Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Father's House; Fathers' House
Subjects in this Topic:
(בּית ×ב, beÌ„th 'aÌ„bh, בּית ×בות, beÌ„th 'aÌ„bhoÌ„th): Father's house in the Old Testament is (1) a dwelling, the family home (; , ; ; ); (2) a family or household (; ; , the Revised Version (British and American) “fathers' housesâ€); (3) The group of households, of several of which the “family†or “clan†was constituted, aggregations of which formed the “tribe,†generally “fathers' houses†(, ; ; ; , etc.); (4)the “family†(clan), mishpaÌ„hÌ£aÌ„h, “fathers' houses†( f; ); (5) The tribe, “fathers' house,†“houses†(; -3, etc.).
In the New Testament “father's house†(οἶκος τοῦ πατÏοÌÏ‚, oıÌkos touÌ patroÌs) occurs in the sense of dwelling, house (; compare ). our Lord also uses the phrase (1) of the earthly temple-dwelling of God at Jerusalem (, “Make not my Father's house a house of merchandiseâ€; compare ; ); (2) of heaven as the abode of God and His children (, “In my Father's house are many mansions,†the Revised Version, margin “abiding places,†oikıÌa “house,†“dwelling,†also household, family; compare ; ; ). The phrase occurs also () of Moses, “nourished ... in his father's house†(oikos).
Revised Version has “father's hquse†for “principal household†(), “heads of the fathers' houses†for “chief fathers†(; ; ; , etc.); “one prince of a father's house,†for “each of†(); “the heads of the fathers' (houses)†for “the chief of the fathers,†and “the fathers' houses of the chief,†for “the principal fathers†().