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κατοικητήριον

katoikētḗrion

G2732 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A place of dwelling, a habitation; primarily denotes a location where someone or something resides, whether human, divine, or metaphorical. In Koine Greek, often used for a physical residence (as in a house or settlement), but can extend to specialized or sacred domains (such as a temple, shrine, or the indwelling place of a deity).

Semantic Range

dwelling-place, habitation, abode, lodging, residence, temple or sacred dwelling, metaphoric place of indwelling (e.g., for a deity or spirit)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the verb κατοικέω (katoikeō, 'to dwell, to settle, to inhabit') with the suffix -τήριον, forming an abstract or concrete noun indicating a place characterized by dwelling or habitation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, -τήριον forms typically describe a place suited for a specific activity. In the Hellenistic period and the Koine of the New Testament and Septuagint, κατοικητήριον is attested in contexts referring both to literal residences (homes, abodes) and to metaphorical/sacred spaces (e.g., the habitation of God or spirit beings, especially in Pauline or early Christian usage). The word occurs infrequently in extant Greek literature, with notable usage in biblical and Hellenistic Jewish texts. In the Septuagint, κατοικητήριον translates Hebrew terms like מָעוֹן (ma‘on, 'dwelling, abode'), sometimes referring to God's heavenly or earthly dwelling. In the New Testament (e.g. Ephesians 2:22), often used metaphorically for the community as a dwelling of the divine spirit. English translations with 'habitation' or 'dwelling-place' generally capture the core sense, but may not reflect the sacred or communal nuances present in ancient use.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of κατοικέω; a dwelling-place:--habitation.

Root Family

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

Root κατοικ- to dwell, to settle, to inhabit
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2730 κατοικέω he/she/it dwells

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2732-01 κατοικητήριον katoiketerion N ACC N SG dwelling place dwelling-place dwelling-place 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2732-01 Ephesians 2:22 κατοικητήριον katoiketerion N ACC N SG dwelling place dwelling-place dwelling-place
G2732-01 Revelation 18:2 κατοικητήριον katoiketerion N NOM N SG dwelling place dwelling-place dwelling-place
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