οἴκημα
oíkēma
G3612 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A habitation or dwelling, most commonly a dwelling place or lodging. In some contexts, especially in the New Testament, it refers specifically to a place for confining persons—a prison or jail. Core sense is of a constructed space for living or containing.
Semantic Range
dwelling, habitation, lodging, apartment, enclosed space, chamber, jail, prison, holding cell
Root / Etymology
Denominal from οἰκέω ('to dwell, inhabit'), itself from οἶκος ('house, home'). οἴκημα is a noun formation indicating 'that which is used for dwelling.' No indication of non-Greek origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, οἴκημα generally refers to any kind of habitation, apartment, or private chamber. Its use spans private homes, rooms, lodging places, even animal enclosures. In Koine and specifically New Testament usage (e.g. Acts 5:21, 23), the term comes to be associated with locations of detention, hence rendered as 'prison.' This development reflects a broadened semantic field: from 'dwelling' or 'room' to 'place of holding'—whether residence or confinement. The shift is likely due to the metaphorical extension of a 'contained space' used for a specific purpose. English Bible translations commonly render οἴκημα in prison-related contexts as 'prison' or 'cell,' though the broader Greek sense is more general and includes any living space or chamber. The related word οἴκησις focuses more on the act or state of dwelling, while οἴκημα emphasizes the physical place.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from οἰκέω; a tenement, i.e. (specially), a jail:--prison.
Root Family
οἰκ- (enkatoikéō) — to dwell, to inhabit, to reside
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G1460 | ἐγκατοικέω | one dwelling within |
| G1774 | ἐνοικέω | let it dwell within |
| G2733 | κατοικία | of a dwelling |
| G3351 | μετοικίζω | I will resettle |
| G3609 | οἰκεῖος | household members |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3612-01 |
οἰκήματι | oikemati | N DAT N SG |
prison | in a dwelling place | dwelling place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3612-01 |
Acts 12:7 | οἰκήματι | oikemati | N DAT N SG |
prison | in a dwelling place | dwelling place |