οἰκοδεσπότης
oikodespótēs
G3617 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Master or authority figure of a household; specifically, the person who holds ultimate responsibility for managing a home and its affairs. In extended usage, refers to one who owns or governs a property or estate, and who exercises authority over those within it—including family members, servants, or dependents. Contextually, in parabolic literature, often indicates the principal figure overseeing resources, decisions, and well-being of a house.
Semantic Range
master of the household, head of the house, one who exercises authority or stewardship over a household, owner or governor of property, householder, primary decision-maker within the home
Root / Etymology
Compound of οἶκος (house, household) and δεσπότης (master, lord); literally, 'master of the house.' The formation emphasizes both authority and stewardship within the domestic sphere.
Historical & Contextual Notes
οἰκοδεσπότης appears in Koine and later Greek to denote the individual who possesses both legal and practical authority in a household or estate. In the New Testament, commonly refers to the head of a domestic unit, especially in parables (e.g., Matthew 13:27; Luke 13:25), reflecting Hellenistic and Roman social structures where the oikodespótēs was responsible for finances, order, hospitality, and discipline. In earlier Greek, household authority terms vary (e.g., κύριος for master, δεσπότης for owner/master). οἰκοδεσπότης specifically connotes governance within the 'house,' distinguishing it from broader or more martial authority. English renderings such as 'master of the house' or 'householder' can obscure the nuances of status, responsibility, and domestic authority embedded in the term. In contrast, the female form, οἰκοδεσπότις, is rare, indicating gendered expectations of household leadership. The term does not necessarily denote noble status, but rather focuses on the function of household management and authority regardless of class.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from οἶκος and δεσπότης; the head of a family:--goodman (of the house), householder, master of the house.
Root Family
οἰκοδεσπότης (oikodespotēs) — house, authority, mastership
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3617-03 |
οἰκοδεσπότης | oikodespotes | N NOM M SG |
master of the house | household master | 5 |
G3617-01 |
οἰκοδεσπότῃ | oikodespote | N DAT M SG |
owner of the house | to the house-master | 4 |
G3617-04 |
οἰκοδεσπότου | oikodespotou | N GEN M SG |
of the house-master | 2 | |
G3617-02 |
οἰκοδεσπότην | oikodespoten | N ACC M SG |
household master | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3617-02 |
Matthew 10:25 | οἰκοδεσπότην | oikodespoten | N ACC M SG |
household master | |
G3617-04 |
Matthew 13:27 | οἰκοδεσπότου | oikodespotou | N GEN M SG |
of the house-master | |
G3617-01 |
Matthew 13:52 | οἰκοδεσπότῃ | oikodespote | N DAT M SG |
to the house-master | |
G3617-01 |
Matthew 20:1 | οἰκοδεσπότῃ | oikodespote | N DAT M SG |
to the house-master | |
G3617-04 |
Matthew 20:11 | οἰκοδεσπότου | oikodespotou | N GEN M SG |
of the house-master | |
G3617-03 |
Matthew 21:33 | οἰκοδεσπότης | oikodespotes | N NOM M SG |
household master | |
G3617-03 |
Matthew 24:43 | οἰκοδεσπότης | oikodespotes | N NOM M SG |
household master | |
G3617-01 |
Mark 14:14 | οἰκοδεσπότῃ | oikodespote | N DAT M SG |
owner of the house | to the house-master |
G3617-03 |
Luke 12:39 | οἰκοδεσπότης | oikodespotes | N NOM M SG |
master of the house | household master |
G3617-03 |
Luke 13:25 | οἰκοδεσπότης | oikodespotes | N NOM M SG |
master of the house | household master |