Word Study for G1774 (ἐνοικέω)

enoikéō /en-oy-keh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἐν and οἰκέω

Meaningto inhabit (figuratively)

KJV usagedwell in.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of enoikéō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word enoikéō, represented by G1774, means to inhabit, typically in a figurative sense. It appears 7 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. The word is formed from the components ἐν and οἰκέω, signifying a deep, internal dwelling rather than a mere physical residence. It describes the indwelling of God, His Spirit, His word, and even faith within a believer.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G1774 is used to illustrate the intimate relationship between God and His people. God himself promises, "I will dwell in them" 2 Corinthians 6:16, identifying believers as the "temple of the living God." This concept is further specified as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:11, the "Spirit that dwelleth in you" is the agent of resurrection life. Paul also encourages believers to let the "word of Christ dwell in you richly" Colossians 3:16. The term can also describe an enduring quality, as seen when Paul mentions the "unfeigned faith" that first dwelt in Timothy's grandmother and mother 2 Timothy 1:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of indwelling:

G3611 oikéō (to occupy a house, i.e. reside): As the root word of enoikéō, this term also refers to dwelling. It is used to state that the "Spirit of God dwell in you" Romans 8:9, establishing the foundational idea of divine residence.
G4151 pneûma (a spirit... the Holy Spirit): This is the divine agent that performs the action of dwelling. It is the Holy Ghost "which dwelleth in us" 2 Timothy 1:14 and the Spirit that gives life to mortal bodies Romans 8:11.
G3485 naós (a fane, shrine, temple): This word identifies the believer as the location of the divine indwelling. Believers are called the temple of God precisely because God has promised to dwell in them 2 Corinthians 6:16.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1774 is significant for understanding the Christian life. It underscores several key doctrines:

The Indwelling God: The word moves the presence of God from a physical building to a personal relationship. God's promise to "I will dwell in them, and walk in them" 2 Corinthians 6:16 signifies a constant, internal communion with His people.
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit is not an external force but an internal resident. It is by the "Spirit that dwelleth in you" that believers have the power for new life Romans 8:11 and are enabled to keep the faith 2 Timothy 1:14.
The Centrality of God's Word: The command to let the word of Christ dwell richly within Colossians 3:16 establishes scripture as a living, active presence that should inhabit a believer's mind and heart.
The Nature of Living Faith: Faith is portrayed as an active, inhabiting reality that can be observed and passed through generations, as it dwelt first in Lois, then Eunice, and then Timothy 2 Timothy 1:5.

Summary

In summary, G1774 is a crucial term that defines the internal nature of a believer's relationship with God. It signifies more than simple existence; it implies a deep and active habitation. Whether it is God Himself, the Holy Spirit, the word of Christ, or a living faith, enoikéō points to the profound truth that believers are the chosen dwelling place for the divine.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Neuter 2×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Future Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Present Active Imperative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Feminine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Singular: One.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Future: Action yet to take place.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 2 Timothy (2 verses); never once in the other 23.

Romans

2 Corinthians

Colossians

2 Timothy

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.