Topical Bible: Owner

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In biblical terms, the concept of "owner" is deeply rooted in the understanding of God's sovereignty and human stewardship. The Bible presents God as the ultimate owner of all creation, while humans are seen as stewards or caretakers of what God has entrusted to them.

Divine Ownership

The Bible begins with the assertion of God's ownership over the entire universe. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This foundational verse establishes God as the Creator and, by extension, the rightful owner of all that exists. Psalm 24:1 further emphasizes this truth: "The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein."

Throughout Scripture, God's ownership is a recurring theme. In Deuteronomy 10:14, it is written, "Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it." This verse underscores the comprehensive nature of God's ownership, extending to both the physical and spiritual realms.

Human Stewardship

While God is the ultimate owner, humans are called to be stewards of His creation. This stewardship is first seen in Genesis 1:28, where God commands Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth." Here, humanity is given the responsibility to manage and care for the earth, reflecting God's authority and character.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the principle of stewardship. In this parable, a master entrusts his property to his servants while he is away. Upon his return, he evaluates their management of his resources. This account highlights the expectation that humans will use their God-given resources wisely and faithfully, acknowledging God's ultimate ownership.

Ownership and Wealth

The Bible also addresses the concept of personal ownership and wealth. While individuals may possess material goods, these are ultimately seen as gifts from God. In 1 Chronicles 29:12, King David acknowledges, "Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all." This perspective encourages believers to view their possessions as temporary and to use them for God's purposes.

Proverbs 3:9-10 advises, "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." This passage encourages believers to recognize God's ownership by giving back to Him a portion of what they have received.

Spiritual Ownership

Beyond material possessions, the Bible speaks of spiritual ownership. Believers are described as belonging to God, having been purchased by the blood of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul writes, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

This spiritual ownership calls believers to live lives that reflect their identity as God's possession, striving to honor Him in all aspects of life.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of ownership is multifaceted, encompassing God's ultimate authority over creation, human responsibility as stewards, and the call to honor God with both material and spiritual resources. Through understanding these principles, believers are encouraged to live in a way that acknowledges God's sovereignty and reflects His character.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) One who owns; a rightful proprietor; one who has the legal or rightful title, whether he is the possessor or not.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

OWNER

on'-er.

See SHIPS AND BOATS, III, 2.

Greek

2935. ktetor -- a possessor
... a possessor. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: ktetor Phonetic Spelling:
(ktay'-tore) Short Definition: a possessor, owner Definition: a possessor ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2935.htm - 6k

3490. naukleros -- a shipowner, shipmaster
... Transliteration: naukleros Phonetic Spelling: (now'-klay-ros) Short Definition:
a master of a ship Definition: a captain (master) of a ship, ship-owner. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3490.htm - 6k

3617. oikodespotes -- the master of a house
... Definition the master of a house NASB Word Usage head of a household (1), head of
the house (4), head of the household (1), landowner (4), owner (1), owner of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3617.htm - 6k

4972. sphragizo -- to seal
... what is sealed. 4972 ("to seal") signifies and the full carried by the backing
(full authority) of the owner. "Sealing" in the ancient ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4972.htm - 8k

2398. idios -- one's own, distinct
... word Definition one's own, distinct NASB Word Usage due (1), friends (1), himself
(4), home (1), individually (1), one's own (1), own (84), owner (1), private ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2398.htm - 8k

1988. epistates -- superintendence, attention
... the one ( as leader). 1988 ("Master") supremely refers to Jesus, head
(owner) of (cf. Jn 1:3; Col 1:15,18). master. From epi and ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1988.htm - 6k

2962. kurios -- lord, master
... NASB Word Usage lord (10), Lord (626), Lord of lords (2), Lord's (12), lords (1),
master (38), master's (3), masters (8), masters' (1), owner (6), owners (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2962.htm - 7k

