Lexical Summary katoikeó: To dwell, to inhabit, to settle Original Word: κατοικέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dweller, inhabitant. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside (literally or figuratively) -- dwell(-er), inhabitant(-ter). see GREEK kata see GREEK oikeo HELPS Word-studies 2730 katoikéō (from 2596 /katá, "down, according to," intensifying 3611 /oikéō, "dwell, reside") – properly, settle down as a permanent resident, i.e. in a fixed (permanent) dwelling place as one's personal residence; (figuratively) "to be exactly at home." [The force of the prefix (2596 /katá) suggests "down to the finest, exact details."] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and oikeó Definition to inhabit, to settle NASB Translation dwell (17), dwelling (1), dwells (3), dwells within (1), live (7), lived (8), living (4), residents (1), settled (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2730: κατοικέωκατοικέω, κατοικῶ; 1 aorist κατῴκησα; (from Sophocles and Herodotus down); the Sept. times uncounted for יָשַׁב, more rarely for שָׁכַן; 1. intransitive, to dwell, settle; a. properly: followed by ἐν with the dative of place, Luke 13:4 (Tr WH omit ἐν); Acts 1:20; Acts 5 (T WH marginal reading εἰς (see below)); b. metaphorically, divine powers, influences, etc., are said κατοικεῖν ἐν τίνι (the dative of person), or ἐν τῇ καρδία τίνος, to dwell in his soul, to pervade, prompt, govern it: ὁ Θεός ἐν ἡμῖν, the Epistle of Barnabas 16, 8 [ET]; ὁ Χριστός, Ephesians 3:17; the Holy Spirit, James 4:5 R G (Hermas, past., mand. 5, 2 [ET]; (sim. 5, 5 [ET] etc.; cf. Harnack's references on mand. 3, 1)); τό πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος in Christ, Colossians 2:9, cf. 1:19; ἡ σοφία ἐν σώματι, Wis. 1:4; δικαιοσύνη is said to dwell where righteousness prevails, is practised, 2 Peter 3:13. 2. transitive, to dwell in, inhabit: with the accusative of place, Acts 1:19; Acts 2:9, 14; Acts 4:16; Acts 9:32, 35; Acts 19:10, 17; Revelation 12:12 Rec.; STRONGS NT 2730: κατοικίζωκατοικίζω; 1 aorist κατῴκισα; from Herodotus down; the Sept. for הושִׁיב; to cause to dwell, to send or bring into an abode; to give a dwelling to: metaphorically, τό πνεῦμα, ὁ κατῴκισεν ἐν ἡμῖν, i. e. the Spirit which he placed within us, to pervade and prompt us (see κατοικέω, 1 b.), James 4:5 L T Tr WH. The verb expresses more than momentary lodging; it pictures a stable, deliberate, and often covenantal residence. Whether speaking of a village, the human heart, or the fullness of God in Christ, the word communicates permanence and rightful claim. In the Gospels: The Messiah’s Earthly Address • Matthew 2:23 and Matthew 4:13 use the term for Jesus’ settling in Nazareth and Capernaum. These moves fulfill prophecy and launch public ministry, showing that the incarnate Son intentionally “took up residence” among ordinary Galileans. Acts: Mission, Geography, and Divine Transcendence • Acts 7 anchors the patriarchal journey: “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran” (Acts 7:4). Israel’s account traces God’s guidance toward a land He would yet cause them to inhabit. Pauline Letters: The Mystery of Divine Indwelling • Ephesians 3:17 places the verb inside the believer: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Salvation is not merely positional but residential—Christ takes up settled lordship within. Hebrews and General Epistles: Pilgrimage and Promise • Hebrews 11:9 recalls Abraham “dwelling in tents” in the promised land, modeling faith that looks beyond temporary lodging to lasting inheritance. Revelation: Two Populations, Two Destinies The Apocalypse contrasts “those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8; 17:2, 8) with the saints whose citizenship is heavenly. Earth-dwellers align with the beast, while the Lamb’s followers await the descent of “the tabernacle of God with men” (using related wording in Revelation 21:3). Residence reveals allegiance; final judgment and reward hinge on where—and with Whom—one chooses to dwell. Theological Threads 1. Divine Sovereignty: God appoints human habitations yet is Himself unhoused (Acts 17:24-26). Ministry Implications • Evangelism targets every place people reside; no city or village lies outside the Lord’s claim. Historical Reflection Early Christian writers saw a double movement: God descending to dwell in flesh, and believers ascending in worship until the final union. From first-century Nazareth to the New Jerusalem, the narrative of κατοικέω traces the unwavering intent of God to live with His people and to make His people fit to live with Him. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:23 V-AIA-3SGRK: καὶ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν NAS: and came and lived in a city called KJV: And he came and dwelt in a city INT: and having come he dwelt in a city Matthew 4:13 V-AIA-3S Matthew 12:45 V-PIA-3S Matthew 23:21 V-PPA-DMS Luke 11:26 V-PIA-3S Luke 13:4 V-PPA-AMP Acts 1:19 V-PPA-DMP Acts 1:20 V-PPA-NMS Acts 2:5 V-PPA-NMP Acts 2:9 V-PPA-NMP Acts 2:14 V-PPA-NMP Acts 4:16 V-PPA-DMP Acts 7:2 V-ANA Acts 7:4 V-AIA-3S Acts 7:4 V-PIA-2P Acts 7:48 V-PIA-3S Acts 9:22 V-PPA-AMP Acts 9:32 V-PPA-AMP Acts 9:35 V-PPA-NMP Acts 11:29 V-PPA-DMP Acts 13:27 V-PPA-NMP Acts 17:24 V-PIA-3S Acts 17:26 V-PNA Acts 19:10 V-PPA-AMP Acts 19:17 V-PPA-DMP Strong's Greek 2730 |
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