G3616 oikodespoteō (oy-ko-des-po-TEH-o) — to rule a household, be master of the house. Paul uses it for women.
Word: οἰκοδεσποτέω; in 1 Timothy 5:14, οἰκοδεσποτεῖν (oikodespotein) · verb · Strong's G3616
In brief
Oikodespoteō combines oikos, "house," and despotēs, "master" (the source of the English word "despot"). It means to be master of a household. In 1 Timothy 5:14, Paul wants younger widows to marry, have children, and oikodespotein: run their households with authority. Translations soften it to "manage the home," so readers miss that Paul gives women the title of household master.
Where it appears
- 1 Timothy 5:14 — the only occurrence of the verb.
- The related noun oikodespotēs — "master of the house," used in the Gospels for the householder in Jesus' parables: the owner of the field (Matthew 13:27), the landowner who hires workers (Matthew 20:1), and the master of the banquet (Luke 14:21).
What the lexicons say
Strong's own gloss is "to be the head of a family." Modern lexicons give "to manage a household" or "be master of a house". Either way, this is a word of authority, not of housekeeping.
How translations render it
| Translation | 1 Timothy 5:14 |
|---|---|
| KJV | "guide the house" |
| ESV | "manage their households" |
| NIV (2011) | "manage their homes" |
| NRSV | "manage their households" |
| CEB | "manage their homes" |
None of these translations uses "rule" or "be master of," though the noun oikodespotēs is translated "master of the house" in the Gospels.
Why it matters
If a husband's headship means he alone rules the household, this verse is hard to explain: Paul calls the wife the household's master. Softer English keeps readers from noticing the tension.
See for yourself
- Look up Matthew 20:1 in your Bible. How is oikodespotēs translated there?
- Read 1 Timothy 5:14 with "rule the household" in place of "manage the home." What changes?
Related words
kephalē (G2776, head) · hypotassō (G5293, submit) · gynē (G1135)