verb
katoikamō
Strong’sG2730
I dwell in, settle in, inhabit
stem katoik-44 times in the New Testamentin 8 of 27 books14 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
To dwell in, inhabit, or settle in a place — used both of living somewhere permanently and of taking up residence in a location 124. It can take a place as a direct object (to inhabit a city or land) or be used without an object, often followed by a preposition meaning "in" or "into," describing where someone settles or lives 1. It is also used of demons dwelling in a person 1, and generally of residing or being an inhabitant of somewhere 23.
The same word is also used figuratively of divine indwelling — of Christ, the Spirit, the fullness of deity, or righteousness dwelling within a person or place 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
κατ-οικέω, -ῶ,
[in LXX very freq. and nearly always for ישׁב;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2730 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
settle in, colonize, πόλιν Refs 5th c.BC+; τοῖς κατοικεῖν ἐθέλουσι τὰν πόλιν Decrees Byzantine cited in Refs 4th c.BC+: generally, inhabit, τόπους Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.:— passive, to be dwelt in or inhabited, opposed to κατοικίζομαι (to be just founded), Refs 4th c.BC+
2 absolutely, settle, dwell, ζητοῦσα.. ποῦ κατοικοίης Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐν δόμοις, ἐν ἄστεσι, NT+5th c.BC+; especially of non-citizens, Ἐφέσιοι καὶ οἱ -οῦντες Refs 4th c.BC+:—perfect and pluperfect passive, to have been planted or settled, κατὰ κώμας Refs 5th c.BC+; κ.νῆσον, τὴν μεσόγειαν, Refs 5th c.BC+
II administer, govern, οἱ τὰς πόλεις -οῦντες Refs 5th c.BC+ —more frequently in passive, κατῴκηνται καλῶςRefs 5th c.BC+; ὀρθῶς κ., of Sparta, Refs 5th c.BC+
III intransitive of cities, lie, be siluated, ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις Refswhich are situated in.., Refs 5th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| katoikasōκατοικεῖς | happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular | dwell | 1× |
| katoikatōκατοικεῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | live | 7× |
| katoikavōκατοικεῖτε | happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural | living | 1× |
| katoikataκατῴκησεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | lived | 3× |
| katoikarōκατοικεῖν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | live | 1× |
| katoikaraκατοικῆσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | dwell | 3× |
| katoikarōntosκατοικῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | live | 1× |
| katoikarōntoκατοικοῦντι | happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular masculine | dwells | 1× |
| katoikarōntoisκατοικοῦντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | live | 8× |
| katoikarōntoinκατοικοῦντας | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine | dwell | 9× |
| katoikarōntoirκατοικοῦντες | happening now · direct addresspresent active participle vocative plural masculine | live in | 1× |
| katoikarōntoiuκατοικούντων | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine | dwell | 2× |
| katoikarōntoiκατοικοῦσιν | happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative plural masculine | live | 5× |
| katoikarantosκατοικήσας | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | living | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 12 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katoikamō | katoikame | katoikami | katoikama | katoikamē | katoikamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | katoikasō1×κατοικεῖς | katoikase | katoikasi | katoikasa | katoikasē | katoikaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katoikatō7×κατοικεῖ | katoikate | katoikati | katoikata3×κατῴκησεν | katoikatē | katoikatelē |
| we 1st person plural | katoikanō | katoikane | katoikani | katoikana | katoikanē | katoikanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | katoikavō1×κατοικεῖτε | katoikave | katoikavi | katoikava | katoikavē | katoikavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | katoikalō | katoikale | katoikali | katoikala | katoikalē | katoikalelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katoikameiō | katoikameia | katoikameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | katoikaseiō | katoikaseia | katoikaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katoikateiō | katoikateia | katoikateiē |
| we 1st person plural | katoikaneiō | katoikaneia | katoikaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | katoikaveiō | katoikaveia | katoikaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | katoikaleiō | katoikaleia | katoikaleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | katoikasōr | katoikasar | katoikasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katoikatōr | katoikatar | katoikatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | katoikavōr | katoikavar | katoikavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | katoikalōr | katoikalar | katoikalēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | katoikamoiō | katoikamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | katoikasoiō | katoikasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | katoikatoiō | katoikatoia |
| we 1st person plural | katoikanoiō | katoikanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | katoikavoiō | katoikavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | katoikaloiō | katoikaloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | katoikarō1×κατοικεῖν | katoikari | katoikara3×κατοικῆσαι | katoikarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 28 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | katoikarōntos27×κατοικῶν | katoikarintos | katoikarantos1×κατοικήσας | katoikarēntos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
katoik is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
44 occurrences, every one of them listed
katoikasō“dwell”happening now · youpresent active indicative 2nd person singular1×
Revelation 2:13“dwell”Oidamē pou katoikasō, hopou tos thronos tou Satanou, kai …I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits, yet you hold …
katoikatō“live”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular7×
Matthew 12:45“live”… hetereim pneumeim ponērotereim heauteu, kai eisercharanteim katoikatō ekei; kai genotō teim eschateim tou …… it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first. So …
Luke 11:26“live”… pneumeim ponērotereim heauteu hepta, kai eisercharanteim katoikatō ekei, kai genotō teim eschateim tou …… and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”
Acts 7:48alla ouk tos hupsistos en cheiropoiētoi katoikatō; kathōs tos profētos legatō;However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands …
Acts 17:24… huparcharōntos kurios ouk en cheiropoiētoi naoi katoikatō… heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
Colossians 2:9hoti en auto katoikatō pantem tem plērōmem tau theotau sōmatikōs,… all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
2 Peter 3:13… epangelmem autou prosdokanō, en hoi dikaiosunas katoikatō.… and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Revelation 2:13“lives”… apoktenita para vi, hopou tos Satanos katoikatō.… who was killed among you where Satan dwells.
