STEWARD (streerd), (usually Heb. sar, head person; Gr. irtrporos, efiftro-I5os, manager; obcovokios, oyk-o-no'nzos, overseer), one who manages or superintends the affairs of another.
Thus Eliezer was the steward of Abraham's house (Gen. xv :2) ; Christian ministers are the stewards of God over his church or family (Tit. i :7; t Cor. iv :1, 2), and believers are stewards of his gifts and graces; to dispense the benefits of them to the world (I Pet. iv :to).
On reading the parable of the unjust steward, who defrauds his principal by collusion with his debtors (Luke xvi), we find it concluded by what seems to be a strange expression (ver. 12) : "If ye have not been faithful in that which is an other man's, who shall give you that which is your own?" Certainly that which is a 11101I'S own he may naturally expect should be given him ; for who has a right to withhold it ? The propriety of the phrase, therefore, and the inferential connec tion of the sentiment with the parable, is not clear to a general reader ; but this kind of allowance, though appearing extremely singular to us, is both ancient and general in the East. It is found in the
Gentoo Laws (chap. ix) : "If a man has hired any person to conduct a trade for him, and no agree ment is made in regard to wages, in that case the person hired shall receive one tenth of the profit. If the person be hired to attend cattle, lie shall receive one tenth of the milk. If the person be hired for agriculture, one tenth of the crop. If he plow the ground, receiving victuals, one fifth of the crop; if he receive no victuals, one third." (Halhed's Code of Gcntoo Laws, p. 14o.)