Strong's Lexicon douleuó: To serve, to be a slave to, to be in bondage Original Word: δουλεύω Word Origin: From δοῦλος (doulos), meaning "slave" or "servant." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - עָבַד (avad) - Strong's Hebrew 5647, meaning "to work, to serve." - שָׁרַת (sharat) - Strong's Hebrew 8334, meaning "to minister, to serve." Usage: The verb "douleuó" primarily means to serve or to be in a position of servitude. It conveys the idea of performing duties or tasks for a master, often with the connotation of being in a state of subjection or bondage. In the New Testament, it is used both in literal contexts, referring to actual servitude, and metaphorically, to describe spiritual service or devotion to God or sin. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, slavery was a common institution, and the concept of servitude was well understood. Slaves were expected to serve their masters with loyalty and obedience. This cultural backdrop provides a vivid metaphor for spiritual truths in the New Testament, where believers are called to serve God with the same dedication and commitment. The term also reflects the early Christian understanding of freedom from sin and bondage to righteousness. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1398 douleúō (from 1401 /doúlos) – properly, to serve as a slave, having all personal ownership-rights assigned to the owner; (figuratively) to willingly give over the prerogative to be self-governing. See 1401 (doulos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom doulos Definition to be a slave, to serve NASB Translation bondage (1), enslaved (3), render service (1), serve (10), served (1), serves (1), serving (4), slavery (1), slaves (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1398: δουλεύωδουλεύω; future δουλεύσω; 1 aorist ἐδούλευσα; perfect δεδούλευκά; (δοῦλος); the Sept. for עָבַד; 1. properly, to be a slave, serve, do service: absolutely, Ephesians 6:7; 1 Timothy 6:2; τίνι Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; Romans 9:12; said of nations in subjection to other nations, John 8:33; Acts 7:7; men are said δουλεύειν who bear the yoke of the Mosaic law, Galatians 4:25 (see δουλεία). 2. metaphorically, to obey, submit to; a. in a good sense: absolutely, to yield obedience, Romans 7:6; τίνι, to obey one's commands and render to him the services due, Luke 15:29; God: Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; κυρίῳ and τῷ κυρίῳ, Acts 20:19; Romans 12:11 (not Rec.st, see below); Ephesians 6:7; Christ: Romans 14:18; Colossians 3:24; νόμῳ Θεοῦ, according to the context, feel myself bound to, Romans 7:25; τοῖς θεοῖς, to worship gods, Galatians 4:8; τῷ καιρῷ (Anth. 9, 441, 6), wisely adapt oneself to, Romans 12:11 Rec.st (see above), cf. Fritzsche at the passage; perform services of kindness and Christian love: ἀλλήλοις, Galatians 5:13; used of those who zealously advance the interests of anything: ὡς πατρί τέκνον σύν ἐμοί ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τό εὐαγγέλιον equivalent to ὡς πατρί τέκνον δουλεύει, ἐμοί ἐδούλευσεν καί οὕτω σύν ἐμοί ἐδούλευσεν, etc. Philippians 2:22 (Winers Grammar, 422 (393); 577 (537)). b. in a bad sense, of those who become slaves to some base power, to yield to, give oneself up to: τῇ ἁμαρτία, Romans 6:6; νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας, Romans 7:25; ἐπιθυμίαις καί ἡδοναῖς, Titus 3:3, (Xenophon, mem. 1, 5, 5; Apology Socrates 16; Plato, Phaedrus, p. 238 e.; Polybius 17, 15, 16; Herodian, 1, 17, 22 (9, Bekker edition)); τῇ κοιλία, Romans 16:18, (γαστρί, Anthol. 11, 410, 4; Xenophon, mem. 1, 6, 8;abdomini servire, Seneca, de benef. 7, 26, 4;ventri obedire, Sall. (Cat. 1:1)); μαμωνᾷ, to devote oneself to getting wealth: Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13. τοῖς στοιχειοις τοῦ κόσμου, Galatians 4:9. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be in bondage, do service. From doulos; to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary) -- be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice). see GREEK doulos Forms and Transliterations δεδούλευκα δεδούλευκά δεδουλευκαμεν δεδουλεύκαμεν δούλευε δουλευει δουλεύει δουλευειν δουλεύειν δουλευετε δουλεύετε δουλευετωσαν δουλευέτωσαν δουλεύητε δουλεύοντα δουλευοντες δουλεύοντες δουλεύοντές δουλεύοντος δουλεύοντός δουλεύουσί δουλευουσιν δουλεύουσιν δουλεύσαι δουλεύσατε δουλευσάτωσάν δουλευσει δουλεύσει δουλεύσεις δουλεύσετε δουλεύσης δουλεύσητε δουλεύσομεν δουλεύσομέν δούλευσον δουλεύσουσι δουλεύσουσί δουλευσουσιν δουλεύσουσιν δουλεύσω δουλεύσωμεν δουλεύσωσι δουλευω δουλεύω δουλευων δουλεύων εδούλευον εδούλευσα εδούλευσά εδουλεύσαμεν εδούλευσαν εδούλευσάν εδούλευσας εδουλευσατε εδουλεύσατε ἐδουλεύσατε εδούλευσε εδούλευσέ εδουλευσεν εδούλευσεν ἐδούλευσεν dedouleukamen dedouleúkamen douleuei douleúei douleuein douleúein douleuete douleúete douleuetosan douleuetōsan douleuétosan douleuétōsan douleuo douleuō douleúo douleúō douleuon douleuōn douleúon douleúōn douleuontes douleúontes douleuousin douleúousin douleusei douleúsei douleusousin douleúsousin edouleusate edouleúsate edouleusen edoúleusenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 6:24 V-PNAGRK: δυσὶ κυρίοις δουλεύειν ἢ γὰρ NAS: No one can serve two masters; KJV: No man can serve two masters: INT: two masters to serve either indeed Matthew 6:24 V-PNA Luke 15:29 V-PIA-1S Luke 16:13 V-PNA Luke 16:13 V-PNA John 8:33 V-RIA-1P Acts 7:7 V-FIA-3P Acts 20:19 V-PPA-NMS Romans 6:6 V-PNA Romans 7:6 V-PNA Romans 7:25 V-PIA-1S Romans 9:12 V-FIA-3S Romans 12:11 V-PPA-NMP Romans 14:18 V-PPA-NMS Romans 16:18 V-PIA-3P Galatians 4:8 V-AIA-2P Galatians 4:9 V-ANA Galatians 4:25 V-PIA-3S Galatians 5:13 V-PMA-2P Ephesians 6:7 V-PPA-NMP Philippians 2:22 V-AIA-3S Colossians 3:24 V-PIA-2P 1 Thessalonians 1:9 V-PNA 1 Timothy 6:2 V-PMA-3P Titus 3:3 V-PPA-NMP Strong's Greek 1398 |