Greek word · G2012

ἐπίτροπος

epitropos

manager

Literally 'one to whom something is entrusted'.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπίτροπος, -ου, ὁ

(ἐπιτρέπω), [in LXX: 2Ma.11:1 2Mac 13:2 2Mac 14:2 * ;]

1. an administrator, a steward: Matthew 20:3, Luke 8:3.

2. a guardian (with genitive of person(s), 2Mac, ll. with): Galatians 4:2.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Galatians 4:2

Range of meaning

Literally 'one to whom something is entrusted'. In the Greek-speaking world it covered: (1) the legal guardian of a minor or orphan, who had authority over the child and acted for him in law; (2) an estate overseer or foreman (Matt 20:8, the vineyard owner's foreman); (3) a steward or agent of a ruler (Luke 8:3, Chuza, Herod's epitropos); (4) an imperial procurator, a Roman provincial official (the usual Greek title for governors of Judea such as Felix in Josephus).

Against the English

KJV and YLT have 'tutors'. In 1611 'tutor' still meant mainly a legal guardian, from Latin tutor via the Vulgate's tutoribus. Today it means a private teacher, which is a different picture. Modern versions say 'guardians', which is correct.

How it drifted

English 'tutor' narrowed from 'legal guardian' (still its sense in Roman and Scottish law) to 'private teacher' or 'academic coach'. A reader who knows only the modern sense of the KJV word will imagine education rather than legal control.

Used elsewhere in the period

Papyri and inscriptions use epitropos constantly for guardians of minors appointed by will or by a magistrate, for example in contracts where 'X, through his guardian Y' acts for an underage party. Josephus and Philo use it for procurators and for guardians. In Roman law the Latin equivalent is tutor (tutela impuberum, the guardianship of children below puberty).

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 20:8 ἐπιτρόπῳ foreman

    When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 8:3 ἐπιτρόπου a steward

    Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 4:2 ἐπιτρόπους guardians

    He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

    Here: The legal guardian of a minor, the person who acts on the child's behalf and has authority over him, equivalent to the Latin *tutor*. Not a teacher.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.