οἰκεῖος (oikeios)
oikeios
of one’s household
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective oikeios describes what belongs to a household or family, carrying a sense of intimacy and belonging. Derived from oikos, the word for "house," it distinguishes those inside the domestic circle from outsiders. In the New Testament, it appears in only three verses, yet its usage spans both physical kinship and spiritual identity.
Paul employs this term to define the scope of practical responsibility and communal care. In 1 Timothy 5:8, he argues that failing to provide for one’s own relatives is a denial of faith, using oikeios to mark the primary duty toward blood family. Later, in Galatians 6:10, he expands the concept metaphorically, urging believers to show special kindness to the "household of faith," suggesting that spiritual kinship carries weight comparable to biological ties.
The word also appears in Ephesians 2:19, where Gentile believers are no longer strangers but members of God’s household. This usage shifts the focus from mere relation to shared status and intimacy with the divine. Translators often render it as "one's own" or "household," capturing the closeness inherent in the original Greek without losing the distinction between insider and outsider.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oikeios points to the natural circle of care that begins within a home. It reminds us that faith is not just a private belief but a practical commitment to those closest to us. When we look after our family, we are living out a fundamental aspect of what it means to follow Christ.
This sense of belonging extends beyond blood relations. In the New Testament, believers are described as part of God’s household. This means that the church community shares in the same intimacy and responsibility found in a family. We are called to treat one another with the same loyalty and care we would offer our own relatives.
Understanding this word helps us see how deeply connected we are to both our physical families and our spiritual family. It invites us to prioritize love and support within these circles, recognizing that caring for others is a tangible expression of our faith in action.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of the household2×
- [their] household1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- οἰκεῖοι1×
- οἰκείων1×
- οἰκείους1×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 5:8
But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Paul uses this term to define the primary duty of providing for one's own relatives, marking it as a basic requirement of faith.
-
Ephesians 2:19
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God,
The word shifts from biological ties to spiritual identity, showing that Gentile believers are now full members of God's household rather than outsiders.
-
Galatians 6:10
So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
Paul expands the concept to include the 'household of faith,' urging special kindness toward fellow believers alongside general goodwill to all.