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Servant

Servant [nave]

SERVANT
Distinguished as bond servant, who was a slave, and hired servant.
Bond
Laws of Moses concerning, Ex. 21:1-11, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6, 10, 35-55; Deut. 15:12, 14, 18; 24:7.
Kidnapping forbidden, Deut. 21:10-14; 24:7; 1 Tim. 1:10; Rev. 18:13.
Fugitive, not to be returned to master, Deut. 23:15, 16.
David erroneously supposed to be a fugitive slave, 1 Sam. 25:10.
Instances of fugitive: Hagar, commanded by an angel to return to her mistress, Gen. 16:9.
Sought by Shimei, 1 Kin. 2:39-41.
Interceded for, by Paul, Philem. 10-21.
Rights of those born to a master, Gen. 14:14; 17:13, 27; Ex. 21:4; Prov. 29:21; Eccl. 2:7; Jer. 2:14.
Bought and sold, Gen. 17:13, 27; 37:28, 36; 39:17; Deut. 28:68; Esth. 7:4; Ezek. 27:13; Joel 3:6; Amos 8:6; Rev. 18:13.
Captives of war made, Deut. 20:14; 21:10-14; 2 Kin. 5:2; 2 Chr. 28:8, 10; Lam. 5:13; captive bond servants shared by priests and Levites, Num. 31:28-47.
Thieves punished by being made, Gen. 43:18; Ex. 22:3.
Defaulting debtors made, Lev. 25:39; Matt. 18:25.
Children of defaulting debtors sold for, 2 Kin. 4:1-7.
Voluntary servitude of, Lev. 25:47; Deut. 15:16, 17; Josh. 9:11-21.
Given as dowry, Gen. 29:24, 29.
Owned by priests, Lev. 22:11; Mark 14:66.
Slaves owned slaves, 2 Sam. 9:10.
The master might marry, or give in marriage, Ex. 21:7-10; Deut. 21:10-14; 1 Chr. 2:34, 35.
Taken in concubinage, Gen. 16:1, 2, 6; 30:3, 9.
Used as soldiers by Abraham, Gen. 14:14.
Must be circumcised, Gen. 17:13, 27; Ex. 12:44.
Must enjoy religious privileges with the master's household, Deut. 12:12, 18; 16:11, 14; 29:10, 11.
Must have rest on the sabbath, Ex. 20:10; 23:12; Deut. 5:14.
Equal status of, with other disciples of Jesus, 1 Cor. 7:21, 22; 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 6:8.
Kindness to, enjoined, Lev. 25:43; Eph. 6:9.
Bond service threatened, as a national punishment, for disobedience of Israel, Deut. 28:68; Joel 3:7, 8.
Degrading influences of bondage exemplified by cowardice, Ex. 14:11, 12; 16:3; Judg. 5:16-18, 23.
Emancipation of, Ezra 1:1-4; Jer. 34:8-22; 1 Cor. 7:21.
Freedmen called Libertines, Acts 6:9.
Cruelty to: To Hagar, Gen. 16:1-21; Gal. 4:22-31; to the Israelites, Ex. 1:8-22; 2:1-4; Acts 7:19, 34.
Sick, abandoned, 1 Sam. 30:13.
Kindness to, by the centurion, Matt. 8:8-13; Luke 7:2-10; Paul, Philem. 1-21.
Instances of:
Joseph, Gen. 37:26-28, 36.
Israelites, Ex. 1:10-22; 5:7-14; Deut. 6:12, 21.
Gibeonites, Josh. 9:22-27.
