3623. oikonomos

Lexicon

oikonomos: Steward, Manager, Administrator

Original Word: οἰκονόμος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: oikonomos
Pronunciation: oy-kon-OM-os
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kon-om'-os)
Definition: Steward, Manager, Administrator
Meaning: a household manager, a steward, guardian.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

chamberlain, governor, steward.

From oikos and the base of nomos; a house-distributor (i.e. Manager), or overseer, i.e. An employee in that capacity; by extension, a fiscal agent (treasurer); figuratively, a preacher (of the Gospel) -- chamberlain, governor, steward.

see GREEK oikos

see GREEK nomos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 3623 oikonómos (from 3624 /oíkos, "house, household" and nemō, "to allot, apportion") – properly, a steward (literally, "household-manager"). See 3622 (oikonomia).

[3623 /oikonómos ("manager") often functioned as the "steward" of a household, and was generally a freedman – i.e. a slave released from forced, legal servitude (J. Thayer).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from oikos and nemó (to manage)
Definition
the manager of a household
NASB Translation
manager (3), managers (1), steward (2), stewards (3), treasurer (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3623: οἰκονόμος

οἰκονόμος, οἰκονόμου, ὁ (οἶκος, νέμω (`to dispense, manage'); Hesychius ὁ τήν οἶκον νεμόμενος), the manager of a household or of household affairs; especially a steward, manager, superintendent (whether free-born, or, as was usually the case, a freed-man or slave) to whom the head of the house or proprietor has intrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age: Luke 12:42; 1 Corinthians 4:2; Galatians 4:2; the manager of a farm or landed estate, an overseer (A. V. steward): Luke 16:1, 3, 8; ὁ οἰκονόμος τῆς πόλεως, the superintendent of the city's finances, the treasurer of the city (Vulg.arcarius civitatis): Romans 16:23 (of the treasurers or quaestors of kings, Esther 8:9; 1 Esdr. 4:49; Josephus, Antiquities 12, 4, 7; 11, 6, 12; 8, 6, 4). Metaphorically, the apostles and other Christian teachers (see οἰκονομία) are called οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων τοῦ Θεοῦ, as those to whom the counsels of God have been committed to be made known to men: 1 Corinthians 4:1; a bishop (or overseer) is called οἰκονόμος Θεοῦ, of God as the head and master of the Christian theocracy (see οἶκος, 2), Titus 1:7; and any and every Christian who rightly uses the gifts intrusted to him by God for the good of his brethren, belongs to the class called καλοί οἰκονόμοι ποικίλης χάριτος Θεοῦ, 1 Peter 4:10. (Aeschylus, Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle, others; for עַל־בַּיִת the Sept. 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 16:9, etc.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from οἶκος (oikos, meaning "house") and νόμος (nomos, meaning "law" or "management").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • 6485 פָּקַד (paqad): Often translated as "to appoint" or "to oversee," this term can relate to the role of a steward or overseer in the Old Testament context.
• 4943 מֶשֶׁק (mesheq): Refers to possession or property, sometimes associated with the management or stewardship of household resources.

This entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the term οἰκονόμος, highlighting its significance in both historical and spiritual contexts within the biblical narrative.

Usage: The term οἰκονόμος is used in the New Testament to describe individuals who are entrusted with the responsibility of managing or overseeing the affairs of a household, estate, or organization. It is often used metaphorically to describe spiritual stewardship or the management of God's mysteries.

Context: The concept of οἰκονόμος in the New Testament reflects the cultural and social practices of the ancient world, where a steward was a trusted servant or slave appointed to manage the household or estate of a wealthy individual. This role required integrity, wisdom, and accountability, as the steward was responsible for the well-being and proper functioning of the household.

In the New Testament, the term is used both literally and metaphorically. For example, in Luke 12:42, Jesus speaks of a faithful and wise manager whom the master puts in charge of his servants. This parable highlights the qualities of faithfulness and wisdom expected of a steward. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Paul describes himself and other apostles as "servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God," emphasizing the responsibility to faithfully manage and dispense the truths of the Gospel.

The role of οἰκονόμος also extends to the church, where leaders are seen as stewards of God's household, tasked with teaching, guiding, and nurturing the spiritual well-being of the congregation. In Titus 1:7, an overseer is described as "God’s steward," underscoring the accountability and trust placed upon church leaders.

The concept of stewardship in the New Testament serves as a reminder of the responsibility believers have in managing the gifts, resources, and opportunities entrusted to them by God. It calls for a life of faithful service, integrity, and dedication to the purposes of God's kingdom.

Forms and Transliterations

οικονομοι οικονόμοι οἰκονόμοι οικονομοις οικονόμοις οἰκονόμοις οικονομον οικονόμον οἰκονόμον οικονομος οικονόμος οἰκονόμος οικονόμου οικονομους οικονόμους οἰκονόμους οικοπέδω οικοπέδων oikonomoi oikonómoi oikonomois oikonómois oikonomon oikonómon oikonomos oikonómos oikonomous oikonómous

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 12:42 N-NMS
GRK: ὁ πιστὸς οἰκονόμος ὁ φρόνιμος
NAS: and sensible steward, whom
KJV: and wise steward, whom [his] lord
INT: the faithful manager [and] the wise

Luke 16:1 N-AMS
GRK: ὃς εἶχεν οἰκονόμον καὶ οὗτος
NAS: had a manager, and this
KJV: which had a steward; and the same
INT: who had a manager and he

Luke 16:3 N-NMS
GRK: ἑαυτῷ ὁ οἰκονόμος Τί ποιήσω
NAS: The manager said to himself,
KJV: Then the steward said within
INT: himself the manager What shall I do

Luke 16:8 N-AMS
GRK: κύριος τὸν οἰκονόμον τῆς ἀδικίας
NAS: the unrighteous manager because
KJV: the unjust steward, because
INT: master the manager unrighteous

Romans 16:23 N-NMS
GRK: Ἔραστος ὁ οἰκονόμος τῆς πόλεως
NAS: the city treasurer greets
KJV: Erastus the chamberlain of the city
INT: Erastus the manager of the city

1 Corinthians 4:1 N-AMP
GRK: Χριστοῦ καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων θεοῦ
NAS: of Christ and stewards of the mysteries
KJV: and stewards of the mysteries
INT: of Christ and stewards of mysteries of God's

1 Corinthians 4:2 N-DMP
GRK: ἐν τοῖς οἰκονόμοις ἵνα πιστός
NAS: it is required of stewards that one
KJV: it is required in stewards, that a man
INT: in the stewards that faithful

Galatians 4:2 N-AMP
GRK: ἐστὶν καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς
NAS: guardians and managers until
KJV: and governors until
INT: he is and stewards until the

Titus 1:7 N-AMS
GRK: ὡς θεοῦ οἰκονόμον μὴ αὐθάδη
NAS: as God's steward, not self-willed,
KJV: blameless, as the steward of God; not
INT: as God's manager not self-willed

1 Peter 4:10 N-NMP
GRK: ὡς καλοὶ οἰκονόμοι ποικίλης χάριτος
NAS: as good stewards of the manifold
KJV: as good stewards of the manifold grace
INT: as good stewards of [the] various grace

Strong's Greek 3623
10 Occurrences

οἰκονόμοι — 1 Occ.
οἰκονόμοις — 1 Occ.
οἰκονόμον — 3 Occ.
οἰκονόμος — 3 Occ.
οἰκονόμους — 2 Occ.