katoikavō“living”happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural1×
Acts 7:4… gēan houtan eis han vis nun katoikavō,… this land where you are now living.
katoikata“lived”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular3×
Matthew 2:23kai ercharantos katoikata eis polan legorōntan Nazaret, hopōs plēriteia …and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So …
Matthew 4:13kai kataleiparantos tan Nazara ercharantos katoikata eis Kafarnaoum tan parathalassian en horei …Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the …
Acts 7:4tote exercharantos ek gēau Chaldaioiu katoikata en Charran. kakeithen meta tem apothnēskara …… the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died …
katoikarō“live”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive1×
Acts 17:26“live”… tē ek henou pantem ethnem anthrōpoiu katoikarō epi panteu prosōpeu tau gēau, horizarantos …From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed …
katoikara“dwell”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive3×
Acts 7:2… arōnto en ta Mesopotamia prin ē katoikara auton en Charran,… was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
Ephesians 3:17katoikara ton Christon dia tau pistiau en …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then …
Colossians 1:19… en auto eudokata pantem tem plērōmem katoikara… pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
katoikarōntos“live”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Acts 1:20“live”… autou erēmas kai mē atōr tos katoikarōntos en auta, kai; Tan episkopan autou …… Psalms: ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ‘May another take his position.’
katoikarōnto“dwells”happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative singular masculine1×
Matthew 23:21… omnuatō en auto kai en to katoikarōnto auton;… it and by the One who dwells in it.
katoikarōntois“live”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine8×
Acts 2:5“staying”Ale de en Ierousalēm katoikarōntois Ioudaiois, androis eulabois apo panteu ethneu …Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:9… kai Mēdois kai Elamitois, kai tois katoikarōntois tan Mesopotamian, Ioudaian tē kai Kappadokian, …Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus …
Acts 9:35kai horala auton pantois tois katoikarōntois Luddan kai ton Sarōnon, hotinois epistrefala …and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him …
Acts 13:27“live”tois gar katoikarōntois en Ierousalēm kai tois archontois autoiu …The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him …
Revelation 11:10kai tois katoikarōntois epi tau gēau chairalō epi autoi …And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over …
Revelation 13:8kai proskunali auton pantois tois katoikarōntois epi tau gēau, hou ouk grafotē …And all who dwell on the earth will worship the …
Revelation 17:2“inhabitants”… basilevois tau gēau, kai methuila tois katoikarōntois tan gēan ek tou oinou tau …The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her …
Revelation 17:8“live”… eis apōleian hupagatō; kai thaumazili tois katoikarōntois epi tau gēau, hoiu ouk grafotē …… Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet …
katoikarōntoin“dwell”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine9×
Luke 13:4“live in”… genela para pantoin toin anthrōpoin toin katoikarōntoin Ierousalēm?… that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem?
Acts 9:22“lived”… endunamote kai sunchate toin Ioudaioin toin katoikarōntoin en Damaska, sumbibazarōntos hoti houtos atō …… the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
Acts 9:32“lived”… katerchara kai pros toin hagioin toin katoikarōntoin Luddan.… he went to visit the saints in Lydda.
Acts 19:10“residents”… epi eteim duo, hōste pantoin toin katoikarōntoin tan Asian akouara ton logon tou …This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.
Revelation 3:10… epi tau oikoumenau holau, peirazara toin katoikarōntoin epi tau gēau.… whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 8:13“inhabitants”… fōna mega; Ouai ouai ouai toin katoikarōntoin epi tau gēau ek taiu loipaiu …… in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the remaining three angels!”
Revelation 11:10“dwell”… houtois tois duo profētois basanizala toin katoikarōntoin epi tau gēau.… gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.
Revelation 13:12“inhabitants”… tan gēan kai toin en auta katoikarōntoin hina proskunali tem thērem tem prōtem, …… and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal …
Revelation 13:14kai planatō toin katoikarōntoin epi tau gēau dia teim sēmeim …… first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to …
katoikarōntoir“live in”happening now · direct addresspresent active participle vocative plural masculine1×
Acts 2:14“live in”… apofthengeta autoi; Androir Ioudaioir kai tois katoikarōntoir Ierousalēm pantoir, houtem vi gnōstem atōr …… voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen …
katoikarōntoiu“dwell”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine2×
Acts 22:12… ton nomon marturorōntos hupo pantoiu toiu katoikarōntoiu Ioudaioiu,… highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
Revelation 6:10… ekdikasō tem haimem nu ek toiu katoikarōntoiu epi tau gēau?… true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our …
katoikarōntoi“live”happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative plural masculine5×
Acts 1:19“residents”kai gnōstem geneta pantoi toi katoikarōntoi Ierousalēm, hōste kalira tem chōriem ekeinem …This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their …
Acts 4:16“live”… sēmem genatē dia autoiu pantoi toi katoikarōntoi Ierousalēm fanerem, kai ouk dunonō arnorō;… living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.
Acts 11:29… hekastos autoiu eis diakonian pempara toi katoikarōntoi en ta Ioudaia adelfoi;… to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
Acts 19:17“lived in”… pantoi Ioudaioi tē kai Hellēnoi toi katoikarōntoi tan Efesan, kai epipiptata fobos epi …… known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over …
Revelation 13:14“live”… poiara enōpion teu thēreu, legarōntos toi katoikarōntoi epi tau gēau poiara eikonan te …… given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and …
katoikarantos“living”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Hebrews 11:9“living”… tau epangeliau hōs allotrian, en skēnai katoikarantos meta Isaak kai Iakōb toiu sunklēronomoiu …… dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.