οἶκος (G3624) — Greek Lexicon

οἶκος

oîkos

G3624 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A physical structure used as a dwelling (house, residence); by extension, the people belonging to or associated with a household (family, lineage, household group); more broadly, a community defined by shared space or heritage (such as a royal house or clan). In certain contexts, the term also describes an entire nation, a religious sanctuary or temple as the dwelling of the divine, or a figurative community (household of faith).

Semantic Range

dwelling, house, residence, household, family, lineage, dynasty, temple (as divine dwelling), community, nation

Root / Etymology

From the root οἰκ-, related to the verb οἰκέω ('to inhabit, dwell') and noun οἰκέτης ('household member, servant'). Cognate with Latin 'vicus'. The precise Indo-European root is *weik-, 'clan, settlement'. Not etymologically related to the Hebrew בַּיִת (bayit), though there may be overlap in semantic development in translation contexts.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, οἶκος most commonly denotes a physical house and its residents—ranging from an individual's home to an entire household or family line, sometimes including servants and dependents. It also referred to dynastic or ruling families (e.g., the 'house of Atreus'). In Hellenistic and Roman periods, its scope expanded to collective bodies, such as the 'household of Caesar,' and in the Septuagint, frequently renders Hebrew בַּיִת (bayit), signifying house, temple, or dynasty. In the New Testament, οἶκος retains these senses, designating private dwellings, family units, extended households (including slaves and dependents), houses of worship (notably the Jerusalem temple as 'the house of God'), and metaphorically the collective group of believers. Standard English translations as 'house,' 'home,' or 'household' often conceal this spectrum of meaning, especially where οἶκος refers to lineage/dynasty or the temple. The term is distinct from δομός (domos, poetical/literary for house) and less specialized than ναός (naos), which designates the inner sanctuary of a temple.

Translation Consistency

primary "house" 45 occurrences

'House' is the most natural and common English equivalent for οἶκος, covering both the physical dwelling and the extended senses (household, family, dynasty, temple as a house). It is the dominant rendering in the data and easily supports the figurative uses (e.g. House of Israel, household of faith) while remaining simple and natural.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):

"households" (3x) "household" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively):--home, house(-hold), temple.

Root Family

οἰκ- (enkatoikéō) — to dwell, to inhabit, to reside

Root οἰκ- to inhabit, to dwell, dwelling place

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
G3610	οἰκέτης	O household servants
G3611	οἰκέω	dwells
G3612	οἴκημα	in a dwelling place
G3614	οἰκία	in a dwelling
G3615	οἰκιακός	household members
G3625	οἰκουμένη	to the inhabited world
G3832	πανοικί	with the entire household
G3939	παροικέω	you dwell as a foreigner
G4039	περιοικέω	those dwelling around
G4040	περίοικος	neighboring residents
G4924	συνοικέω	dwelling together

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3624-03`	οἶκόν	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house	59
`G3624-01`	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house	20
`G3624-04`	οἶκός	oikos	`N NOM M SG`	house	dwelling house	house	18
`G3624-05`	οἴκου	oikou	`N GEN M SG`	house	of a dwelling	of a house	12
`G3624-06`	οἴκους	oikous	`N ACC M PL`	houses	households	households	4
`G3624-02`	οἴκοις	oikois	`N DAT M PL`	houses	to dwelling houses	houses	1

Occurrences in Scripture

114 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3624-03`	Luke 16:27	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-03`	Luke 18:14	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	Luke 19:5	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-01`	Luke 19:9	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-04`	Luke 19:46	οἶκός	oikos	`N NOM M SG`	house	dwelling house	house
`G3624-04`	Luke 19:46	οἶκος	oikos-2	`N NOM M SG`	house	dwelling house	house
`G3624-03`	John 2:16	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-03`	John 2:16	οἶκον	oikon-2	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-05`	John 2:17	οἴκου	oikou	`N GEN M SG`	house	of a dwelling	of a house
`G3624-03`	John 7:53	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	John 11:20	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-03`	Acts 2:2	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-04`	Acts 2:36	οἶκος	oikos	`N NOM M SG`	house	dwelling house	house
`G3624-03`	Acts 2:46	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-03`	Acts 5:42	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-03`	Acts 7:10	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	Acts 7:20	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-04`	Acts 7:42	οἶκος	oikos	`N VOC M SG`	house	dwelling house	house
`G3624-01`	Acts 7:46	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	to the house
`G3624-03`	Acts 7:47	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	a house	dwelling-place	a house
`G3624-03`	Acts 7:49	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-06`	Acts 8:3	οἴκους	oikous	`N ACC M PL`	houses	households	households
`G3624-01`	Acts 10:2	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-03`	Acts 10:22	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	Acts 10:30	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-03`	Acts 11:12	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	Acts 11:13	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-04`	Acts 11:14	οἶκός	oikos	`N NOM M SG`	house	dwelling house	house
`G3624-04`	Acts 16:15	οἶκος	oikos	`N NOM M SG`	household	dwelling house	household
`G3624-03`	Acts 16:15	οἶκόν	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-04`	Acts 16:31	οἶκός	oikos	`N NOM M SG`	house	dwelling house	house
`G3624-03`	Acts 16:34	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	Acts 18:8	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	household	to the dwelling	to the house
`G3624-05`	Acts 19:16	οἴκου	oikou	`N GEN M SG`	house	of a dwelling	of a house
`G3624-06`	Acts 20:20	οἴκους	oikous	`N ACC M PL`	house to house	households	households
`G3624-03`	Acts 21:8	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-03`	Romans 16:5	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-03`	1 Corinthians 1:16	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	household	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	1 Corinthians 11:34	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	home	to the dwelling	to the house
`G3624-01`	1 Corinthians 14:35	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	home	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-03`	1 Corinthians 16:19	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-03`	Colossians 4:15	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	house	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-05`	1 Timothy 3:4	οἴκου	oikou	`N GEN M SG`	house	of a dwelling	of a house
`G3624-05`	1 Timothy 3:5	οἴκου	oikou	`N GEN M SG`	house	of a dwelling	household
`G3624-03`	1 Timothy 3:12	οἴκων	oikon	`N GEN M PL`	households	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	1 Timothy 3:15	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	house
`G3624-03`	1 Timothy 5:4	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	household	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-01`	2 Timothy 1:16	οἴκῳ	oiko	`N DAT M SG`	house	to the dwelling	to the house
`G3624-03`	2 Timothy 4:19	οἶκον	oikon	`N ACC M SG`	household	dwelling-place	house
`G3624-06`	Titus 1:11	οἴκους	oikous	`N ACC M PL`	houses	households	households

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