4742. stigma -- a bed of leaves or rushes
... [Brand-marks (4742 ), like "tatoos" (Gk ), were burned into the skin of slaves
in NT times -- proving they a particular owner.]. mark, brand ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4742.htm - 6k

3330. metadidomi -- to give a share of
... Phonetic Spelling: (met-ad-id'-o-mee) Short Definition: I share, impart Definition:
(lit: I offer by way of change, offer so that a change of owner is produced ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3330.htm - 6k

3084. lutroo -- to release by paying a ransom, to redeem
... a ") -- properly, to (set free) ; "to release, on receipt of ransom" (Vine);
(figuratively) to restore "something , into the possession of its owner -- ie from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3084.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

1167. baal -- owner, lord
... 1166, 1167. baal. 1168 . owner, lord. Transliteration: baal Phonetic Spelling:
(bah'-al) Short Definition: owner. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/1167.htm - 6k

1169. beel -- owner, lord
... 1168b, 1169. beel. 1170 . owner, lord. Transliteration: beel Phonetic
Spelling: (beh-ale') Short Definition: commander. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1169.htm - 6k

113. adon -- lord
... from an unused word Definition lord NASB Word Usage husbands (1), Lord (5), lord
(172), lord's (9), lords (2), master (91), master's (24), masters (5), owner (1 ...
/hebrew/113.htm - 6k

7069. qanah -- to get, acquire
... 2), bought (20), buy (23), buyer (4), buying (2), buys (1), formed (1), gain
acquisition (1), gained (1), get (3), gets (1), gotten (1), owner (1), possessed ( ...
/hebrew/7069.htm - 6k

5349. noqed -- sheep raiser, sheep dealer, sheep tender
... Active participle from the same as naqod; a spotter (of sheep or cattle), ie The
owner or tender (who thus marks them) -- herdman, sheepmaster. ...
/hebrew/5349.htm - 6k

Library

The Owner and his Slaves
... II. PETER THE OWNER AND HIS SLAVES. 'Denying the Lord that bought them.'"2 Peter
2:1. ... That is what Christ is to you and me; the Lord, the Despot, the Owner. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the owner and his slaves.htm

A Royal Progress
... They were to go, and, without a word, to loose and bring away the colt fastened
at a door, where it was evidently waiting the convenience of its owner to mount ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/a royal progress.htm

Simeon's Swan-Song
... Here we have the Old recognising and embracing the New; the slave recognising and
submitting to his Owner; and the saint recognising and welcoming the approach ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/simeons swan-song.htm

Consecration
... 1. God is the Owner of all, and gives all to us. ... 1. It is the glory of God, and
His very nature, to be always GIVING. God is the owner of all. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the deeper christian life/consecration.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree.
... been permitted to grow: the language is precise, and indicates that the fig tree
had been planted within the vineyard by a deliberate act of the owner. ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xx the barren fig-tree.htm

Slaves and Free
... Lord. He is the owner and we are the slaves. ... slaves? It does not matter what
sort of work the owner sets his household of slaves to do. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/slaves and free.htm

From the Seventh to the End of the Tenth Commandment
... But suppose you did not know the thing was stolen when you received it, but learned
afterward that it was, must you then return it to the proper owner? ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 34 from the seventh.htm

Christ's Need of us and Ours
... Clearly, the owner of the colt was a disciple, because at once he gave up his property
when the message was repeated, 'the Lord hath need of him.' Probably he ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/christs need of us and.htm

The New Orphan Houses, Ashley Down.
... "Feb.4."This evening I called on the owner of the land on Ashley Down, about
which I had heard on the 2nd, but he was not at home. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/muller/answers to prayer/chapter ii the new orphan.htm

Of Agreement as to Tithe, Composition, Notice, &C.
... A real composition is, when an agreement is made between the owner of the lands
and the Parson or Vicar, with the consent of the Ordinary or Patron, that such ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/2 of agreement as to.htm

