Topical Bible: Servant's

◄ Servant's ►

Jump to: Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the term "servant" encompasses a range of meanings, from a person in a position of subordination to one who serves God with devotion. The concept of servanthood is deeply embedded in the Scriptures, reflecting both social structures and spiritual principles.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for servant, "ebed," is frequently used to describe individuals in various roles of service. Servants could be household slaves, hired workers, or individuals serving in a specific capacity. The Mosaic Law provided guidelines for the treatment of servants, emphasizing fair treatment and humane conditions. For instance, Exodus 21:2 states, "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he shall go free, without paying anything."

Servanthood also carried a spiritual dimension, as seen in the lives of key biblical figures. Moses is referred to as "the servant of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 34:5), highlighting his role as a leader and mediator between God and the Israelites. Similarly, the prophets often identified themselves as servants of God, tasked with delivering His messages to the people.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "doulos" is commonly translated as "servant" or "slave." The teachings of Jesus Christ redefined the concept of servanthood, emphasizing humility and selflessness. Jesus Himself exemplified the ultimate servant, as described in Philippians 2:7: "but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of servanthood in the Kingdom of God. In Mark 10:43-45, He stated, "But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

The apostle Paul frequently referred to himself as a servant of Christ, underscoring his commitment to spreading the Gospel. In Romans 1:1, Paul introduces himself as "a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God."

Servanthood as a Christian Virtue

The New Testament encourages believers to adopt a servant's heart, following the example of Christ. In Galatians 5:13, Paul exhorts, "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love." This call to servanthood is a fundamental aspect of Christian discipleship, reflecting the love and humility of Jesus.

The role of a servant in the biblical narrative is multifaceted, encompassing both social and spiritual dimensions. Whether in the context of ancient Israelite society or the teachings of the New Testament, servanthood is portrayed as a noble and honorable calling, central to the life of faith.

Strong's Hebrew

5650. ebed -- slave, servant
... 5649, 5650. ebed. 5651 . slave, servant. Transliteration: ebed Phonetic
Spelling: (eh'-bed) Short Definition: servants. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5650.htm - 6k

5288. naar -- a boy, lad, youth, retainer
... youth, retainer NASB Word Usage attendants (1), boy (19), boy's (1), boys (1), child
(12), children (4), lad (36), lad's (2), lads (3), servant (34), servant's ...
/hebrew/5288.htm - 6k

Library

The Servant's Obedience
... THE SERVANT'S OBEDIENCE. ... If Christ had done the noblest acts and yet had not always
had this sense of being a servant, He would not have been pure and holy. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the servants obedience.htm

The Servant's Triumph
... THE SERVANT'S TRIUMPH. 'He is near that justifieth Me; who will contend
with Me? let us stand together: who is Mine adversary? let ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the servants triumph.htm

The Servant's Words to the Weary
... THE SERVANT'S WORDS TO THE WEARY. ... That Jesus was 'Thy Holy Servant' was the earliest
gospel preached by Peter and John before people and rulers. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the servants words to the.htm

The Servant's Inflexible Resolve
... THE SERVANT'S INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE. 'For the Lord God will help Me; therefore
shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the servants inflexible resolve.htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... THE WRITING ON GOD'S HANDS. THE SERVANT'S WORDS TO THE WEARY. THE SERVANT'S OBEDIENCE.
THE SERVANT'S INFLEXIBLE RESOLVE. THE SERVANT'S TRIUMPH. DYING FIRES. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/

The Suffering Servant --vi
... THE SUFFERING SERVANT"VI. ... One is that adopted in AV, according to which the suffering
Servant is represented as equal to the greatest conquerors. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the suffering servantvi.htm

The Suffering Servant-ii
... THE SUFFERING SERVANT-II. 'Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried ... crushing
burden, on Him. I. The Burdened Servant. It is to be ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the suffering servant-ii.htm

The Suffering Servant --V
... THE SUFFERING SERVANT"V. 'He shall see of the travail of His soul, and
shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the suffering servantv.htm

The Suffering Servant-I
... THE SUFFERING SERVANT-I. ... To hold fast the fulfilment of this prophecy of the Suffering
Servant in Jesus it is not necessary to deny its reference to Israel. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the suffering servant-i.htm

Then Returning to the Words of Peter, "God Made Him Lord and ...
... Let us see, then, the force of his attempts. "Who, pray, ye most reckless of men,"
he says, "when he has the form of a servant, takes the form of a servant ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 4 then returning to.htm

Thesaurus

Servant's (29 Occurrences)
...Servant's (29 Occurrences). ... (WEY). John 18:10 Simon Peter therefore, having a sword,
drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. ...
/s/servant's.htm - 15k

Maid-servant's (2 Occurrences)
Maid-servant's. Maidservant's, Maid-servant's. Mail . Multi-Version
Concordance Maid-servant's (2 Occurrences). Galatians ...
/m/maid-servant's.htm - 6k

