What is a Chamberlain?

The Trusted Official of the Royal Household

In the Bible, the term “chamberlain” refers to a high-ranking official who holds a position of trust, authority, and intimacy within a royal court or noble household.¹ The specific duties of a chamberlain could vary widely, depending on the context, but they generally involved managing the private affairs, chambers, and finances of the ruler.²

The King James Version (KJV) uses the word “chamberlain” to translate different underlying Hebrew and Greek words, giving it a range of meanings across the Old and New Testaments.

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I. The Old Testament Usage: The Saris (Eunuch or High Official)³

In the Old Testament, the primary Hebrew word often translated as “chamberlain” is saris (⁴$\text{סָרִיס}$).⁵

• The Primary Meaning (Eunuch): The literal and most common meaning of saris is a eunuch—a castrated male.⁶ In ancient Near Eastern courts (particularly in Persia and Babylon), eunuchs were placed in charge of the royal harem and the king’s private chambers to ensure fidelity and prevent dynastic ambition.⁷
  • Example: Hegai, the keeper of the women’s house, and the seven chamberlains who served King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) in the book of Esther (Esther 1:10; 2:3, KJV) were eunuchs.
• The Secondary Meaning (High Official): Over time, saris became a general title for any high-ranking government official or court officer, whether they were physically eunuchs or not.⁸ Their power was derived from their direct access to the king’s private life.
  • Example: Nathan-Melech, mentioned during the reign of King Josiah (2 Kings 23:11, KJV), is identified as a chamberlain whose chamber was near the Temple.⁹

The word’s flexibility is highlighted in Isaiah 56:3-5 (KJV), where the prophet speaks of a future blessing for the eunuch who keeps God’s covenant, promising them a “better” name than that of sons and daughters.

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II. The New Testament Usage: The Oikonomos (Steward or Treasurer)¹⁰

In the New Testament, two different Greek words are translated as “chamberlain”:

• 1. Oikonomos (¹¹$\text{οἰκονόμος}$): This word literally means “house-manager” or “steward” and is used in a financial or administrative sense.¹²
  • Example: Erastus the chamberlain (Romans 16:23, KJV) is described as the city treasurer or public steward of Corinth.¹³ This was a significant municipal office, and his inclusion in Paul’s salutations shows the Gospel had reached high civic positions.
• 2. Ho epi tou koitōnos tou basileōs (¹⁴$\text{ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ κοιτῶνος τοῦ βασιλέως}$): This is a descriptive phrase meaning “he who is over the king’s bed-chamber.”¹⁵
  • Example: Blastus the king’s chamberlain (Acts 12:20, KJV) was the personal attendant or valet-de-chambre to Herod Agrippa I.¹⁶ His role was one of great intimacy and influence, enabling him to act as an influential intermediary in diplomatic matters (as he did for the people of Tyre and Sidon who sought peace with Herod).¹⁷

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III. Significance of the Chamberlain

The figure of the chamberlain is significant because the office invariably placed the individual close to the seat of worldly power, making them influential in the governance and daily operations of the monarchy.¹⁸

• Influence and Intrigue: Chamberlains were often involved in political matters, as seen with Blastus, who was instrumental in brokering peace, and the chamberlains in Esther’s court who were aware of the plots against the king.¹⁹
• The Gospel’s Reach: The conversion of individuals in these positions—like Erastus the city treasurer, or the unnamed Ethiopian Eunuch (a high treasury official for Queen Candace, Acts 8:27, KJV), whose name is also derived from saris—demonstrates the power of the Gospel to penetrate the highest levels of society.

The biblical chamberlain is thus a figure of confidential service and authority, often operating at the intersection of private affairs and public policy, whose influence could be used for good or ill.²⁰