ταμεῖον (tameion)
tameion
inner room
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word tameion refers to an inner room or storage chamber, often serving as a treasury or private closet. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, primarily in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The term denotes a secluded space used for keeping valuables or for quiet retreat, reflecting its Old Testament background where it translates the Hebrew word for a chamber.
This word carries a sense of privacy and security. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus instructs his followers to pray in their tameion, suggesting a place of intimacy with God away from public view. Similarly, in Luke 12:3, it is used metaphorically to describe secrets that are hidden in dark places but will eventually be revealed. The term emphasizes the contrast between outward appearance and inner reality.
The etymology of tameion connects it to tamias, meaning a steward or dispenser, highlighting its function as a place where resources are stored and managed. This connection underscores the idea of trust and responsibility associated with such spaces. In biblical usage, the tameion serves as a powerful image for both physical storage and spiritual introspection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tameion points to a private chamber, often used for storing valuables or seeking quiet solitude. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus invites us into our own inner rooms to pray away from public view. This image suggests that God values intimate connection over public performance. It is a space where we can be honest and vulnerable without fear of judgment.
Yet this word also carries a warning about hidden things. In Luke 12:3, Jesus notes that secrets spoken in private will eventually be revealed. This reminds us that our inner lives matter deeply to God. He sees what remains unseen by others, calling us to integrity in both our public and private moments.
Whether used as a place of refuge or a metaphor for hidden truth, tameion highlights the importance of authenticity. We are invited to bring our true selves before God, knowing that He sees and knows all things. This understanding encourages a faith rooted in sincerity rather than appearance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- room1×
- inner rooms,1×
- inner rooms1×
- a storehouse1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ταμεῖόν1×
- ταμεῖον1×
- ταμείοις,1×
- ταμείοις1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:6
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
This verse establishes the tameion as a designated space for intimate prayer, emphasizing God's attention to private devotion.
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Luke 12:3
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Here the word functions metaphorically to illustrate that hidden actions and words will ultimately be brought into the open.
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Matthew 24:26
“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; or ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it.
Jesus uses the term to dismiss false claims about His location, showing that the Messiah cannot be confined to secret hiding places.