Χουζᾶς
Chuza
Definition
Χουζᾶς (Chuza) is a proper noun referring to a specific individual mentioned only once in the New Testament. He is identified as the steward (ἐπίτροπος, epitropos) of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. As a steward, Chuza was likely a high-ranking household manager or financial officer responsible for Herod's estate and affairs. His wife, Joanna, is noted as one of the women who provided for Jesus and his disciples out of their own resources (Luke 8:3).
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:3. It functions solely as a proper name to identify the husband of Joanna, a follower of Jesus. The usage provides a specific, historical anchor point, connecting Jesus's ministry to the court of Herod Antipas through a named individual of some social standing.
Etymology
Χουζᾶς (Chouzās) is a Greek transliteration of a Semitic (likely Aramaic) name. Its exact meaning is uncertain, though some scholars suggest it may be related to a word for 'jug' or 'pitcher'. As a proper name borrowed into Greek, it carries no inherent lexical meaning beyond identifying the person.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its mention is significant. It highlights the diverse social composition of Jesus's followers, which included women of means connected to a hostile political court (Herod's). This underscores the gospel's reach across social boundaries and the personal commitment required, as Joanna supported Jesus despite her husband's association with a ruler who later sought to kill him (Luke 13:31).
As the 'steward of Herod,' Chuza held a position of significant trust and responsibility in the Herodian administration. This was a role of considerable social status and wealth in the 1st-century Roman client-kingdom system. His wife's independent use of resources to support an itinerant preacher like Jesus would have been a notable cultural action, potentially reflecting personal conviction over social convention.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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