Greek word · G3611

οἰκέω

oikeō

to dwell

To live in, inhabit, dwell; to make one's home (from οἶκος, house). It implies a settled, ongoing residence, not a brief visit.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

οἰκέω, -ῶ

(οἶκος), [in LXX chiefly for יָשַׁב ;]

(a) trans., to inhabit: with accusative, 1 Timothy 6:16;

(b) intrans., to dwell: before μετά (of married life), 1 Corinthians 7:12-13; metaphorically, before ἐν: ἀγαθόν, Romans 7:18; ἁμαρτία, Romans 7:20; πνεῦμα θεοῦ, Romans 8:9, 11, 1 Corinthians 3:16 (cf. ἐν-, κατ-, ἐν-κατ-, παρ-, περι-, συν-οικέω).†

(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 Romans 8:9

Range of meaning

To live in, inhabit, dwell; to make one's home (from οἶκος, house). It implies a settled, ongoing residence, not a brief visit.

Against the English

KJV/ESV/NASB/WEB/YLT 'dwell' keeps the sense of residence. BSB/NIV 'lives in' is natural English. Both are accurate. What English cannot show is the echo of Rom 7.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses this verb in Rom 7:17, 20 ('sin that dwells in me') and 7:18 ('nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh'). The compound ἐνοικέω follows in 8:11. 1 Cor 3:16: 'the Spirit of God dwells (οἰκεῖ) in you', of the community as God's temple. In the Septuagint, God's presence settles on the tabernacle and temple, and Ezek 37:27 speaks of God's 'dwelling place' among his people.

From the study of Romans 8:11

Range of meaning

To live in a house, inhabit, reside, be at home in. The compound enoikeō stresses 'dwelling within'. It suggests permanent residence, not a visit.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'dwell', BSB/NIV/NLT 'live in'. Both are accurate. 'Dwell' keeps the link to temple language; 'lives in' sounds more personal and everyday.

Used elsewhere in the period

Romans 7:17, 20: 'sin that dwells (oikousa) in me'; 7:18: 'nothing good dwells in me'. 1 Corinthians 3:16: 'God's Spirit dwells in you', of the community as God's temple. 2 Corinthians 6:16 quotes God's promise in Leviticus 26:11–12 as 'I will dwell (enoikēsō) in them and walk among them'. Greek Old Testament texts use related words for God making his name or presence dwell in the sanctuary.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 3:16

Range of meaning

To live in, inhabit, make one's home in a place. Related to oikos (house) and oikia (household).

Against the English

'Dwells' (BSB, ESV, KJV) is accurate but sounds old-fashioned. 'Lives in' (WEB) is plain. Neither fully brings out that this is temple language: the deity residing in his house.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint uses oikeō and related verbs (katoikeō, kataskēnoō) for God dwelling in Zion or among his people, e.g. Ps 135:21 LXX (134:21), 'who dwells in Jerusalem'. The promise of God living among Israel (Exod 29:45; Lev 26:11–12; Ezek 37:27) stands behind this, and Paul quotes it directly in 2 Cor 6:16: 'I will dwell (enoikēsō) in them and walk among them.' Paul also uses oikeō for the Spirit dwelling in believers in Rom 8:9, 11.

Where it appears

Romans · 5

  1. Romans 7:17 οἰκοῦσα is dwelling

    In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

    Here: A present participle, meaning sin is continually 'living in' or 'occupying' me. It is household language, as if sin has taken up residence. Paul uses the same verb for the Spirit dwelling in believers in 8:9–11.

  2. Romans 7:18 οἰκεῖ dwells

    I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

    Here: Picks up the same verb from v. 17 ('sin dwelling in me'). The picture is of a house and who occupies it: sin has moved in, and good is not a resident. In 8:9–11 the same verb is used of the Spirit dwelling in believers.

  3. Romans 7:20 οἰκοῦσα is dwelling

    And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

    Here: 'Living in', 'taking up residence'. The word comes from οἶκος, 'house'. Sin is pictured as a resident that has settled into the house of the self. The present tense means it lives there continuously.

  4. Romans 8:9 οἰκεῖ dwells

    You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

    Here: To make one's home somewhere and stay. In 7:17 and 7:20 Paul used the same verb for sin 'dwelling in me'. Now a different occupant lives in the house. It also echoes God dwelling in his temple.

  5. Romans 8:11 οἰκεῖ dwells

    And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

    Here: Present tense, 'is living / has made his home': settled residence, not a passing visit. It echoes Romans 7:17, 20, where it was sin that 'dwells in me'; now a new resident has moved in.

1 Corinthians · 3

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:16 οἰκεῖ dwells

    Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

    Here: Present tense: lives there, keeps on living there. The word comes from oikos, 'house'. God's Spirit makes his home among them, the way the God of Israel 'dwelt' in the tabernacle and temple.

  2. 1 Corinthians 7:12 οἰκεῖν to dwell

    To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

  3. 1 Corinthians 7:13 οἰκεῖν to dwell

    And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 6:16 οἰκῶν dwelling

    He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

    Here: 'Making one's home in.' It is present tense, so this is his permanent residence and not a passing appearance.

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