← G2729 G2731 →

κατοικέω

katoikéō

G2730 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To settle or reside in a place, to make one's home or dwell in a location; can denote both literal, physical habitation (to live in or occupy a dwelling, city, or land) and, in a more extended sense, to be established or present in a manner marked by permanence or stability. May also be used figuratively for indwelling, as of a spirit or an abstract quality.

Semantic Range

to reside permanently, to settle in a place, to be an inhabitant, to dwell, to have one's home, (figurative) to indwell (as of a spirit or quality), to establish a colony

Root / Etymology

From κατά (kata, 'down, throughout, according to') and οἰκέω (oikéō, 'to dwell'), meaning 'to dwell throughout, to settle down in'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κατοικέω primarily referred to settling or having one's home in a particular place, as opposed to simply being present (cf. παροικέω, 'to sojourn as a stranger', or μένω, 'to remain'). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, κατοικέω continues to denote settled or permanent residence, often in contrast to temporary stay or wandering. It is used both of individuals and entire peoples inhabiting cities, lands, or houses. The related noun κατοικία refers to a dwelling place or settlement. Commonly used for establishing colonies or founding settlements, as well as for divine or spiritual indwelling (e.g., the Spirit inhabiting believers). English translations often use 'dwell', 'inhabit', or 'reside', but these do not always capture the additional connotations of permanence or establishment in place. The verb is more forceful than simply 'to live' (ζάω) or 'to be present' (εἰμί). Versus οἰκέω, the prefixed form emphasizes an established, often official, settlement or occupation. Figuratively, can imply lasting presence or influence.

Translation Consistency

primary "live" 31 occurrences

“Live” is a natural, common English verb that covers the full semantic range of κατοικέω: permanent residence or settling (they lived in the land), literal dwelling (to live in a house or city), and figurative indwelling (a spirit or quality lives in someone). It is more natural-sounding than archaic alternatives like “dwell” while still allowing idiomatic renderings for every form of the Greek lemma.

Alternatives (13 occurrences):
"dwelling" (8x) "dwell" (3x) "dwell permanently" (1x) "settle down" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κατά and οἰκέω; to house permanently, i.e. reside (literally or figuratively):--dwell(-er), inhabitant(-ter).

Root Family

κατοικ- (katoikéō) — to settle, to inhabit, to dwell

Root κατοικ- to settle, to inhabit, to dwell
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2732 κατοικητήριον dwelling-place

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2730-08 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who dwell those dwelling those living 9
G2730-09 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL who dwell those dwelling those living 9
G2730-01 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dwells he/she/it dwells he/she/it lives 7
G2730-12 κατοικοῦσιν katoikousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL dwelling to those dwelling dwelling 5
G2730-05 κατοικῆσαι katoikesai V AOR ACT INF he dwelt to settle down to have lived 3
G2730-13 κατῴκησεν katokesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG dwelt settled down he lived 3
G2730-11 κατοικούντων katoikounton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL living of those dwelling of those living 2
G2730-02 κατοικεῖν katoikein V PRS ACT INF to dwell to dwell permanently to dwell permanently 1
G2730-03 κατοικεῖς katoikeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you dwell you dwell you dwell 1
G2730-04 κατοικεῖτε katoikeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL dwell you dwell you dwell 1

Occurrences in Scripture

44 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2730-13 Matthew 2:23 κατῴκησεν katokesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG dwelt settled down he lived
G2730-13 Matthew 4:13 κατῴκησεν katokesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG dwelt settled down he lived
G2730-01 Matthew 12:45 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dwell he/she/it dwells they dwell
G2730-10 Matthew 23:21 κατοικοῦντι katoikounti V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG dwells to one dwelling one dwelling
G2730-01 Luke 11:26 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG it dwells he/she/it dwells he/she/it lives
G2730-08 Luke 13:4 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL that dwelt those dwelling those living
G2730-12 Acts 1:19 κατοικοῦσιν katoikousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL dwelling to those dwelling dwelling
G2730-07 Acts 1:20 κατοικῶν katoikon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG one dwelling one dwelling one dwelling
G2730-09 Acts 2:5 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL dwelling those dwelling those living
G2730-09 Acts 2:9 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL dwelling in those dwelling those living
G2730-09 Acts 2:14 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP VOC M PL dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-12 Acts 4:16 κατοικοῦσιν katoikousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL who dwell to those dwelling dwelling
G2730-05 Acts 7:2 κατοικῆσαι katoikesai V AOR ACT INF he dwelt to settle down to have lived
G2730-13 Acts 7:4 κατῴκησεν katokesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG dwelt settled down he lived
G2730-04 Acts 7:4 κατοικεῖτε katoikeite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL dwell you dwell you dwell
G2730-01 Acts 7:48 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dwells he/she/it dwells he/she/it lives
G2730-08 Acts 9:22 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL lived those dwelling those living
G2730-08 Acts 9:32 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who lived those dwelling those living
G2730-09 Acts 9:35 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL residents those dwelling those living
G2730-12 Acts 11:29 κατοικοῦσιν katoikousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL dwelling to those dwelling dwelling
G2730-09 Acts 13:27 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL dwelling those dwelling those living
G2730-01 Acts 17:24 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dwell he/she/it dwells he/she/it lives
G2730-02 Acts 17:26 κατοικεῖν katoikein V PRS ACT INF to dwell to dwell permanently to dwell permanently
G2730-08 Acts 19:10 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who lived those dwelling those living
G2730-12 Acts 19:17 κατοικοῦσιν katoikousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL living to those dwelling dwelling
G2730-11 Acts 22:12 κατοικούντων katoikounton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL living of those dwelling of those living
G2730-05 Ephesians 3:17 κατοικῆσαι katoikesai V AOR ACT INF may dwell to settle down to settle down
G2730-05 Colossians 1:19 κατοικῆσαι katoikesai V AOR ACT INF to dwell to settle down to have lived
G2730-01 Colossians 2:9 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dwells he/she/it dwells he/she/it lives
G2730-06 Hebrews 11:9 κατοικήσας katoikesas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG dwelling having settled dwelling
G2730-01 2 Peter 3:13 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dwells he/she/it dwells he/she/it lives
G2730-03 Revelation 2:13 κατοικεῖς katoikeis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you dwell you dwell you dwell
G2730-01 Revelation 2:13 κατοικεῖ katoikei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG dwells he/she/it dwells he/she/it lives
G2730-08 Revelation 3:10 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-11 Revelation 6:10 κατοικούντων katoikounton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL who dwell of those dwelling of those living
G2730-08 Revelation 8:13 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-09 Revelation 11:10 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-08 Revelation 11:10 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-09 Revelation 13:8 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-08 Revelation 13:12 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-08 Revelation 13:14 κατοικοῦντας katoikountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
G2730-12 Revelation 13:14 κατοικοῦσιν katoikousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL who dwell to those dwelling dwelling
G2730-09 Revelation 17:2 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL inhabitants those dwelling those living
G2730-09 Revelation 17:8 κατοικοῦντες katoikountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL who dwell those dwelling those living
← G2729 Greek Lexicon G2731 →