Lexical Summary tameion: Inner room, storeroom, chamber, closet Original Word: ταμεῖον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance inner room, closet, storehouse. Neuter contraction of a presumed derivative of tamias (a dispenser or distributor; akin to temno, to cut); a dispensary or magazine, i.e. A chamber on the ground-floor or interior of an Oriental house (generally used for storage or privacy, a spot for retirement) -- secret chamber, closet, storehouse. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originlater form of tamieion (treasury) Definition an inner chamber NASB Translation inner room (1), inner rooms (2), storeroom (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5009: ταμεῖονταμεῖον (so T WH uniformly), more correctly ταμιεῖον (R G L Tr in Matthew 6:6) (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 493; Winers Grammar, 94 (90); (Tdf. Proleg., p. 88f)), ταμειου, τό (ταμιεύω), from Thucydides and Xenophon down; 1. a storechamber, storeroom: Luke 12:24 (Deuteronomy 28:8; Proverbs 3:10 (Philo, quod omn. prob. book § 12)). 2. a chamber, especially 'an inner chamber'; a secret room: Matthew 6:6; Matthew 24:26; Luke 12:3 (Xenophon, Hell. 5, 4, 5; Sir. 29:12; Tobit 7:15, and often in the Sept. for חֶדֶר). The word denotes an interior chamber set apart from the more public areas of a first-century house. Often carved or walled off, it served as a safe place for valuables, grain, or intimate family affairs. In larger estates it could function as a vaulted storehouse; in modest homes it was the smallest, most private room, usually without windows and reached by a narrow passage. Ancient Jewish tradition valued such secluded spaces for meditation on the Law (Isaiah 26:20), and Greco-Roman architecture supplied the physical counterpart, making the term readily understood in the Gospels. Occurrences in the New Testament Matthew 6:6, Matthew 24:26, Luke 12:3, and Luke 12:24 employ the term in settings that span personal devotion, eschatological warning, public accountability, and material provision. Each usage preserves the core idea of a place separated from public view while drawing out distinct spiritual lessons. • Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Themes of Privacy and Sincerity in Prayer Jesus’ instruction in the Sermon on the Mount contrasts authentic communion with God against the ostentatious piety of hypocrites. Retreating to the tamieion removes the pressure of human approval, strips away performance, and directs attention to “your Father who is unseen.” The promise of divine reward underscores that secrecy before people intensifies openness before God. This verse became a cornerstone of Christian spiritual discipline, inspiring everything from monastic cells to the family prayer closet. Warnings Against Secret Messianic Claims In Matthew 24:26 the same word counters clandestine rumors about Christ’s return. The dwelling designed for concealment becomes a metaphor for deceptive movements that attempt to privatize the Parousia. Jesus insists that His coming will be unmistakable (Matthew 24:27), thus believers must refuse any teaching that restricts Him to hidden locations or esoteric circles. Exposure of Hidden Speech Luke 12:3 warns that seemingly secure walls cannot protect sinful or cowardly words from ultimate disclosure. God’s judgment penetrates every “inner room,” ensuring that integrity, not secrecy, is the true refuge of disciples. The verse also equips the persecuted church with confidence that oppressive secrecy will not have the last word. Lessons on Divine Provision Luke 12:24 shifts the meaning from chamber to granary. Birds, lacking both field and storehouse, still receive daily sustenance, so disciples may release anxious striving. The contrast between human tendency to hoard and God’s free care forms a sermon on stewardship: prudent planning is wise, but ultimate security rests in the Lord who fills the tamieion or leaves it empty according to His will (Proverbs 3:9-10). Old Testament Parallels The Septuagint uses the term for Joseph’s granaries (Genesis 41:56) and temple treasuries (1 Kings 7:51), linking the idea of hidden space with God’s preservation of life and sacred things. Isaiah 26:20 invites the faithful to “enter your chambers” until divine wrath passes, prefiguring Christ’s call to secret prayer and contrasting with the end-time impostors of Matthew 24:26. Patristic and Reformation Usage Early church fathers cited Matthew 6:6 to elevate the “closet of the heart,” urging believers to silence inner distractions. Augustine interpreted the chamber as the interior mind where God hears thoughts before they are voiced. Reformers such as Martin Luther upheld the verse against rote liturgy, advocating personal Scripture reading and private supplication as vital complements to corporate worship. Implications for Church Life and Discipleship 1. Cultivate secret devotion: leadership credibility flows from unseen fellowship with God. Properly understood, the tamieion invites believers to combine humble secrecy before God with bold openness before the world, resting in a Father who sees, provides, and will one day unveil all things. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:6 N-NNSGRK: εἰς τὸ ταμεῖόν σου καὶ NAS: go into your inner room, close KJV: thy closet, and INT: into the room of you and Matthew 24:26 N-DNP Luke 12:3 N-DNP Luke 12:24 N-NNS Strong's Greek 5009 |
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