Someone who looks after property in business (1 Kgs. 16: 9) or a city treasury (Rom. 16: 23). Jesus told a parable (Luke 16: 1–8) of the Unjust Steward (‘manager’, NRSV). The word is also used in a metaphorical sense; a steward of divine mysteries (1 Cor. 4: 1) is one who has a divine commission in charge of the revelation. So Paul saw himself as a steward (1 Cor. 9: 17) who would one day have to give an account of his stewardship (1 Cor. 4: 3–4).

The OT does not imply that individuals have land or possessions on trust for God, with a responsibility of stewardship. But it does emphasize that land was passed on from generation to generation, so that Naboth resists King Ahab's desire to acquire his vineyard (I Kgs. 21).