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

Compensate (4 Occurrences)
... Compensate (4 Occurrences). Exodus 21:26 "If a man strikes his servant's eye, or
his maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. ...
/c/compensate.htm - 8k

Strikes (39 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:20 "If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies
under his hand, he shall surely be punished. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/s/strikes.htm - 16k

Female (95 Occurrences)
... and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh
who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is ...
/f/female.htm - 38k

Far-off (14 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 7:19 And this was only a small thing to you, O Lord God; but your words
have even been about the far-off future of your servant's family, O Lord God! ...
/f/far-off.htm - 10k

Tooth's (1 Occurrence)
... Tooth's (1 Occurrence). Exodus 21:27 If he strikes out his male servant's tooth,
or his female servant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. ...
/t/tooth's.htm - 6k

Tooth (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:27 If he strikes out his male servant's tooth, or his female servant's
tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. ...
/t/tooth.htm - 10k

Bondwoman's (1 Occurrence)
... Exodus 21:27 And if he smite out his man-servant's tooth, or his maid-servant's
tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. (See JPS). ...
/b/bondwoman's.htm - 6k

Resources

What are the four Servant Songs in Isaiah? | GotQuestions.org

How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about forgiveness? What does it mean to forgive? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Servant's (29 Occurrences)

Luke 12:46
that servant's Master will come on a day when he is not expecting Him and at an hour that he knows not of, and will punish him severely, and make him share the lot of the unfaithful.
(WEY)

John 18:10
Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NIV)

Galatians 4:31
So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but children of the free woman.
(DBY YLT)

Genesis 19:2
and he said, "See now, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way." They said, "No, but we will stay in the street all night."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 21:26
"If a man strikes his servant's eye, or his maid's eye, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.
(WEB)

Exodus 21:27
If he strikes out his male servant's tooth, or his female servant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Leviticus 19:13
Do not be cruel to your neighbour or take what is his; do not keep back a servant's payment from him all night till the morning.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made an oath, and said, O Lord of armies, if you will truly take note of the sorrow of your servant, not turning away from me but keeping me in mind, and will give me a man-child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 25:28
And may the sin of your servant have forgiveness: for the Lord will certainly make your family strong, because my lord is fighting in the Lord's war; and no evil will be seen in you all your days.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 26:19
Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be the LORD that hath stirred thee up against me, let Him accept an offering; but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of the LORD, saying: Go, serve other gods.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 7:19
This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh; but you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come; and this after the manner of men, Lord Yahweh!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

2 Samuel 7:27
For you, O Lord of armies, the God of Israel, have clearly said to your servant, I will make you the head of a family of kings: and so it has come into your servant's heart to make this prayer to you.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 7:29
So may it be your pleasure to give your blessing to the family of your servant, so that it may go on for ever before you: (for you, O Lord God, have said it,) and may your blessing be on your servant's family line for ever!
(BBE)

2 Samuel 13:35
And Jonadab said unto the king: 'Behold, the king's sons are come; as thy servant said, so it is.'
(See NAS)

2 Samuel 14:22
And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and prostrated himself, and blessed the king; and Joab said: 'To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found favour in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath performed the request of thy servant.'
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 19:36
Your servant's desire was only to take the king over Jordan; why is the king to give me such a reward?
(BBE)

2 Samuel 20:17
And he came near, and the woman said, Are you Joab? And he said in answer, I am. Then she said, Give ear to your servant's words. And he said, I am giving ear.
(BBE)

1 Kings 8:28
Yet have Thou respect unto the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee this day;
(See NIV)

1 Kings 8:52
Let your eyes be open to your servant's prayer for grace and to the prayer of your people Israel, hearing them when their cry comes to you.
(BBE NIV)

1 Kings 11:13
However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

1 Kings 11:34
"'However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

2 Kings 6:17
Elisha prayed, and said, "Yahweh, please open his eyes, that he may see." Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.
(See NAS NIV)

2 Kings 8:19
However Yahweh would not destroy Judah, for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give to him a lamp for his children always.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

1 Chronicles 17:17
This was a small thing in your eyes, God; but you have spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the estate of a man of high degree, Yahweh God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 17:19
Yahweh, for your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 17:25
For you, O my God, have let your servant see that you will make him head of a line of kings; and so it has come into your servant's heart to make his prayer to you.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 6:19
Yet have Thou respect unto the prayer of Thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant prayeth before Thee;
(See NIV)

Psalms 119:122
Ensure your servant's well-being. Don't let the proud oppress me.
(WEB BBE NIV)

Isaiah 45:4
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called you by your name. I have surnamed you, though you have not known me.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Servant's

Related Terms

Maid-servant's (2 Occurrences)

Man-servant's (1 Occurrence)

Compensate (4 Occurrences)

Strikes (39 Occurrences)

Female (95 Occurrences)

Far-off (14 Occurrences)

Tooth's (1 Occurrence)

Tooth (7 Occurrences)

Bondwoman's (1 Occurrence)