from οἶκος; properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics):--home, house(-hold).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word οἰκία (oikía, `{{G3614}}`), derived from οἶκος (oikos, `{{G3624}}`), primarily denotes a "house," "dwelling," or "residence." Its core meaning refers to the physical structure where one lives. However, its semantic range extends beyond the literal building to include:
* **Concrete Abode:** The most common usage, referring to a physical building or dwelling place.
* **Figurative Abode:** Used metaphorically to describe a spiritual dwelling, a foundation, or even a kingdom.
* **Metonymic Usage:** By implication, it refers to the "household" or "family" that inhabits the house. This often includes not just immediate family members but also servants and dependents, representing the entire social unit.
* **Possession:** Less frequently, it can denote the property or estate associated with a dwelling.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
οἰκία appears frequently throughout the New Testament, offering diverse contextual applications:
* **Literal Dwelling:** Most often, it refers to a physical house or home. Jesus frequently taught, healed, and ate in houses ([[Matthew 8:14]], [[Matthew 9:10]], [[Mark 2:1]], [[Mark 7:17]]). Disciples were instructed to enter houses when proclaiming the good news ([[Matthew 10:12-13]]). Examples include the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where early Christians gathered ([[Acts 12:12]]), and the house of Simon the Tanner, where Peter lodged ([[Acts 10:6]]).
* **Household/Family Unit:** The word often signifies the people living in the house, the family, or the extended household. This is particularly significant in accounts of conversion and baptism, where entire "houses" come to faith, such as the house of Cornelius ([[Acts 10:2]], [[Acts 11:14]]), the house of Stephanas ([[1 Corinthians 1:16]]), or the house of Onesiphorus ([[2 Timothy 4:19]]). This highlights the corporate nature of early Christian conversion.
* **Figurative and Spiritual Meanings:**
* **The Temple:** Jesus refers to the Jerusalem Temple as "My house" or "a house of prayer" ([[Matthew 21:13]], [[Luke 19:46]]), echoing Old Testament language for God's dwelling place.
* **Spiritual Foundation:** In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, οἰκία symbolizes a person's life or spiritual foundation built upon their response to Jesus's teachings ([[Matthew 7:24-27]]).
* **Kingdom/Entity:** Jesus uses οἰκία to speak of a "house divided against itself" ([[Mark 3:25]]), signifying a kingdom or entity that cannot stand due to internal strife.
* **Lineage/Dynasty:** In [[Luke 1:27]], οἰκία refers to the "house of David," denoting his royal lineage or dynasty.
### Related Words & Concepts
οἰκία is part of a rich word family centered around οἶκος (`{{G3624}}`), which itself can mean house, household, or family. While often interchangeable, οἰκία tends to emphasize the physical structure more directly than οἶκος. Other related terms include:
* οἰκέω (oikeō, `{{G3613}}`): To dwell, inhabit.
* οἰκοδέσποτης (oikodespotēs, `{{G3622}}`): Master of a house, head of a household.
* οἰκοδομέω (oikodomeō, `{{G3618}}`): To build a house; figuratively, to edify or build up.
* οἰκοδομή (oikodomē, `{{G3619}}`): The act of building; a building; edification.
* οἰκονόμος (oikonomos, `{{G3623}}`): Steward, manager of a household.
* οἰκονομία (oikonomia, `{{G3620}}`): Stewardship, administration, divine plan.
These related words highlight the concepts of dwelling, management, and building, both literally and spiritually, within the context of a "house" or "household."
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of οἰκία is profound and multifaceted:
* **The Home as a Center of Ministry:** Jesus's ministry frequently took place in private homes, demonstrating that the domestic sphere is a vital place for the gospel to be proclaimed, lived out, and experienced. This set a precedent for the early church, which often met in "house churches" ([[Romans 16:5]], [[Colossians 4:15]]), emphasizing community, intimacy, and accessibility.
* **The Household as a Unit of Salvation:** The repeated accounts of entire households coming to faith and being baptized underscore God's redemptive work extending beyond the individual to encompass the family unit. This highlights the corporate dimension of salvation and the spiritual responsibility within a household.
* **The Church as God's Household:** Though οἶκος is more frequently used, the concept of the church as God's "house" or "family" is fundamental. Believers are described as "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" ([[Ephesians 2:19]]), built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. This metaphor conveys belonging, divine order, and the presence of God among His people.
* **Life as a Spiritual Structure:** The parable of the wise and foolish builders ([[Matthew 7:24-27]]) uses οἰκία as a powerful metaphor for one's life, indicating that its stability and endurance are directly dependent on obedience to Christ's teachings. A life built on His words is like a house built on solid rock, able to withstand trials.
* **The Sanctity of God's Dwelling:** Jesus's actions in the temple, designating it "a house of prayer," underscore the sacred purpose and proper reverence due to God's dwelling place among humanity.
### Summary
The Greek word οἰκία (oikía, `{{G3614}}`) primarily denotes a "house" or "dwelling place." Its semantic scope, however, extends significantly to encompass the "household" or "family" residing within, and it is frequently employed in a rich figurative sense to represent a spiritual foundation, a kingdom, or the very structure of one's life. In the New Testament, οἰκία illuminates the home as a crucial setting for Jesus's ministry and the rapid expansion of the early church, often portraying entire households as recipients of divine grace and salvation. Theologically, it underscores the profound importance of the domestic sphere, the corporate nature of faith within families, and the powerful metaphor of the church as God's spiritual household, built upon Christ and His eternal teachings. The stability and divine purpose of this "house," whether literal, familial, or spiritual, are consistently linked to adherence to divine principles and the manifest presence of God.
TRV