OVERSEER ō’ vər sĭ ər, ō’ vər se er (פָּקַד, H7212, to visit, נָצַח, H5904, to be pre-eminent, שֹׁטֵר, H8854, scribe; ἐπίσκοπος, G2176, watcher).

In the OT overseership is built on the concept of authoritative visitation in all but three cases (2 Chron 2:18; 34:13; Prov 6:7). “Overseers” had charge of the workmen in the construction of Solomon’s Temple (2 Chron 2:18) and those involved with repairing the Temple under Josiah’s auspices (2 Chron 34:12, 13, 17). Joseph was given oversight of Potiphar’s house (Gen 39:4, 5) and suggested to Pharaoh the appointment of overseers throughout Egypt (Gen 41:34). Officers with the same title were active in helping rule the remnant in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity (Neh 11:9, 14, 22; 12:42) and will also be found among Israel during her future time of restoration (Isa 60:17). Hezekiah also provided for overseers of the tithes and offerings brought to the Temple (2 Chron 31:13). For the ants there is no overseer (Prov 6:7).

In the NT the KJV gives “overseer” once (Acts 20:28). In this instance it is descriptive of the function of elders in the Ephesian church. The RSV in its text gives no place to “overseer,” but in its margin of Philippians 1:1 does give it as an alternative tr. for “bishop.” Both KJV and RSV might well have used “overseer” in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:7 instead of “bishop,” where the same word episkopos refers to the same church officer as in Acts 20:28 and Philippians 1:1. The same tr. might have been utilized in the reference to Christ in 1 Peter 2:25 (KJV, “Bishop”; RSV, “Guardian”).