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No.2
The occurrences of oikoumene in the Septuagint.
pp. 198 - 200
We have considered the use of the word oikoumene in the New Testament, but before
we can arrive at a conclusion, an examination of its Hebrew equivalent is called for. The
following words are translated oikoumene in the 70:
(1) Erets "earth". This word has a wide significance. It is used of the earth in its
fullest meaning, as in Gen. 1: 1, to the more restricted meaning "the dry land" as in
Gen. 1: 10, to a particular "land" (Gen. 2: 13), to the different lands apportioned to the
Gentiles (Gen. 10: 5), to a piece of ground that could be bought for a burial ground
(Gen. 23: 15), or to the ground upon which one stands (Gen. 44: 11). None of these
references are translated oikoumene, they are given here, in the first place, to indicate the
nature of the Hebrew word that is later on so translated. But, inasmuch as oikoumene
does translate the Hebrew word erets in some places it will be realized that it is possible
that any use of these meanings may be intended. This of course must be settled by the
context.
(2) Baal "be married".
(3) Cheled. This word is derived from a root which means "to move quickly" and
gives its name to the weasel.
(4) Yashab "inhabited", from the primitive meaning "to dwell" Exod. 16: 35
"until they came to a land inhabited", so we see that the oikoumene here refers to Canaan,
as contrasted with the wilderness.
(5) Tebel. This word is important, and we will postpone an examination of its
bearing upon our subject until we have given the usage of erets as it is translated by
oikoumene , a fuller examination.
Erets "earth" is translated in the LXX oikoumene nine times, one occurrence being in
the Psalms, the rest in Isaiah. The passage in the Psalms comes in the great Psalm of
David "for Solomon", type of the greater Son of David "The King's Son". We must
remember, that however much the dominion of Christ may exceed that of Solomon, that
initially the terms used in this Psalm must have been true in Solomon's day.
"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the
earth" (Psa. 72: 8).
The extent of Solomon's kingdom is given:
"And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the
Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all
the days of his life . . . . . he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from
Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side of the river" (I Kings 4: 21, 24).