HOUSEHOLDER (Gr. οἰκοδεσπότης, G3867), A word of the Hel. period meaning literally, “master of the house.” The term appears only in the synoptic gospels. It is applied to differentiate between employer and employee in Jesus’ parables (Matt 13:27, et al.). It is used also to describe Christ Himself in His overlordship of the kingdom of heaven (Luke 13:25). The Gr. term is tr. “householder” consistently by the RSV, but the KJV reads “householder” only in the Matthew occurrences, 13:27, 52; 20:1; 21:33. In the other passages the phrase “master of the house” appears.