1397. douleia

Lexicon

douleia: Slavery, bondage, servitude

Original Word: δουλεία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: douleia
Pronunciation: doo-li'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (doo-li'-ah)
Definition: Slavery, bondage, servitude
Meaning: slavery, bondage.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bondage.

From douleuo; slavery (ceremonially or figuratively) -- bondage.

see GREEK douleuo

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 1397 douleía (a feminine noun) – bondage, a brand of slavery (enslavement). See 1401 (doulos).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from douleuó
Definition
slavery
NASB Translation
slavery (4), slaves (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1397: δουλεία

δουλεία (Tdf. δουλια (see Iota)), δουλείας, ἡ, (δουλεύω); slavery, bondage, the condition of a slave: τῆς φθορᾶς, the bondage which consists in decay (Winers Grammar, § 59, 8 a., cf. Buttmann, 78 (68)), equivalent to the law, the necessity, of perishing, Romans 8:21; used of the slavish sense of fear, devoid alike of buoyancy of spirit and of trust in God, such as is produced by the thought of death, Hebrews 2:15, as well as by the Mosaic law in its votaries, Romans 8:15 (πνεῦμα δουλείας); the Mosaic system is said to cause δουλεία on account of the grievous burdens its precepts impose upon its adherents: Galatians 4:24; Galatians 5:1. (From Pindar down.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from δοῦλος (doulos), meaning "slave" or "servant."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of δουλεία in the Greek New Testament can be related to several Hebrew terms that denote servitude or bondage, such as עֲבֹדָה (avodah, Strong's Hebrew 5656) meaning "service" or "labor," and עֶבֶד (eved, Strong's Hebrew 5650) meaning "servant" or "slave." These terms are used in the Old Testament to describe both the literal servitude of individuals and the metaphorical servitude to sin or foreign powers.

Usage: The term δουλεία is used in the New Testament to describe a condition of servitude or bondage, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It often contrasts with the freedom found in Christ.

Context: The Greek term δουλεία (douleia) appears in the New Testament to convey the concept of bondage or slavery. It is used to describe both physical and spiritual states of servitude. In a physical sense, it refers to the condition of being a slave, subject to the authority and control of a master. In a spiritual or metaphorical sense, it often denotes the bondage of sin or the law, contrasting with the freedom believers receive through faith in Jesus Christ.

In Romans 8:15, Paul writes, "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (BSB). Here, δουλεία is used to contrast the fear and bondage associated with the law and sin with the freedom and adoption as children of God through the Holy Spirit.

Similarly, in Galatians 5:1, Paul exhorts believers, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery" (BSB). This passage highlights the liberation from the bondage of the law and sin, urging believers to embrace the freedom offered in Christ.

The concept of δουλεία is central to understanding the transformative power of the Gospel, which liberates individuals from the constraints of sin and the law, offering a new identity as children of God. This freedom is not a license for moral laxity but a call to live in the Spirit, reflecting the character and love of Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

δουλεία δουλειαν δουλείαν δουλειας δουλείας douleian douleían douleias douleías

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 8:15 N-GFS
GRK: ἐλάβετε πνεῦμα δουλείας πάλιν εἰς
NAS: a spirit of slavery leading
KJV: the spirit of bondage again
INT: you received a spirit of bondage again unto

Romans 8:21 N-GFS
GRK: ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας τῆς φθορᾶς
NAS: will be set free from its slavery to corruption
KJV: from the bondage of corruption
INT: from the bondage of decay

Galatians 4:24 N-AFS
GRK: Σινά εἰς δουλείαν γεννῶσα ἥτις
NAS: bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.
KJV: which gendereth to bondage, which is
INT: Sinai to bondage bringing forth which

Galatians 5:1 N-GFS
GRK: πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε
NAS: again to a yoke of slavery.
KJV: again with the yoke of bondage.
INT: again in a yoke of bondage be held

Hebrews 2:15 N-GFS
GRK: ἔνοχοι ἦσαν δουλείας
NAS: were subject to slavery all
KJV: their lifetime subject to bondage.
INT: were subject were to bondage

Strong's Greek 1397
5 Occurrences

δουλείαν — 1 Occ.
δουλείας — 4 Occ.