v. Administrator, Minister, Servant
Neh 13:13 I appointed Shelemiah the priest for me
Mat 20:8 the lord of the vineyard said to his m, Call
Luk 16:1 there was a rich man who had a m
Steward (Heb. í ar, bên mesheq, ‘hâ-îsh’asher!al; Gr. epitropos, oikonómos ). A man employed to manage property or business of another person, and responsible for them. Joseph was steward over Potiphar’s house (Gen 43:19; 44:4). Shebna was steward during Hezekiah’s reign (Isa. 22:15; cf. 2Ki 18:37; 19:2). Several men were “stewards in the 763 house of the Lord” (2Ch 34:10-13). In the NT they play an important part in the parables of Jesus (Matt 20:8; Luk 12:42; 16:1-9), and stewardship is given a spiritual application. The Christian minister acts as a steward (administrator) of God (Titus 1:7), and is a “steward” of the “mysteries of God” (1Co 4:1, 2) and of the “manifold grace of Christ” ( 1Pe 4:10). You are responsible to him for the way you treat those in darkness. Dungeon. Translation of the: 1. Heb. b^r, “cistern” or “well” (Is. 24:22). 2. Heb. shâjath, “well”, “hole” (ls. 51:14). In many cases, empty cisterns were used as places of imprisonment, where prisoners were sometimes left to starve to death (cf Gen 37:22-27, the experience of Joseph; and Jer_38, that of the prophet Jeremiah).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Translation of various Hebrew words. and gr., each with its different meaning: heb. paqadh, inspector, overseer (Gen 39:4-5 ; 2Ch 34:12, 2Ch 34:17 ); menatstsehim, foreman, foreman (2Ch 2:18; 2Ch 34:13); shoter, almost always official; gr., episkopos, bishop, overseer (Act 20:28).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
Person who has the responsibility of managing the affairs of a house that belongs to another. †¢Eliezer was the m. of Abraham (Gen 15:2). Joseph was made m. from the house of †¢Potifhar (Gen 39:4) and then had a m. for his own house (Gen 43:19). †¢Boaz also had an m. (Ruth 2:5). The M. of King Solomon was called †¢Ahisar (1Ki 4:6).
In the NT, the word is oikonomos. The Lord Jesus spoke in a parable about a m. faithful (Luke 12:42-46) and another unfaithful (Luke 16:1-12). Sometimes the term is translated as “administrator” (“Let men consider us servants of Christ, and administrators of the mysteries of God†; “For it is necessary that the bishop be blameless, as administrator of God†; “… as good stewards of God’s manifold grace† ). These expressions have an emphasis on “the mysteries of God”, or “God”, or “the grace of God”, as what is administered. But, in general, stewardship is spoken of among Christians to refer to the good administration of material goods, time and gifts received from the Lord.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
type, FUNC
vet, (in Heb., it is generally “sar”, “he who is at the head”; gr.: “oikonomos” and “epitropos”: “steward”, “dispenser” or “administrator”). Superintendent, manager of another’s household assets. Eliezer was Abraham’s steward (Gen. 15:2; 24:2); Joseph had one (Gen. 43:19; 44:1, 4), as did David and Solomon (1 Chron. 27:31; 1 Kings 4:7), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1:11, 16), Herod (Lk. 8:3), the lord of the parable of the unfaithful steward (Mt. 20:8). The butler was also the one who directed the staff and kept the accounts of the house; the dispenser that distributed the articles and food to the components of the house, both for their food and to carry out their work (Lk. 12:42; 16:1). According to the NT, God’s servants are the stewards or dispensers that He has placed in His Church (Titus 1: 7; 1 Cor. 4: 1-2; 1 Pet. 1:12); With this, all believers are dispensers of the graces and gifts that God has entrusted to them (1 Pet. 4:10). What is required of each one is that he be faithful, because the day will come when he will have to give an account of his administration. He will have to return all the goods that he has received in his care, and it is only then that he will receive “what is his”, that is, his eternal inheritance (Lk. 16: 2, 9-12) .