Thesaurus

Owner (56 Occurrences)
...OWNER. on'-er. ...Owner (56 Occurrences). Matthew 9:38 therefore entreat the Owner
of the Harvest to send out reapers into His fields." (WEY). ...
/o/owner.htm - 24k

Owner's (1 Occurrence)
...Owner's (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's
crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider. (See NIV). ...
/o/owner's.htm - 6k

Restitution (21 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of restoring anything to its rightful owner, or of making good,
or of giving an equivalent for any loss, damage, or injury; indemnification. ...
/r/restitution.htm - 13k

Repay (79 Occurrences)
... night; (YLT). Exodus 21:34 the owner of the pit doth repay, money he doth
give back to its owner, and the dead is his. (YLT). Exodus ...
/r/repay.htm - 28k

Gore (9 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:28 "If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull shall surely be
stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall not ...
/g/gore.htm - 11k

Bull (114 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:28 "If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull shall surely be
stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall not ...
/b/bull.htm - 40k

Ox (197 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be
surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall ...
/o/ox.htm - 43k

Owners (19 Occurrences)

/o/owners.htm - 12k

Laws (184 Occurrences)
... freedom through insolvency should be free (see Wiener, Studies in Biblical Law,
5) and all lands that had been sold should return to the original owner or his ...
/l/laws.htm - 47k

Gored (3 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:29 But if the ox have gored heretofore, and it have been testified to
its owner, and he have not kept it in, and it kill a man or a woman, the ox ...
/g/gored.htm - 7k

Resources

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Granville Sharp Rule? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Philemon - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Owner: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Owner (56 Occurrences)

Matthew 9:38
therefore entreat the Owner of the Harvest to send out reapers into His fields."
(WEY)

Matthew 13:52
And he said to them, For this reason every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house, who gives out from his store things new and old.
(BBE NIV)

Matthew 20:8
When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager,'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 21:38
But when the workmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death and take his heritage.
(BBE)

Matthew 21:40
When then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?"
(WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 24:43
and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be broken through;
(See NIV)

Mark 12:7
But those workmen said among themselves, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death, and the heritage will be ours.
(BBE)

Mark 12:9
What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do?" "He will come and put the vine-dressers to death," they said; "and will give the vineyard to others."
(WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 13:35
watch ye, therefore, for ye have not known when the lord of the house doth come, at even, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or at the morning;
(See NIV)

Mark 14:14
And wherever he goes in, say to the owner of the house, The Master says, Where is my guest-room, where I may take the Passover with my disciples?
(BBE NAS NIV)

Luke 10:2
And He addressed them thus: "The harvest is abundant, but the reapers are few: therefore entreat the Owner of the harvest to send out more reapers into His fields. And now go.
(WEY)

Luke 10:35
And the day after he took two pennies and gave them to the owner of the house and said, Take care of him; and if this money is not enough, when I come again I will give you whatever more is needed.
(BBE)

Luke 12:20
But God said to him, You foolish one, tonight I will take your soul from you, and who then will be the owner of all the things which you have got together?
(BBE)

Luke 12:39
And this know, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief doth come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through;
(See NIV)

Luke 14:21
And the servant came back and gave his master an account of these things. Then the master of the house was angry and said to the servant, Go out quickly into the streets of the town and get the poor, the blind, and those who are broken in body.
(See NIV)

Luke 20:13
Then the owner of the vineyard said, "'What am I to do? I will send my son--my dearly-loved son: they will probably respect him.'
(WEY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 20:14
But when the workmen saw him, they said to one another, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property: let us put him to death and the heritage will be ours.
(BBE)

Luke 20:15
"So they turned him out of the vineyard and murdered him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
(WEY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 22:11
Tell the master of the house,'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
(See NAS NIV)

Acts 21:11
When he arrived he took Paul's loincloth, and bound his own feet and arms with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So will the Jews in Jerusalem bind the owner of this loincloth, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'"
(WEY BBE NIV)

