Lexical Summary diakoneó: To serve, to minister, to attend to Original Word: διακονέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance administer, serve, use the office of a deacon.From diakonos; to be an attendant, i.e. Wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); technically, to act as a Christian deacon -- (ad-)minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon. see GREEK diakonos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1247 diakonéō (from 1249 /diákonos) – actively serve – literally, "kicking up dust" because "on the move." See 1249 (diakonos). 1247 /diakonéō ("to serve") means caring for the needs of others as the Lord guides in an active, practical way. [See the close connection of faith (4102 /pístis) and 1247 (diakonéō) in: Ac 6:2-7; 1 Tim 3:9,10; Heb 6:10-12.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom diakonos Definition to serve, minister NASB Translation administered (1), administration (1), cared (1), contributing...support (1), do...the serving (1), employ...in serving (1), minister (3), ministered (2), ministering (3), servant (1), serve (4), serve as deacons (1), served (2), served as deacons (1), serves (5), services...rendered (1), serving (4), take care (1), wait (1), waited (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1247: διακονέωδιακονέω, διακόνῳ; imperfect διηκόνουν (as if the verb were compounded of διά and ἀκονέω, for the rarer and earlier form ἐδιακονουν, cf. Buttmann, 35 (31); Ph. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. § 86 Anm. 6; Krüger, § 28, 14, 13); (future διακονήσω); 1 aorist διηκόνησα (for the earlier ἐδιακόνησα); passive, present participle διακονουμενος; 1 aorist infinitive διακονηθῆναι, participle διακονηθεις; (διάκονος, which see); in Greek writings from (Sophocles), Herodotus down; to be a servant, attendant, domestic; to serve, wait upon; 1. universally: (absolutely ὁ διακονῶν, Luke 22:26); with the dative of person to minister to one; render ministering offices to: John 12:26; Acts 19:22; Philemon 1:13; passive to be served, ministered unto (Winers Grammar, § 39, 1; (Buttmann, 188 (163))): Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45. 2. Like the Latinministrare, to wait at table and offer food and drink to the guests, (cf. Winer's Grammar, 593 (552)): with the dative of person, Matthew 4:11; Matthew 8:15; Mark 1:13, 31; Luke 4:39; Luke 12:37; Luke 17:8; absolutely ὁ διακονῶν, Luke 22:27; so also of women preparing food, Luke 10:40; John 12:2; (Menander quoted in Athen. 6 c. 46, p. 245 c.; Anacreon ( 3. to minister, i. e. supply food and the necessaries of life: with the dative of person, Matthew 25:44; Matthew 27:55; Mark 15:41; διηκόνουν αὐτοῖς ἐκ: (Rec. ἀπό) τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐταῖς, Luke 8:3; to relieve one's necessities (e. g. by collecting alms): Romans 15:25; Hebrews 6:10 τραπέζαις, to provide, take care of, distribute, the things necessary to sustain life, Acts 6:2. absolutely, those are said διακονεῖν, i. e. to take care of the poor and the sick, who administer the office of deacon (see διάκονος, 2) in the Christian churches, to serve as deacons: 1 Timothy 3:10, 13; 1 Peter 4:11 (many take this last example in a general rather than an official sense). 4. with the accusative of the thing, to minister, i. e. attend to, anything, that may serve another's interests: χάρις διακονουμένῃ ὑφ' ἡμῶν, 2 Corinthians 8:19; (ἁδρότης, ibid. 20); ὅσα διηκόνησε, how many things I owe to his ministration, 2 Timothy 1:18; ἐπιστολή διακονηθεῖσα ὑφ' ἡμῶν, an epistle written, as it were, by our serving as amanuenses, 2 Corinthians 3:3. with the accusative of the thing and the dative of person, to minister a thing unto one, to serve one with or by supplying anything: 1 Peter 1:12; τί εἰς ἑαυτούς, i. e. εἰς ἀλλήλους, to one another, for mutual use, 1 Peter 4:10. Topical Lexicon Scope of New Testament Usage Strong’s 1247 appears thirty-seven times and consistently conveys the active, personal engagement of one who renders help to another. Whether the object is Jesus Christ, the saints, widows, apostles, or even enemies, the verb underscores hands-on care that meets real needs. The contexts range from household hospitality (Luke 10:40) and medical relief (Matthew 8:15) to corporate church ministry (Acts 6:2) and international relief efforts (Romans 15:25). Service as Christological Paradigm Jesus employs the verb to define His earthly mission: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). His self-sacrifice establishes both the motive and the model for all subsequent Christian service. In John 12:26 He ties discipleship directly to the verb: “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” Service, therefore, is not peripheral to faith; it is the pathway of following Christ and the prerequisite to divine commendation. Servant Leadership and Discipleship Jesus overturns worldly hierarchies by identifying greatness with serving: “The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves” (Luke 22:26). The participle διακονῶν