Canaanites, 1 Kin. 9:21.
Jews in Babylon, 2 Chr. 36:20; Esth. 1-10.
Emancipation of, 2 Chr. 36:23; Ezra 1:1-4.
Figurative:
Lev. 25:42, 55; Psa. 116:16; Matt. 24:45-51; Luke 12:35-48; 17:7-9; John 8:32-35; Rom. 6:16-22; 1 Cor. 4:1; 7:21-23; Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:16; 2 Pet. 2:19; Rev. 7:3.
Instances of Good:
Joseph, Gen. 39:2-20; 41:9-57; Acts 7:10; Elisha, 2 Kin. 2:1-6.
Servants of Abraham, Gen. 24; of Boaz, Ruth 2:4; of Jonathan, 1 Sam. 14:7; of Abigail, 1 Sam. 25:14-17; of David, 2 Sam. 12:18; 15:15, 21; of Ziba, 2 Sam. 9; of Naaman, 2 Kin. 5:2, 3, 13; of Nehemiah, Neh. 4:16, 23; of centurion, Matt. 8:9; of Cornelius, Acts 10:7; Onesimus, Philem. 11.
Servants in the parable of the pounds and talents, Matt. 25:14-23; Luke 19:12-19.
Wicked and Unfaithful
Jeroboam, 1 Kin. 11:26; Gehazi, 2 Kin. 5:20-27; Zimri, 1 Kin. 16:9, 10; 2 Kin. 9:31; Onesimus, Philem. 11.
Of Abraham and Lot, Gen. 13:7.
Of Abimelech, Gen. 21:25.
Of Ziba, 2 Sam. 16:1-4, with 2 Sam. 19:26, 27.
Of Absalom, 2 Sam. 13:28, 29; 14:30.
Of Shimei, 1 Kin. 2:39.
Of Joash, 2 Kin. 12:19-21.
Of Amon, 2 Kin. 21:23.
Of Job, Job 19:15, 16.
In the parable of the talents and pounds, Matt. 25:24-30; Luke 19:20-26.
In the parable of the vineyard, Matt. 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-9.
Conspiracy by. See: Conspiracy.
Unclassified Scriptures Relating to
Gen. 16:6-9; Ex. 20:10 Deut. 5:14. Neh. 5:8; Job 19:15, 16; Job 31:13, 14; Psa. 123:2; Prov. 12:9; Prov. 13:17; Prov. 17:2; Prov. 19:10; Prov. 25:13; Prov. 26:6; Prov. 27:18, 27; Prov. 29:19, 21; Prov. 30:10, 21-23; Eccl. 7:21; Isa. 52:3; Jer. 22:13; Jer. 34:8-17; Lam. 5:8; Zeph. 1:9; Mal. 1:6; Matt. 8:9; Matt. 24:45-51; Luke 12:35-48; Luke 16:1-13; Luke 17:7-9; Luke 22:27; John 13:16 Matt. 10:24, 25. 1 Cor. 4:2; 1 Cor. 7:21-24; Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:22-25; 1 Tim. 6:1, 2; Tit. 2:9, 10; 1 Pet. 2:18-20 See: Employee; Employer; Master.
Hired
Jacob, Gen. 29:15; 30:26; reemployed, Gen. 30:27-34; 31:6, 7, 41.
Parable of laborers for a vineyard, Matt. 20:1-15; of the father of the prodigal son, Luke 15:17, 19.
The prodigal, Luke 15:15-19.
Treatment of, more considerate than that accorded slaves, Lev. 25:53.
Await employment in marketplace, Matt. 20:1-3.
Wages paid in kind, Gen. 30:31, 32; 2 Chr. 2:10; in money, Matt. 20:2.
Unclassified Scriptures Relating to
Lev. 19:13; Lev. 25:39-41; Deut. 24:14, 15; Job 7:1, 2; Job 14:6; Mal. 3:5; Matt. 10:9, 10 Luke 10:7. Rom. 4:4; Col. 4:1; 1 Tim. 5:18; Jas. 5:4 See: Masters; Wages.

