Dictionaries :: Chamberlain

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Chamberlain:

a confidential servant of the king (Gen 37:36; 39:1). In Rom. 16:23 mention is made of "Erastus the chamberlain." Here the word denotes the treasurer of the city, or the quaestor, as the Romans styled him. He is almost the only convert from the higher ranks of whom mention is made (Act 17:34). Blastus, Herod's "chamberlain" (Act 12:20), was his personal attendant or valet-de-chambre. The Hebrew word saris, thus translated in Est 1:10, 15; 2:3, 14, 21, etc., properly means an eunuch (as in the marg.), as it is rendered in Isa 39:7; 56:3.

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Chamberlain:

cham'-ber-lin: In the Old Testament the word rendered chamberlain, caric, is more properly "eunuch," an officer which oriental monarchs placed over their harems (Es 1:10,12,15; 2:3,14,21; 4:4 f; 6:2,14; 7:9; 2Ki 23:11). This officer seems also to have had other duties. See under EUNUCH. In the New Testament:

(1) oikonomos, literally manager of the household, apparently the "treasurer" as in the Revised Version (British and American) "Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you" (Ro 16:23). Compare adapted use as applied to Christian apostles and teachers, bishops, and even to individual members; in which cases, rendered "stewards" (1Co 4:1; Tit 1:7; 1Pe 4:10).

(2) In Ac 12:20, "Blastus the king's chamberlain" (ho epi toa koitonos tou basileos, "he who is over the king's bed-chamber"), not treasure-chamber, as above; here praefectus cubiculo, or chief valet de chambre to the royal person, a position involving much honor and intimacy.

Written by Edward Bagby Pollard

King James Dictionary

Chamberlain: Eunuch, or Chief Servant.

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven CHAMBERLAINS that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. (Esther 1:10-11)

Nave's Topical Bible

Chamberlain: An Officer of a King

2Ki 23:11; Est 1:10-15; 2:3-21; 4:4, 5; Act 12:20; Rom 16:23

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Chamberlain:

lit., "the (one) over the bedchamber" (epi, "over," koiton, "a bedchamber"), denotes "a chamberlain," an officer who had various duties in the houses of kings and nobles. The importance of the position is indicated by the fact that the people of Tyre and Sidon sought the favor of Herod Agrippa through the mediation of Blastus, Act 12:20.

Note: In Rom 16:23, oikonomos, "a person who manages the domestic affairs of a family, in general, a manager, a steward," is translated "chamberlain" in the AV, which the RV corrects to "treasurer."

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Chamberlain:

an officer attached to the court of a king, who formerly had charge of the private apartments or chambers of the palace. He kept the accounts of the public revenues. The office held by Blastus, "the king's chamberlain," was entirely different from this (Acts 12:20). It was a post of honor which involved great intimacy and influence with the king. For chamberlain as used in the Old Testament, SEE [EUNUCH].