DMS_GL_my_tw/bible/other/servant.md

servant, serve, slave, worker, young man, young women

Definition:

The term “serve” generally means to do work, and the concept can be applied in a wide variety of contexts. A “servant” or “slave” refers to a person who works for (or obeys) another person, either by choice or by force. In the Bible, “servant” and “slave” are mostly interchangable terms.

• Any of the following people might be called a “servant:” a slave, a young female worker, a young male worker, someone who obeys God, and others.
• A slave was a kind of servant who was the property of the person he worked for. The person who bought a slave was called his “owner” or “master.” Some masters treated their slaves cruelly. Other masters treated their slaves well, like a valued member of the household.
• A person could be a slave temporarily, for instance while working to repay a debt to his owner.

Translation Suggestions

• The term “serve” can also be translated as “minister to” or “work for” or “take care of” or “obey,” depending on the context.
• The words “young man” or “young woman” often mean “servant” or “slave.” This meaning will be discerned from context. One indicator of this situation is if the possessive is used, eg. “her young women” could be translated as “her servants” or “her slaves.”
• Often, when a person referred to himself as “your servant” he was showing respect to the person addressed. That person may have had higher social status, or the speaker may be showing humility. It did not mean that the person speaking was an actual servant.
• To “serve God” can be translated as to “worship and obey God” or to “do the work that God has commanded.”
• In the Old Testament, God’s prophets and other people who worshiped God were often called his “servants.”
• In the New Testament, people who obeyed God through faith in Christ were often called his “servants.”
• To “serve tables” means to bring food to people who are sitting at tables, or more generally, to “distribute food.”
• In the context of a person serving guests, this term means “care for” or “serve food to” or “provide food for.” When Jesus told the disciples to “serve” the fish to the people, this could be translated as “distribute” or “hand out” or “give.”
• People who teach others about God are said to serve both God and the ones they are teaching.
• The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians about how they used to “serve” the old covenant. This refers to obeying the laws of Moses. Now they “serve” the new covenant. That is, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, believers in Jesus are enabled by the Holy Spirit to please God and live holy lives.
• Paul talks about their actions in terms of their “service” to either the old or new covenant. This could be translated as “serving” or “obeying” or “devotion to.”

(See also: enslave, house, lord, obey)

Bible References:

• Acts 04:29-31
• Acts 10:7-8
• Colossians 01:7-8
• Colossians 03:22-25
• Genesis 21:10-11
• Luke 12:47-48
• Mark 09:33-35
• Matthew 10:24-25
• Matthew 13:27-28
• 2 Timothy 02:3-5
• Acts 06:2-4
• Genesis 25:23
• Luke 04:8
• Luke 12:37-38
• Luke 22:26-27
• Mark 08:7-10
• Matthew 04:10-11
• Matthew 06:24

Examples from the Bible stories:

• 06:01 When Abraham was very old and his son, Isaac, had grown to be a man, Abraham sent one of his servants back to the land where his relatives lived to find a wife for his son, Isaac.
• 08:04 The slave traders sold Joseph as a slave to a wealthy government official.
• 09:13 “I (God) will send you (Moses) to Pharaoh so that you can bring the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt.”
• 19:10 Then Elijah prayed, “O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, show us today that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant.”
• 29:03 “Since the servant could not pay the debt, the king said, ‘Sell this man and his family as slaves to make payment on his debt.’”
• 35:06 “All my father’s servants have plenty to eat, and yet here I am starving.”
• 47:04 The slave girl kept yelling as they walked, “These men are servants of the Most High God.”
• 50:04 Jesus also said, “A servant is not greater than his master.”

Word Data:

• (Servant) Strong’s: H5288, H5647, H5649, H5650, H5657, H7916, H8198, H8334, G1249, G1401, G1402, G2324, G3407, G3411, G3610, G3816, G4983, G5257
• (Serve) H327, H3547, H4929, H4931, H5647, H5656, H5673, H5975, H6213, H6399, H6402, H6440, H6633, H6635, H7272, H8104, H8120, H8199, H8278, H8334, G1247, G1248, G1398, G1402, G1438, G1983, G2064, G2212, G2323, G2999, G3000, G3009, G4337, G4342, G4754, G5087, G5256