Lexical Summary oikodespotés: Master of the house, householder Original Word: οἰκοδεσπότης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance householder, master of the house. From oikos and despotes; the head of a family -- goodman (of the house), householder, master of the house. see GREEK oikos see GREEK despotes NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom oikos and despotés Definition the master of a house NASB Translation head of a household (1), head of the house (4), head of the household (1), landowner (4), owner (1), owner of the house (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3617: οἰκοδεσπότηςοἰκοδεσπότης, οἰκοδεσπότου, ὁ (οἶκος, δεσπότης), master of a house, householder: Matthew 10:25; Matthew 13:27; Matthew 20:11; Matthew 24:43; Mark 14:14; Luke 12:39; Luke 13:25; Luke 14:21; ἄνθρωπος οἰκοδεσπότης (see ἄνθρωπος, 4 a.), Matthew 13:52; Matthew 20:1; Matthew 21:33; οἰκοδεσπότης τῆς οἰκίας, Luke 22:11, on this pleonasm cf. Bornemann, Schol. at the passage; Winers Grammar, § 65, 2. (Alexis, a comic poet of the Topical Lexicon Historical and Cultural Setting In first–century Judaism and the wider Greco-Roman world, the head of a household bore legal, economic, and moral responsibility for everyone under his roof—family, servants, day-laborers, and guests. His estate was both workplace and sanctuary, and his reputation was inseparable from the order, hospitality, and fruitfulness of his property. Into this familiar social structure Jesus repeatedly wove the figure of the οἰκοδεσπότης to illustrate truths of the kingdom of God. Representative New Testament Occurrences • Matthew 13:52 – “Every scribe who has been discipled for the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” (See also Matthew 10:25; 13:27; 20:1, 11; 21:33; Luke 12:39; 22:11.) Authority, Stewardship, and Accountability The οἰκοδεσπότης embodies rightful authority. In the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) he hires, pays, and adjudicates grievances, underscoring divine sovereignty in dispensing grace. Likewise, the landowner of Matthew 21:33-41 represents God entrusting Israel with His vineyard; rejection of His messengers leads to decisive judgment. Scripture presents human stewardship as derivative—servants act responsibly only when they acknowledge the master’s ultimate ownership. Hospitality and Table Fellowship Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11 show the “owner of the house” willingly yielding his upper room for the Passover. This hospitality frames the institution of the Lord’s Supper, hinting that those who open their homes to Christ share in the unfolding of redemptive history. Luke 14:21 pushes the theme further: the angry householder fills his banquet with society’s outcasts, mirroring God’s gracious inclusion of the marginalized. Instruction and Discipleship Matthew 13:52 applies the term to every trained scribe. As householders of revelation, teachers are to dispense “new and old” treasures—fresh insights consonant with established truth. The image dignifies diligent study while warning against hoarding knowledge that should nourish others. Opposition and Identification with Christ “It is enough…If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!” (Matthew 10:25). Here Jesus prepares disciples for slander by linking their identity to His own. Shared reproach authenticates their union with the Master. Readiness and Eschatological Urgency Matthew 24:43 and Luke 12:39 pivot on vigilance. The homeowner unaware of the thief’s timing illustrates perilous complacency; believers must remain alert for the Son of Man’s return. Luke 13:25 intensifies the warning: once the master rises and shuts the door, delay gives way to irreversible exclusion. Portraits of Divine Character Taken together, the οἰκοδεσπότης passages balance mercy and justice. He is generous (hiring laborers, paying latecomers), patient (sending multiple servants), yet firm in judgement (evicting wicked tenants, shutting the door). The composite picture reinforces the consistency of God’s dealings—grace offered, accountability assured. Ministry Implications Today 1. Leadership: Elders and parents function as stewards, not proprietors; they mirror the Master by combining authority with servanthood. Summary Strong’s 3617 spotlights the “master of the house” as a vivid, multifaceted figure through whom Jesus reveals divine sovereignty, generous grace, urgent warning, and the pattern for faithful stewardship. Recognizing God as the ultimate οἰκοδεσπότης calls His people to responsive obedience, ready hospitality, vigilant hope, and humble service until the household of faith is gathered into the eternal banquet. Forms and Transliterations οικοδεσποτη οικοδεσπότη οἰκοδεσπότῃ οικοδεσποτην οικοδεσπότην οἰκοδεσπότην οικοδεσποτης οικοδεσπότης οἰκοδεσπότης οικοδεσποτου οικοδεσπότου οἰκοδεσπότου oikodespote oikodespotē oikodespótei oikodespótēi oikodespoten oikodespotēn oikodespóten oikodespótēn oikodespotes oikodespotēs oikodespótes oikodespótēs oikodespotou oikodespótouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 10:25 N-AMSGRK: εἰ τὸν οἰκοδεσπότην Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐπεκάλεσαν NAS: they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, KJV: they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, INT: If the master of the house Beelzebul they called Matthew 13:27 N-GMS Matthew 13:52 N-DMS Matthew 20:1 N-DMS Matthew 20:11 N-GMS Matthew 21:33 N-NMS Matthew 24:43 N-NMS Mark 14:14 N-DMS Luke 12:39 N-NMS Luke 13:25 N-NMS Luke 14:21 N-NMS Luke 22:11 N-DMS Strong's Greek 3617 |
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