an adjective, signifying "in bondage," Rom 6:19 (neuter plural, agreeing with mele, "members"), is used as a noun, and as the most common and general word for "servant," frequently indicating subjection without the idea of bondage; it is used (a) of natural conditions, e.g., Mat 8:9, 1Co 1:7-22 (1st part); Eph 6:5, Col 4:1, 1Ti 6:1; frequently in the four Gospels; (b) metaphorically of spiritual, moral and ethical conditions: "servants" (1) of God, e.g., Act 16:17, Tit 1:1, 1Pe 2:16, Rev 7:3, Rev 15:3; the perfect example being Christ Himself, Phi 2:7; (2) of Christ, e.g., Rom 1:1, 1Co 7:22 (2nd part); Gal 1:10, Eph 6:6, Phi 1:1, Col 4:12, Jam 1:1, 2Pe 1:1, Jud 1:1; (3) of sin, Joh 8:34 (RV, "bondservants"); Rom 6:17, Rom 6:20; (4) of corruption, 2Pe 2:19 (RV, "bondservants"); cp. the verb douloo (see B). See BONDMAN.
for which see DEACON and Note there on synonymous words, is translated "servant" or "servants" in Mat 22:13 (RV marg., "ministers"); Mat 23:11 (RV marg., ditto); Mar 9:35, AV (RV, "minister"); Joh 2:5, Joh 2:9, Joh 12:26, Rom 16:1. for which see CHILD, No. 4, also denotes "an attendant;" it is translated "servant" (a) of natural conditions, in Mat 8:6, Mat 8:8, Mat 8:13, Mat 14:2, Luk 7:7 ("menservants" in Luk 12:45); Luk 15:26; (b) of spiritual relation to God, (1) of Israel, Luk 1:54; (2) of David, Luk 1:69, Act 4:25; (3) of Christ, so declared by God the Father, Mat 12:18; spoken of in prayer, Act 4:27, Act 4:30, RV (AV, "child"); the argument advanced by Dalman for the rendering "Child" in these passages, is not sufficiently valid as against the RV, "Servant" in Acts 4, and the AV and RV in Matt. 12 (cp., e.g., the use of pais in the Sept. of Gen 41:38, Jer 36:24). The Matt. 12 passage by direct quotation, and the Acts 4 passages by implication, refer to the ideal "Servant of Jehovah" (Sept., pais Kuriou), of Isa 42:1 and following passages, thus identifying the Servant with the Lord Jesus; for the same identification, cp. Act 8:35. "a house servant" (oikeo, "to dwell," oikos, "a house"), is translated "servant" in Luk 16:13 (RV marg., "household servant"); so Rom 14:4, 1Pe 2:18; in Act 10:7, AV and RV, "household servants." for which see MINISTER, No. 3, and OFFICER, is translated "servants" in the AV of Mat 26:58, Mar 14:65 (RV, "officers"); in Joh 18:36, AV and RV (RV, marg., "officers"). akin to therapeuo, "to serve, to heal, an attendant, servant," is a term of dignity and freedom, used of Moses in Heb 3:5. "a fellow servant," is used (a) of natural conditions, Mat 1:18-29, Mat 18:31, Mat 18:33, Mat 24:49; (b) of "servants" of the same Divine Lord, Col 1:7, Col 4:7, Rev 6:11; of angels, Rev 19:10, Rev 22:9. Note: For misthios and misthotos, see HIRED SERVANT. "to enslave, to bring into bondage" (akin to A, No. 1), e.g., 1Co 9:19, RV, "I brought (myself) under bondage (to all)," AV, "I made myself servant," denotes in the Passive Voice, "to be brought into bondage, to become a slave or servant," rendered "ye became servants (of righteousness)" in Rom 6:18; "being ... become servants (to God)," Rom 6:22. See BONDAGE, B, No. 2.
