Strong's Lexicon oikoumené: World, inhabited earth Original Word: οἰκουμένη Word Origin: From the Greek verb οἰκέω (oikeō), meaning "to dwell" or "to inhabit." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often used in similar contexts is תֵּבֵל (tebel), Strong's Hebrew 8398, which also refers to the world or the inhabited earth. Usage: The term "oikoumené" primarily refers to the inhabited world or the known world, particularly in the context of the Roman Empire during the New Testament period. It is used to describe the earth as the dwelling place of humanity, often with an emphasis on the civilized or politically organized world. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, "oikoumené" was commonly used to denote the extent of the Roman Empire, which was considered the center of civilization and governance. This term reflects the worldview of the time, where the Roman Empire was seen as encompassing the entirety of the civilized world. In Jewish and early Christian thought, it also carried eschatological connotations, referring to the world that God governs and will ultimately redeem. HELPS Word-studies 3625 oikouménē (from 3611 /oikéō, "to inhabit, dwell") – the inhabited earth, i.e. all people living on the inhabited globe. [3625 (oikouménē) is "the land that is being inhabited, the land in a state of habitation, the inhabited world, that is, the Roman world (orbis terrarum), for all outside it was regarded as of no account" (Souter). 3625 (oikouménē) literally means "the inhabited (land)." It was "originally used by the Greeks to denote the land inhabited by themselves, in contrast with barbarian countries; afterward, when the Greeks became subject to the Romans, 'the entire Roman world;' still later, for 'the whole inhabited world' " (WS, 140,141).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe fem. pres. pass. part. of oikeó Definition the inhabited earth NASB Translation inhabited earth (1), world (14). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3625: οἰκουμένηοἰκουμένη, οἰκουμένης, ἡ (feminine of the present passive participle from οἰκέω (namely, γῆ; cf. Winers Grammar, § 64, 5; Buttmann, § 123, 8)); 1. the inhabited earth; a. in Greek writings often the portion of the earth inhabited by the Greeks, in distinction from the lands of the barbarians, cf. Passow, ii., p. 415a; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, I.). b. in the Greek authors who wrote about Roman affairs (like the Latinorbis terrarum) equivalent to the Roman empire: so πᾶσα ἡ οἰκουμένη contextually equivalent to all the subjects of this empire, Luke 2:1. c. the whole inhabited earth, the world (so in (Hyperides, Eux. 42 (probably Liddell and Scott)) the Sept. for תֵּבֵל and אֶרֶץ): Luke 4:5; Luke 21:26; Acts 24:5; Romans 10:18; Revelation 16:14; Hebrews 1:6 (πᾶσα ἡ οἰκουμένη, Josephus, b. j. 7, 3, 3); ὅλῃ ἡ οἰκουμένη, Matthew 24:14; Acts 11:28 (in the same sense Josephus, Antiquities 8, 13, 4 πᾶσα ἡ οἰκουμένη; cf. Bleek, Erklär. d. drei ersten Evv. i., p. 68); by metonymy, the inhabitants of the earth, men: Acts 17:6, 31 (Psalm 9:9); 2. the universe, the world: Wis. 1:7 (alternating there with τά πάντα); ἡ οἰκουμένη μελλουσα, that consummate state of all things which will exist after Christ's return from heaven, Hebrews 2:5 (where the word alternates with πάντα and τά πάντα, Hebrews 2:8, which there is taken in an absolute sense). Feminine participle present passive of oikeo (as noun, by implication, of ge); land, i.e. The (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire -- earth, world. see GREEK oikeo see GREEK ge Englishman's Concordance Matthew 24:14 N-DFSGRK: ὅλῃ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ εἰς μαρτύριον NAS: in the whole world as a testimony KJV: in all the world for a witness INT: all the earth for a testimony Luke 2:1 N-AFS Luke 4:5 N-GFS Luke 21:26 N-DFS Acts 11:28 N-AFS Acts 17:6 N-AFS Acts 17:31 N-AFS Acts 19:27 N-NFS Acts 24:5 N-AFS Romans 10:18 N-GFS Hebrews 1:6 N-AFS Hebrews 2:5 N-AFS Revelation 3:10 N-GFS Revelation 12:9 N-AFS Revelation 16:14 N-GFS Strong's Greek 3625 |