A "man-servant" in biblical terms refers to a male servant or slave who is in the service of another person. The concept of servitude is prevalent throughout the Bible, reflecting the social and economic structures of ancient Near Eastern cultures. The term "man-servant" is often used interchangeably with "male servant" or "bondservant" in various translations of the Bible.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "man-servant" is עֶבֶד (eved), which can mean servant, slave, or bondservant. The role and treatment of man-servants are addressed in several passages, reflecting the legal and moral expectations of Israelite society.

In Exodus 20:10, the commandment regarding the Sabbath includes man-servants: "but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates." This inclusion underscores the principle of rest and humane treatment for all, regardless of social status.

The laws concerning Hebrew servants are detailed in Exodus 21:2-6. A Hebrew man-servant was to serve for six years and be released in the seventh year without payment. If the servant chose to remain with his master, a ritual was performed to signify his permanent service. This reflects a system that allowed for servitude while also providing a path to freedom and protection for the servant.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek term δοῦλος (doulos) is often used, which can also mean servant or slave. The New Testament addresses the relationship between masters and servants, emphasizing mutual respect and Christian conduct.

Ephesians 6:5-9 instructs: "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him."

This passage highlights the Christian ethic of service and the spiritual equality of all believers, regardless of their social status. The relationship between master and servant is to be characterized by mutual respect and a shared commitment to serving Christ.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The concept of a man-servant in the Bible must be understood within its historical and cultural context. While the Bible reflects the realities of ancient societies where servitude was common, it also introduces principles that promote dignity, justice, and compassion. The biblical narrative progressively reveals God's desire for freedom and equality, culminating in the New Testament's emphasis on spiritual freedom and the inherent worth of every individual in Christ.

The role of man-servants in biblical times serves as a backdrop for understanding broader themes of service, humility, and the transformative power of the Gospel, which calls all believers to serve one another in love, reflecting the servanthood of Christ Himself.3816. pais -- a child, boy, youth
... genitive case) a child; specially, a slave or servant (especially a minister to
a king; and by eminence to God) -- child, maid(-en), (man) servant, son, young ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3816.htm - 7k

1401. doulos -- a slave
... deo; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore
in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency) -- bond(-man), servant ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1401.htm - 7k

7916. sakir -- hired
... hired man, servant, hireling. From sakar; a man at wages by the day or year -- hired
(man, servant), hireling. see HEBREW sakar. 7915, 7916. sakir. 7917 . ...
/hebrew/7916.htm - 6k

5650. ebed -- slave, servant
... bondage, bondman, bondservant, manservant. From abad; a servant -- X bondage, bondman,
(bond-)servant, (man-)servant. see HEBREW abad. 5649, 5650. ebed. 5651 ...
/hebrew/5650.htm - 6k

Thou Shalt not Covet Thy Neighbor's House. Thou Shalt not Covet ...
... house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor
his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not covet thy.htm

The Ten Commandments.
... work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/the ten commandments.htm

A Prince's Bride
... "Prepared, master," was the response. "Then send hither"" But at that moment a
man-servant dressed in the garb of a physician hastened into the chamber. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter i a princes bride.htm

General Commandments.
... For it is written in the law, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his
field, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i general commandments.htm

The Ten Commandments.
... thy work: but the seventh is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy ...
/.../various/indian methodist hymn-book/the ten commandments.htm

What is the Law of God?
... work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy ...
/.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 92 what is the.htm

Rom. xiv. 1, 2
... strong. Ver.4. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?". Whence
it appears that they too judged, and did not despise only. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxv rom xiv 1.htm

Luther's Small Catechism. AD 1529.
... Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant,
nor his cattle, nor any thing that is his own. Was ist das? ...
/.../luthers small catechism a d 1529.htm

Brokenness
... not equality with God a prize to be grasped at and hung on to, but letting it go
for us and taking upon Him the form of a Servant"God's Servant, man's Servant ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter i brokenness.htm

The Ten Commandments of God.
... 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maidservant,
nor his cattle [ox, nor his ass], nor anything that is his. Secondly. ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/the ten commandments of god.htm

Manservant (14 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto ...
the land hath been to you for food, to thee, and to thy man-servant, and to ...
/m/manservant.htm - 12k

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)
Man-servant. Manservant, Man-servant. Manservants . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE YLT). Manservant, Man-servant. Manservants . Reference Bible.
/m/man-servant.htm - 12k

Manservant's (1 Occurrence)
...Manservant's (1 Occurrence). Exodus 21:27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth,
or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. ...
/m/manservant's.htm - 6k

Man-servant's (1 Occurrence)
Man-servant's. Manservant's, Man-servant's. Mansion . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(ASV WBS). Manservant's, Man-servant's. Mansion . Reference Bible.
/m/man-servant's.htm - 6k

Woman-servant (12 Occurrences)
... 20:10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on that day you are
to do no work, you or your son or your daughter, your man-servant or your woman ...
/w/woman-servant.htm - 10k

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)
... 20:10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy ...
/m/maid-servant.htm - 22k

Maidservants (28 Occurrences)
... thou shalt eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God
shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy ...
/m/maidservants.htm - 15k

Maidservant (73 Occurrences)
... 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not
do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy ...
/m/maidservant.htm - 28k

Servant-girl (18 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 34:9 That every man was to let his Hebrew man-servant and his Hebrew
servant-girl go free; so that no one might make use of a Jew, his countryman, as ...
/s/servant-girl.htm - 11k

Rejoiced (83 Occurrences)
... but before Jehovah thy God thou dost eat it, in the place which Jehovah thy God
doth fix on, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy ...
/r/rejoiced.htm - 33k

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