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
In charge of a house or certain property belonging to another person. The Hebrew word so·khen is translated “steward” (Isa 22:15); the term moschel, meaning “manager,” also refers to a steward. (Ge 24:2, ftn) The Greek word oi·ko·no·mos (steward) can also be translated “housekeeper.” (Lu 12:42, note.)
The position of steward could be filled by a free man or a trusted slave. It appears that the †˜unjust steward† ™ whom Jesus referred to in one of his illustrations was a free man. (Lu 16:1, 2, 4) Kings and many other prosperous or distinguished persons had a steward, but the degree of authority granted to them could vary. The Greek word e·pi·tro·pos, “in charge,” has a related meaning, since a steward used to have oversight over the household, as well as over other servants and property, and even sometimes over business matters. (Ga 4:1-3; Lu 16:1-3.)
Abraham put a faithful servant, Eliezer of Damascus, in charge of his many estates, which consisted of abundant flocks and numerous slaves, although he owned no land except a burial field. (Ge 13:2; 14:14; 15:2; 23:17-20; Ac 7:4, 5) Joseph came to manage Potiphar’s household while he was a slave in Egypt. (Ge 39:1-4, 8, 9) In time, he, too, had a steward. (Ge 44: 4) King Elah of Israel had a caretaker over his house at Tirzah. This also seems to have been the custom of the other kings of old. (1Ki 16: 9) Shebnah was the steward over the king’s house in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, but because he became unfaithful, he was replaced by Hilkiah’s son Eliakim. (Isaiah 22:15, 20, 21)
In the Christian Greek Scriptures it is said that Herod Antipas had an administrator whose wife served Jesus from his possessions. (Lu 8:3) Jesus referred in one illustration to a manager of some vineyards who gave them their wages at the end of the day. (Mt 20:8.)
The administrative responsibilities and duties of a steward aptly represent the ministry that Jehovah God entrusts to the Christian. Jesus calls his body of faithful anointed ones on earth a “faithful and discreet slave,” but in their role as slaves they also serve as his steward, having been entrusted in these last days with “all his possessions,” including the preaching of “this good news of the kingdom” throughout the earth, the teaching to those who want to listen and to be the means used by God to add to his congregation the international “great crowd” that will survive the great tribulation. (Mt 24:14, 45; Lu 12:42-44; Re 7:9-14) The overseers of the Christian congregation are “stewards,” and their faithfulness is strictly required. (Tit 1: 7; 1Co 4: 1, 2) As his apostle, and especially as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul had been entrusted with a special stewardship. (1Co 9:17; Eph 3:1, 2) Peter points out to all Christians, overseers or not, that they are stewards of God’s undeserved kindness variously expressed, and shows that in God’s organization every you have your sphere or place where you can exercise faithful stewardship. (1Pe 4:10.)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
In the AT the butler is the person who is in charge of the house (Gn. 43.19; 44.4; Is. 22.15, etc.). In the NT there are two words that are translated butler: epitropes (Mt. 20.8; Gá. 4.2), ie the person to whose care or honor another has been entrusted as curator (thus °vrv2 on last date) or guardian; Y oikonomos (Lc. 16.2–3; 1 Cor. 4.1–2; Tit. 1.7; 1 P. 4.10), ed administrator (so in the last three citations in °vrv2), superintendent, of oikos (“House and memory (‘dispense’ or ‘administer’). This word is used to describe the function of delegated responsibility, as in the parable of the husbandmen, and in the parable of the unfaithful steward.
More profoundly, it is used of the Christian’s responsibility, which has been delegated to him under “Christ’s royal rule of his own house.” All things belong to Christ, and Christians are the executors or stewards of him. Christians are admitted to fulfill Christ’s stewardship responsibilities over this world; so that stewardship (oikonomia) can be considered as a dispensation (1 Co. 9.17; Eph. 3.2; Col. 1.25).
Bibliography. J. Goetzmann, “House”, °DTNT, t
CHD
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary