οἰκετεία (oiketeia)
oiketeia
household
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun oiketeia refers to a household, specifically focusing on the collective body of servants or slaves within that domestic unit. It does not describe the physical building, but rather the people who serve there as a single group. In the New Testament, this term appears only once, in Matthew 24:45.
In that verse, Jesus describes a faithful and wise servant whom the master puts in charge of his oiketeia. The word highlights the responsibility given to one individual over the entire staff. This usage distinguishes the servants from the master’s family, marking them as those who work within the home under authority.
The term derives from oiketēs, meaning a household slave or servant. By using this word, the text emphasizes the social structure of the ancient home, where loyalty and management of the staff were key duties for trusted servants. It serves as a concrete image of stewardship and order within a domestic setting.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oiketeia points to the collective group of servants within a home, rather than the building itself. In Matthew 24:45, Jesus uses this term to describe a faithful servant placed in charge of the entire household staff. This image highlights the weight of responsibility given to those trusted with leadership.
For your faith life, this reminds us that stewardship is about caring for others under God’s authority. Whether you lead a team or serve in your family, your role involves providing for needs and maintaining order. It is an invitation to serve with wisdom and loyalty, knowing that God sees how we manage what He has entrusted to us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- household1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- οἰκετείας1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 24:45
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
This verse uniquely applies oiketeia to the group of servants managed by a faithful steward, emphasizing collective responsibility rather than individual service.