Bible Dictionary
Guest-chamber
A guest-chamber was a room set apart for visitors, often used for eating or lodging. Jesus directed His disciples to prepare such a room for the Passover meal.
Definition
A guest-chamber was a room set apart for visitors, especially a room used for eating or lodging. In an Eastern dwelling it was commonly a spare room on an upper floor.
Biblical Usage
Jesus directed His disciples to prepare the guest-chamber for the Passover meal. The same Greek word can also mean an inn, but in the relevant Gospel passages it denotes a dining room.
Historical Background
The Hebrew term may describe a room used for sacrificial feasts. The Greek kataluma is related to lodging and, in these passages, has the narrower sense of a room in which to eat.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The spare room on the upper floor of an Eastern dwelling (Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11). In Luke 2:7 the word is translated “inn” (q.v.).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>gest'-cham-ber: The translation of</p><p>(1) (lishkah) (1Sa 9:22, the King James Version "parlor"), and</p><p>(2) (kataluma) (Mr 14:14 parallel Lu 22:11).</p><p>The lishkah was probably a room in which the sacrificial feasts were held. Kataluma is derived from kataluo, which means "to slacken," i.e. the ropes of the beasts of burden, and hence, "to lodge." Kataluma has accordingly often the sense of "inn," but as used in Mr and Lu it has the narrower meaning of a room in which to eat.</p>