SERVANT [smith]

[SLAVE]

SERVANT [isbe]

SERVANT - sur'-vant ('ebhedh; doulos): A very common word with a variety of meanings, all implying a greater or less degree of inferiority and want of freedom: (1) The most frequent usage is as the equivalent of "slave" (which see), with its various shades in position (Gen 9:25; 24:9; Ex 21:5; Mt 10:24; Lk 17:7, and often); but also a hired workman where "hired servant" translates Hebrew and Greek expressions which differ from the above. (2) An attendant in the service of someone, as Joshua was the "servant" the Revised Version (British and American) "minister" of Moses (Nu 11:28). (3) As a 'term of respectful self-depreciation referring to one's self, "thy servant." or "your servant" is used in place of the personal pronoun of the first person: (a) in the presence of superiors (Gen 19:2; 32:18, and often); (b) in addressing the Supreme Being (1 Sam 3:9; Ps 19:11; 27:9; Lk 2:29, and often). (4) Officials of every grade are called the "servants" of kings, princes, etc. (1 Sam 29:3; 2 Sam 16:1; 1 Ki 11:26; Prov 14:35, and often). (5) The position of a king in relation to his people (1 Ki 12:7). (6) One who is distinguished as obedient and faithful to God or Christ (Josh 1:2; 2 Ki 8:19; Dan 6:20; Col 4:12; 2 Tim 2:24). (7) One who is enslaved by sin (Jn 8:34).

William Joseph Mcglothlin

SERVANT [bridgeway]

Old and New Testaments alike use the one word ‘servant’ to translate a variety of words from the original languages. In many cases the word ‘servant’ is really ‘slave’.

In English ‘slaves’ and ‘servants’ suggest different classes of people, but this distinction is not so clear in the original languages. Often the words are used interchangeably. If there is a difference, it is usually one of suitability to context. ‘Slaves’ may be used of people in relation to their masters, but ‘servants’ in relation to their work. The former may be in a context of submission to a superior (e.g. Matt 6:24; Rom 6:16-18; Eph 6:6-7; see SLAVE), the latter in the context of service for others (e.g. Matt 20:28: Luke 10:40; Rom 12:7; see MINISTER).

A special kind of service

Christians are slaves of God and servants of God (1 Cor 4:1; 7:22-23). They are not to be ashamed of these titles, as if God has denied them ordinary human dignity or reduced them to some low and humiliating status. The Bible uses many pictures to describe the relationship between Christ and his people, and each picture illustrates only one aspect of a many-sided relationship.

Therefore, although Christians are sometimes called Christ’s servants, other times they are called his friends and ambassadors. Service for him is a privilege (John 15:15,20; 2 Cor 5:20). Christ himself is an example of the sort of servant a Christian should be (Luke 22:27; John 13:12-15; see SERVANT OF THE LORD).

Service for God can take many forms. It may consist of giving practical aid to those who are poor, hungry, or otherwise in need (Rom 15:25; 1 Tim 5:10; 2 Tim 1:18; Heb 6:10). Some people serve God through ministries of spreading the gospel and caring for churches (Acts 6:4; 20:24; 1 Cor 16:15; 2 Cor 3:6; Eph 3:7; 4:11-12; Col 4:17); others serve him by praying for those engaged in such works (Rom 15:30-31; 2 Cor 1:11; Phil 1:19). The title ‘deacon’, given to certain people who have various responsibilities in the church, means ‘servant’ (Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:8; see DEACON).

Motives and performance

Regardless of the special ministries entrusted to certain people, all Christians are in some sense God’s servants. They have unlimited possibilities of service, and should consider that everything they do is a way of serving their Lord (Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:23). The service does not have to be in a religious setting. Christ sees everyday acts of kindness as service for him, even though the doers of those acts may not be aware of it (Matt 25:35-40). On the other hand, people may give an appearance of serving God, but if their chief concern is self-interest, they are not serving God at all (Matt 6:24).

To serve Christ means to serve others (Matt 25:35-40), and those who serve others receive God’s rewards (Matt 20:25-28; 23:11-12). This does not mean that Christians serve God solely for what they can get in return. On the contrary they realize that whatever service they do is merely their duty (Luke 17:10). Yet God graciously promises to reward those who serve him faithfully (Matt 25:21; Luke 19:17; Heb 6:10; Rev 2:19,26; see REWARD).

Also see definition of "Servant" in Word Study