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Depending upon the Greek manuscript, the word in question is either "oikourous" or "oikourgous". Either way, Titus 2:5 is its only occurrence. The English Bible translations I have render it thusly: "keepers at home", "to be busy at home", "home-lovers", "domestic", "keepers of their own houses", "abyding at home", "workers at home", "to be domesticated", "huswyfly" (housewifely), and "homeworkers". Other Bibles read: "careful of their families", "good managers of the household", "working in their houses", "industrious in their homes", "housewives", "to care for their homes", "to take care of their homes", "diligent in home work", "fulfilling their duties at home", "homemakers", "keepers of [their own] homes", and "to be good workers at home".
There are a couple of concerns though: While "oikourous" is likely derived from "oikos" and "ouros," it is probable that "oikourgous" comes from "oikos" and "ergo(n)." Additionally, "oikourous" has genitive dependence; "oikourgous," locative or possibly accusative dependence.{*1} Consequently, the definition of each word differs slightly from the other. Since we have no ORIGINAL manuscripts to work from, determining the original word of the text can be complicated--even impossible. And a word that appears only once in Scripture is much harder to interpret than one that appears in many contexts.
Primary definitions of the root words according to the "Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible"{*2} are as follows:
"Oikos" = "a dwelling"; by implication "a family".
"Ouros" = "a guard".
"Ergo(n)" = "(to work); toil"; by implication "an act".
Both compounds are technically adjectives, but they can function as nouns. Thus, "oikourous" can literally mean "guardians of a dwelling"; "oikourgous," "workers within/at a dwelling."
Can you sense the difference between the genitive "of" and the locative/accusative "within/at"? The locative/accusative gives more of a sedentary shade of meaning than does the genitive. Surprisingly though, not many lexicons distinguish between the genitive and locative/accusative dependence. Here are some lexical definitions:
"Oikouros" (expected genitive dependence) - "a stayer at home, i.e. domestically inclined (a 'good housekeeper')"; "house-guardian"; "keeper at home"; "keeper or guard of a house"; "staying at home, domestic"; "the (watch or) keeper of a house"; "keeping at home and taking care of household affairs"; "watching or keeping the house"; "homemaker".
"Oikourgos" (expected locative/accusative dependence) - "home-worker"; "house-worker"; "one who attends to domestic affairs"; "working at home, domestic"; "caring for the house"; "homemaker".
My personal linguistic and lexical studies lead me to translate the words as such:
"Oikourous" = "appointees to the care of the household."
"Oikourgous" = "ones who exert themselves in carrying through the constant obligations within/at the household."
As to interpretation, the overtone of both "oikourous" and "oikourgous" is neither ambiguous nor deniable: The household of a married woman merits her precedent attention (though not to the exclusion of spiritual sustenance [Luke 10:38-42]). That is to say, a married woman is to commit her full energies to the caring of her husband & children and to their home and to the managing of the family's everyday affairs. That is a career all in itself. I must entreat, therefore, that the Christian wife humbly and ungrudgingly seek the divine counsel of the Godhead before continuing in or beginning employment.
Deeper insight concerning the meaning of "keepers at home" may be attained by means of a careful comparison study of Proverbs 31:10-31, 1Timothy 5:1-16, and Titus 2:1-6 (with a special focus upon Proverbs 31:27, 1Timothy 5:14, and Titus 2:5; contrasting them to Proverbs 7:11 and 1Timothy 5:13). Contrast also Proverbs 9:1 to Proverbs 14:1.
Here is Proverbs 31:27 according to "Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible":
(Proverbs 31:27) She is watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.{*3}
I hope that this helps you.
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