse, linking the physical act directly to the place where it occurs.
The word’s theological importance lies in this duality. It is not merely about furniture but about the sanctity or corruption of intimate life. By contrasting the undefiled marriage bed with immoral acts, the text emphasizes that the same physical reality can be honored in holiness or degraded by sin.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word koitē points to a simple piece of furniture, yet it carries deep weight for how we view our relationships. In Luke 11:7, it describes a literal bed where children sleep, grounding the text in everyday family life. This reminds us that God cares about the ordinary moments of rest and community.
However, the term also speaks to the sacredness of intimacy. Hebrews 13:4 calls for the marriage bed to be held in honor, undefiled by sin. This highlights that physical closeness is a gift designed for lawful union. When we respect these boundaries, we protect the trust and love within our relationships.
Conversely, Romans 13:13 warns against using this space for lustful acts. The contrast shows that the same physical reality can be honored or degraded. By keeping our intimate lives pure, we reflect God’s design for holiness in all areas of life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- marriage bed1×
- in sexual immorality1×
- conception1×
- bed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κοίτην2×
- κοίτη1×
- κοίταις1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
This verse explicitly commands that the bed be held undefiled, directly linking the physical space to moral purity and marital honor.
-
Luke 11:7
and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’?
Here the word describes a literal sleeping place for children, grounding the parable in realistic domestic life rather than abstract theology.
-
Romans 13:13
Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
The plural form is used to describe illicit sexual acts, showing how the location becomes associated with shame when misused.