"to dwell in, inhabit, 1 Tim. 6:16; intrans. to dwell, live; to cohabit, 1 Cor. 7:12, 13; to be indwelling, indwell, Rom. 7:17, 18, 20; 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 3:16*"
Definition and meaning
to dwell in, inhabit, 1 Tim. 6:16; intrans. to dwell, live; to cohabit, 1 Cor. 7:12, 13; to be indwelling, indwell, Rom. 7:17, 18, 20; 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 3:16*
In the original Greek the word is written: οἰκέω
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of oikeo (G3611) across the King James Bible.
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
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Common questions
Strong's G3611 (oikeo) is a Greek word that means: to dwell in, inhabit, 1 Tim. 6:16; intrans. to dwell, live; to cohabit, 1 Cor. 7:12, 13; to be indwelling, indwell, Rom. 7:17, 18, 20; 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 3:16* It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word oikeo (G3611) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3611 is oikeo, a Greek word defined as: to dwell in, inhabit, 1 Tim. 6:16; intrans. to dwell, live; to cohabit, 1 Cor. 7:12, 13; to be indwelling, indwell, Rom. 7:17, 18, 20; 8:9, 11; 1 Cor.. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
oikeo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.