describes both Jesus and the ideal leader, forging an inseparable link between authority and humility. Consequently, 1 Timothy 3:13 promises that those “who have served well” gain “excellent standing and great confidence in the faith,” showing that leadership credibility grows out of proven service. Ministry of Practical Care The term frequently describes tangible acts of provision. Women from Galilee “were serving Him out of their own means” (Luke 8:3), illustrating financial partnership in mission. Martha is “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40), portraying the commonplace hospitality that sustains fellowship. In Hebrews 6:10 God remembers the love believers show “as you have ministered to the saints and continue to minister,” emphasizing that practical deeds carry enduring spiritual weight. Diakonia and the Diaconate Acts 6:2 draws a crucial distinction between apostolic teaching and “waiting on tables,” yet both are Spirit-empowered ministries. The verb here underlies the later office of deacon, setting the precedent that material administration is a sacred calling. Paul can thus speak of brothers appointed to “administer this grace” (2 Corinthians 8:19-20) with utmost transparency, demonstrating that stewardship of funds is an extension of gospel ministry. Women and Service Several occurrences highlight the indispensable contribution of women. Peter’s mother-in-law, once healed, “began to serve them” (Mark 1:31). Many women at the cross had “been following Jesus and serving Him” (Matthew 27:55; Mark 15:41). Phoebe is commended as a διάκονος in Romans 16:1, and likely mirrored the verb’s ethos through sustained assistance to Paul and the church in Cenchreae. Scripture thereby affirms the full participation of women in active, hands-on ministry. Angelic and Heavenly Service The scope of 1247 transcends earth. After the wilderness temptation, “angels came and ministered to Him” (Matthew 4:11; Mark 1:13), revealing that even celestial beings adopt a posture of service toward the incarnate Son. This heavenly example reinforces the dignity of the task for human believers. Eschatological Reward for Service Service is not merely obligatory; it is rewarded. Jesus promises, “Truly I tell you, He will dress Himself to serve, and will have them recline at the table, and will come and wait on them” (Luke 12:37). In an astonishing reversal, the Master will serve faithful servants. Likewise, faithful Onesiphorus “served me in Ephesus” and Paul prays that “the Lord will grant him to find mercy on that day” (2 Timothy 1:18). Scripture thus yokes present labor to future blessing. Theological Implications 1. Trinitarian Flow: Father honors those who serve the Son (John 12:26); the Son serves to reveal the Father (Matthew 20:28); the Spirit empowers believers “to serve by the strength God provides” (1 Peter 4:11). Key Passages for Reflection Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; Luke 22:26-27; John 12:26; Acts 6:2; Romans 15:25; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Hebrews 6:10. Forms and Transliterations διακονει διακονεί διακονεῖ διακόνει διακονειν διακονείν διακονεῖν διακονειτωσαν διακονείτωσαν διακονη διακονή διακονῇ διακονηθεισα διακονηθείσα διακονηθεῖσα διακονηθηναι διακονηθήναι διακονηθῆναι διακονησαι διακονήσαι διακονῆσαι διακονησαντες διακονήσαντες διακονησει διακονήσει διακονουμενη διακονουμένη διακονουμένῃ διακονουντες διακονούντες διακονοῦντες διακονουντων διακονούντων διακονουσαι διακονούσαι διακονοῦσαι διακονων διακονών διακονῶν διηκονει διηκόνει διηκονησαμεν διηκονήσαμέν διηκόνησε διηκονησεν διηκόνησεν διηκονουν διηκόνουν diakone diakonē diakonei diakoneî diakonêi diakonē̂i diakónei diakonein diakoneîn diakoneitosan diakoneitōsan diakoneítosan diakoneítōsan diakonesai diakonêsai diakonēsai diakonē̂sai diakonesantes diakonēsantes diakonḗsantes diakonesei diakonēsei diakonḗsei diakonetheisa diakonetheîsa diakonētheisa diakonētheîsa diakonethenai diakonethênai diakonēthēnai diakonēthē̂nai diakonon diakonôn diakonōn diakonō̂n diakonoumene diakonoumenē diakonouménei diakonouménēi diakonountes diakonoûntes diakonounton diakonountōn diakonoúnton diakonoúntōn diakonousai diakonoûsai diekonei diekónei diēkonei diēkónei diekonesamen diekonḗsamén diēkonēsamen diēkonḗsamén diekonesen diekónesen diēkonēsen diēkónēsen diekonoun diekónoun diēkonoun diēkónounLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 4:11 V-IIA-3PGRK: προσῆλθον καὶ διηκόνουν αὐτῷ NAS: came and [began] to minister to Him. KJV: came and ministered unto him. INT: came and ministered to him Matthew 8:15 V-IIA-3S Matthew 20:28 V-ANP Matthew 20:28 V-ANA Matthew 25:44 V-AIA-1P Matthew 27:55 V-PPA-NFP Mark 1:13 V-IIA-3P Mark 1:31 V-IIA-3S Mark 10:45 V-ANP Mark 10:45 V-ANA Mark 15:41 V-IIA-3P Luke 4:39 V-IIA-3S Luke 8:3 V-IIA-3P Luke 10:40 V-PNA Luke 12:37 V-FIA-3S Luke 17:8 V-PMA-2S Luke 22:26 V-PPA-NMS Luke 22:27 V-PPA-NMS Luke 22:27 V-PPA-NMS John 12:2 V-IIA-3S John 12:26 V-PSA-3S John 12:26 V-PSA-3S Acts 6:2 V-PNA Acts 19:22 V-PPA-GMP Romans 15:25 V-PPA-NMS Strong's Greek 1247 |