G2012 — ἐπίτροπος (epitropos)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G2012
Original: ἐπίτροπος
Transliteration: epitropos
Pronunciation: ep-it'-rop-os
Part of Speech: Masculine noun
Root: Compound of ἐπί (epi, G1909 — upon) + τρέπω (trepō, G5157 — to turn); lit. "one turned to" or "one entrusted with"; cognate verb ἐπιτρέπω (epitrepō, G2010 — to permit, entrust)
Occurrences: 3 in NT (3 unique verses across 3 books)
First Occurrence: Mat 20:8 — "the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

From ἐπί (G1909) and τρέπω (G5157, in the sense of G2011); a commissioner, i.e. domestic manager, guardian, steward.

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

Domain 36: Guide, Discipline, Follow
Subdomain 36.001: Guide, Lead
Domain 37: Control, Rule
Subdomain 37.004: Rule, Govern
Glosses: foreman, guardian, leader
Other words in 36.001: ἄγω (agō G71), ἀρχηγός (archēgos G747), ἡγέομαι (hēgeomai G2233), κατευθύνω (kateuthynō G2720), κυβέρνησις (kybernēsis G2941), ὁδηγός (hodēgos G3595), παιδαγωγός (paidagōgos G3807), πατήρ (patēr G3962), ποιμαίνω (poimainō G4165)

Domain Neighbors (36.001 — Guide, Lead)¶

Strong's	Lemma	Total Verses	Primary KJV Translation(s)
G71	ἄγω (agō)	17	brought
G747	ἀρχηγός (archēgos)	3	Prince
G2233	ἡγέομαι (hēgeomai)	8	count, have the rule
G2720	κατευθύνω (kateuthynō)	3	direct, guide
G2941	κυβέρνησις (kybernēsis)	1	governments
G3595	ὁδηγός (hodēgos)	4	guides
G3807	παιδαγωγός (paidagōgos)	3	schoolmaster, instructors
G3962	πατήρ (patēr)	315	Father, father
G4165	ποιμαίνω (poimainō)	5	Feed, shall rule
G4274	πρόδρομος (prodromos)	1	forerunner
G4291	προΐστημι (proistēmi)	4	to maintain, one that ruleth

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Count	%
steward	2	66.7%
tutors	1	33.3%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Galatians	1	0.7
Matthew	1	0.1
Luke	1	0.1

One occurrence per book, spread across a Gospel narrative (Matthew), a historical note (Luke), and a doctrinal epistle (Galatians). No concentration in any genre or author.

Grammatical Forms¶

Reference	Form	Parsing
Mat 20:8	ἐπιτρόπῳ	Dat Sg M — indirect object ("saith unto his steward")
Luk 8:3	ἐπιτρόπου	Gen Sg M — possessive genitive ("Herod's steward")
Gal 4:2	ἐπιτρόπους	Acc Pl M — object of preposition ("under tutors")

Semantic Categories¶

1. Estate Steward — Manager of Property and Workers¶

Mat 20:8 — "So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first."

The epitropos acts as the vineyard owner's authorized representative, managing workers and distributing wages. He exercises delegated authority on behalf of an absent or withdrawn master.

2. Royal/Household Steward — Administrative Official¶

Luk 8:3 — "And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance."

Chuza held the position of epitropos to Herod Antipas — a high-ranking administrative role managing royal household affairs or finances. The term here denotes an official appointment with real authority.

3. Legal Guardian — Custodian of a Minor¶

Gal 4:2 — "But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father."

Paired with οἰκονόμος (oikonomos, "governors"), the epitropos here refers to the legal guardian of an underage heir. The role is temporary — it lasts only "until the time appointed of the father." Paul uses this to illustrate the believer's pre-faith status under the law.

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
κύριος (kyrios)	G2962	1x	"the lord... saith unto his steward" — master-steward relationship
οἰκονόμος (oikonomos)	G3623	1x	"under tutors and governors" — paired authority figures over a minor
πατήρ (patēr)	G3962	1x	"until the time appointed of the father" — father sets guardian's term
Ἡρώδης (Hērōdēs)	G2264	1x	"Herod's steward" — royal employer of the epitropos
ἀμπελών (ampelōn)	G290	1x	"lord of the vineyard... his steward" — agricultural estate context
μισθός (misthos)	G3408	1x	"give them their hire" — steward distributes wages

With only 3 verses, collocations reflect the three distinct usage contexts rather than statistical patterns. The consistent thread: the epitropos always acts under someone else's authority (lord, Herod, father).

Word Family / Cognates¶

G2010 ἐπιτρέπω (epitrepō) — to permit, allow, entrust (19 occ.) — root verb
G2011 ἐπιτροπή (epitropē) — permission, commission (1 occ., Acts 26:12) — cognate noun denoting the authority granted

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
οἰκονόμος (oikonomos)	G3623	"steward" (3x)	oikonomos = house-manager focused on financial administration; epitropos = broader commissioner/guardian with legal authority over persons or property
παιδαγωγός (paidagōgos)	G3807	both in guardian/custodial role (Gal 3-4)	paidagōgos = child-escort/supervisor, a household servant; epitropos = legal guardian with formal authority appointed by the father
οἰκονομέω (oikonoméō)	G3621	"steward" (1x)	verb form: to manage a household; epitropos is a personal title/role, not an action

Semantic Domain¶

[036] Guide, Discipline, Follow — groups epitropos with words for leading and guiding
[037] Control, Rule — groups epitropos with words for governing and administering