Acts 27:11
But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Galatians 4:1
Now I say that so long as an heir is a child, he in no respect differs from a slave, although he is the owner of everything,
(WEY NAS RSV)

Exodus 21:3
if by himself he cometh in, by himself he goeth out; if he 'is' owner of a wife, then his wife hath gone out with him;
(YLT)

Exodus 21:28
"If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the bull shall not be held responsible.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:29
But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a woman, the bull shall be stoned, and its owner shall also be put to death.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:32
If the death of a man-servant or of a woman-servant is caused by the ox, the owner is to give their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox is to be stoned.
(BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:34
the owner of the pit shall make it good. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall be his.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:36
Or if it is known that the bull was in the habit of goring in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall surely pay bull for bull, and the dead animal shall be his own.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:2
If a thief is taken in the act of forcing his way into a house, and his death is caused by a blow, the owner of the house is not responsible for his blood.
(BBE)

Exodus 22:8
If the thief isn't found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out if he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:11
the oath of Yahweh shall be between them both, whether he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:12
But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:14
"If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:15
If its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 6:5
or any thing about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it even in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. To him to whom it belongs he shall give it, in the day of his being found guilty.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 14:35
Then let the owner of the house come and say to the priest, It seems to me that there is a sort of leper's disease in the house.
(BBE NIV)

Leviticus 25:24
Wherever there is property in land, the owner is to have the right of getting it back.
(BBE)

Leviticus 25:28
But if he is not able to get it back for himself, then it will be kept by him who gave a price for it, till the year of Jubilee; and in that year it will go back to its first owner and he will have his property again.
(BBE)

Leviticus 25:50
And let the years be numbered from the time when he gave himself to his owner till the year of Jubilee, and the price given for him will be in relation to the number of years, on the scale of the payment of a servant.
(BBE RSV)

Leviticus 25:53
As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him: he shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 27:13
But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of it to its valuation.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 27:15
And if the owner has a desire to get back his house, let him give a fifth more than your value, and it will be his.
(BBE)

Leviticus 27:27
And if it is an unclean beast, then the owner of it may give money to get it back, in agreement with the value fixed by you, by giving a fifth more; or if it is not taken back, let it be given for money in agreement with your valuing.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 15:2
and this 'is' the matter of the release: Every owner of a loan 'is' to release his hand which he doth lift up against his neighbour, he doth not exact of his neighbour and of his brother, but hath proclaimed a release to Jehovah;
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 22:2
If their owner is not near, or if you are not certain who he is, then take the beast to your house and keep it till its owner comes in search of it, and then you are to give it back to him.
(BBE)

Judges 19:22
As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may have sex with him!"
(See NAS)

Judges 19:23
The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, "No, my brothers, please don't act so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, don't do this folly.
(See NAS NIV)

Ruth 4:7
Now, in earlier times this was the way in Israel when property was taken over by a near relation, or when there was a change of owner. To make the exchange certain one man took off his shoe and gave it to the other; and this was a witness in Israel.
(BBE)

1 Kings 16:24
He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 123:2
See! as the eyes of servants are turned to the hands of their masters, and the eyes of a servant-girl to her owner, so our eyes are waiting for the Lord our God, till he has mercy on us.
(BBE)

Proverbs 17:8
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
(See NAS)

Ecclesiastes 5:11
When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 5:13
There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:12
Wisdom keeps a man from danger even as money does; but the value of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to its owner.
(BBE)

Isaiah 1:3
The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master's crib; but Israel doesn't know, my people don't consider.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 13:5
But he will say, I am no prophet, but a worker on the land; for I have been an owner of land from the time when I was young.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Owner

Related Terms

Owned (18 Occurrences)

Cattle (277 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Untying (5 Occurrences)

Unwalled (39 Occurrences)

Owner's (1 Occurrence)

Olive-gardens (4 Occurrences)

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)