Royal Steward’s Tale: Χουζᾶς (Strong’s G5529: Chouzas) Manages Herod’s House

Strong’s G5529: A proper noun of uncertain etymology, possibly derived from Aramaic, referring to Chuza, the steward or manager of Herod Antipas’s household. He was the husband of Joanna, who supported Jesus’s ministry. His position reflects divine providence working through influential positions.

U – Unveiling the Word

Χουζᾶς (Chouzas) emerges in Scripture as a significant figure despite his single mention. As the steward of Herod Antipas’s household, he held a position of considerable influence and responsibility. His connection to Jesus’s ministry through his wife Joanna demonstrates how the Messiah’s influence penetrated even the highest levels of society. The fact that his wife supported Jesus financially and personally suggests that Chuza may have been sympathetic to or even supportive of Jesus’s ministry, showing how the gospel reached into the very household of one of its potential opponents. This dynamic illustrates how God’s kingdom advances through unexpected channels and influential positions.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Χουζᾶς, Chouzas, /khou-ZAS/
• Detailed pronunciation: khoo-ZAHS (emphasis on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (Masculine)

Etymology:

• Likely of Aramaic origin
• Possible connection to Aramaic כוזא (kūzā), meaning “pitcher” or “vessel”
• May relate to Persian ganza meaning “treasure” or “treasury”

D – Defining Meanings

• Manager or steward of a royal household
• Administrator of domestic affairs
• Overseer of royal property

For compound words: Not applicable as this is a proper noun of Aramaic origin

Translation Options:

• Chuza – Most common transliteration, preserving the original name
• Chouzas – More literal transliteration of the Greek
• Steward – Functional translation emphasizing his role

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἐπίτροπος (epitropos) /e-PI-tro-pos/ – More general term for steward or manager See G2012
• οἰκονόμος (oikonomos) /oi-ko-NO-mos/ – Household manager or steward See G3623

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Case: Nominative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: First declension

As a proper noun, Χουζᾶς follows first declension patterns:

• Nominative: Χουζᾶς
• Genitive: Χουζᾶ
• Dative: Χουζᾷ
• Accusative: Χουζᾶν

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical sources provide limited but valuable insights into Χουζᾶς. BDAG identifies him specifically as Herod’s ἐπίτροπος, indicating his role as a high-ranking official. Thayer’s emphasizes his connection to Herod Antipas and his wife Joanna’s discipleship. The position of ἐπίτροπος, according to LSJ, carried significant administrative responsibility in Hellenistic households. Vine’s notes the significance of his wife’s support of Jesus’s ministry, suggesting possible indirect influence of the gospel in Herod’s court. Strong’s confirms the Aramaic origin, while Moulton and Milligan provide evidence of similar names in contemporary papyri.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Luke 8:3: “and Joanna the wife of Chuza [Χουζᾶς], Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.”

Additional References:
No additional references in Scripture.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Χουζᾶς represents a fascinating intersection of secular power and spiritual influence in the early Christian movement. As Herod’s steward, he occupied a position of significant responsibility and trust within the political establishment. Through his wife Joanna’s active support of Jesus’s ministry, we see how the gospel penetrated even the highest levels of society. This reminds us that God’s kingdom advances through people in all walks of life, even those connected to powers that might seem opposed to the gospel. His story encourages believers today that their professional positions, whatever they may be, can serve God’s purposes.

D – Did You Know?

• Chuza’s position would have given him control over vast resources and significant influence in Herod’s court
• His wife Joanna was one of the women who discovered Jesus’s empty tomb
• The name Chuza appears in ancient Middle Eastern inscriptions, suggesting its widespread use in the region

Strong’s G5529: A proper noun of uncertain etymology, possibly derived from Aramaic, referring to Chuza, the steward or manager of Herod Antipas’s household. He was the husband of Joanna, who supported Jesus’s ministry. His position reflects divine providence working through influential positions.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: steward, manager, royal-court, Herod, biblical-names, aramaic-names, Luke, gospel, Christian-history, biblical-characters, kingdom-influence​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​