STRONGS NUMBER G755

Original Word: ἀρχιτρίκλινος
Transliteration: architriklinos
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-khee-tree'-klee-nos)
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Short Definition: the superintendent of a banquet
Meaning: headwaiter -- the superintendent of a banquetgovernor of the feast.

From arche and a compound of treis and klino (a dinner-bed, because composed of three couches); director of the entertainment -- governor (ruler) of the feast.

see GREEK arche

see GREEK treis

see GREEK klino

STRONGS NT 755: ἀρχιτρίκλινος

ἀρχιτρίκλινος, ἀρχιτρικλινου, ὁ (τρικλινον (or τρίκλινος (namely, οἶκος), a room with three couches)), the superintendent of a dining-room, a τρικλιναρχης, table-master: John 2:8f (cf. B. D. under the word ). It differs from the master of a feast, συμποσιαρχης, toast-master, who was one of the guests selected by lot to prescribe to the rest the mode of drinking; cf. Sir. 35:1 (Sir. 32:1). But it was the duty of the ἀρχιτρίκλινος to place in order the tables and couches, arrange the courses, taste the food and wine beforehand, etc. (Heliodorus 7, 27) (Some regard the distinction between the two words as obliterated in later Greek; cf. Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word, and Schaff's Lange's Commentary on John, the passage cited.)