Reference: Servant
American
This word sometimes denotes a man who voluntarily dedicates himself to the service of another. Thus Joshua was the servant of Moses; Elisha of Elijah; and Peter, Andrew, Philip, and Paul were servants of Jesus Christ. The servants of Pharaoh, of Saul, and of David, were their subjects in general, and their court officers and counselors in particular. The Philistines, Syrians, and other nation were servants of David, that is, they obeyed and paid him tribute. The servants of God are those who are devoted to his service and obey his holy word.
In its primary sense, the word usually means in the Bible either a hired servant, or one whose service was the property of his master for a limited time and under various restrictions. Joseph is the first whom we read of as sold into bondage, Ge 37:27-28. The households of some of the early patriarchs contained many servants, who were apparently treated with kindness and justice; the highest trusts were sometimes confided to them, and they might inherit their master's estate, Ge 14:11-16; 15:2-4; 24:1-10. They shared the religious privileges of the household, Ge 17:9-13,27; 18:19, and were not transferred to other masters.
At the establishment of the Hebrew commonwealth, involuntary servitude was everywhere prevalent; and so far as it existed among the Jews, Moses sought to bring it under the restrictions demanded by religion and humanity. The mildest form of bond-service was that of a Hebrew in the house of another Hebrew. He might become bound to this service in various ways, chiefly through poverty, Ex 21:7; Le 25:39-47; to acquit himself of a debt he could not otherwise pay, 2Ki 4:1; to make restitution for a theft, Ex 22:3; or to earn the price of his ransom for captivity among heathen. This form of service could not continue more than six or seven years; unless, when the Sabbatical year came round, the servant chose to remain permanently or until the Jubilee with his master, in token of which he suffered his ear to be bored before witnesses, Ex 21:2,6; 25:40. The Hebrews servant was not to be made to serve with rigor, nor transferred to any harder bondage; he had an appeal to the tribunals, a right to all religious privileges, the power of demanding release on providing a pecuniary equivalent, and a donation from his master at his release, Le 25:47-55; De 15:12-18. Compare also 2Ch 28:10-11; Ne 5:1-13; Jer 34:8-22. The law likewise provided for the deliverance of a Hebrew, who was in bondage to a resident foreigner, Le 25:47-54.
From the heathen around and among them, especially from their captive enemies and the remains of the Canaanites, the Hebrew obtained many servants. These were protected by law, De 1:16-17; 27:19, and might become proselytes, attend the festivals, enjoy religious instruction and privileges, Ex 12:44; De 12:18; 29:10-13; 31:10-13. The servant who was mutilated by his master was to be set free, Ex 21:26-27; the refugee from foreign oppression was to be welcomed, De 23:15-16; and kidnapping or man stealing was forbidden on pain of death, Ex 21:16; De 24:7; 1Ti 1:10.
Roman slavery, as it existed in the time of Christ, was comparatively unknown to the Jews. The Romans held in bondage captives taken in war, had purchased slaves. Their bondage was perpetual, and the master held unquestioned control of the person and life of his slaves. Yet large numbers were set free, and in many instances Roman freedmen rose to the highest honors.
The allusion of the Bible to involuntary servitude, imply that it is an evil and undesirable condition of life; yet the bondman who cannot obtain his freedom is divinely exhorted to contentment, 1Co 7:20-24. Meanwhile the Bible give directions as to the mutual duties of masters and servants, Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:22; 4:1; Tit 2:9; Phm 1:1-25; 1Pe 2:18; and proclaims the great truths of the common origin of all men, the immorality of every human soul, and its right to the Bible and to all necessary means of knowing and serving the Savior-the application of which to all the relations of master and servant, superior and inferior, employer and employed, would prevent all oppression, which God abhors, De 24:14; Ps 103:6; Isa 10:1-3; Am 4:1; Mal 3:5; Jas 5:4.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son with his goods, and went their way, - he, being a dweller in Sodom. read more. Then came in a fugitive, and told Abram the Hebrew, - he, having his dwelling among the oaks of Mature the Amorite brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, they, also having a covenant with Abram. So Abram, hearing that his brother had been taken captive, drew forth his trained men born in his house three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. And he divided himself against them by night, he, and his servants, and smote them, - and pursued them as far as Hobah, which was on the left of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, - yea Lot also his brother with his goods, did he bring back, and the women also, and the people.
And Abram said My Lord Yahweh, what canst thou give me, when, I, am going on childless, - and the heir of my house, is Eliezer, of Damascus, And Abram said - Lo, to me, hast thou not given seed, - read more. And lo! a son of my household, is mine heir! And lo! the word of Yahweh came unto him, saying, This one, shall not be thine heir: But one who cometh forth of thy body - hell shall be thine heir.
And God said unto Abraham, But, as for thee, my covenant, must thou keep, thou and thy seed after thee, to their generations: - This, is my covenant which ye shall keep, betwixt me and you, and thy seed after thee, - To circumcise to you every male: read more. So shall ye be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, - So shall it become a sign of a covenant, betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old, shall be circumcised to you every male to your generations, - he that is born of the house, and he that is bought with silver of any son of a stranger, who is, not of thy seed, He must surely be circumcised, born of thy house or bought with thy silver, - So shall my covenant be in your flesh for an age-abiding covenant.
and, all the men of his house, born of his house, and bought with silver from the son of a stranger, were circumcised with him.
For I have become his intimate friend, To the end that he may command his sons and his house after him, so shall they keep the way of Yahweh, by doing righteousness and justice. To the end that Yahweh may bring in for Abraham, what he hath spoken concerning him.
Now, Abraham, was old, far gone in days, - and, Yahweh, had blessed Abraham, in all things. So Abraham said unto his servant, elder of his house, ruler of all that he had, - Place, I pray thee thy hand under my thigh; read more. that I may put thee on oath, by Yahweh God of the heavens and God of the earth - That thou wilt not take a wife for my son, from among the daughters of the Canaanites in the midst of whom, I, am dwelling: but unto my own land and unto my own kindred, wilt go, - So shalt thou take a wife for my son - for Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman may not be willing to follow me into this land, - May I take back thy son, into the land from whence thou earnest? And Abraham said unto him, - Beware that thou do not take back my son thither! Yahweh, God of the heavens, and God of the earth, who took me out of the house of my father, and out of the land of my kindred, and, who spake to me, and who sware to me, saying, To thy seed, will I give this land, he, will send his messenger before thee, so shalt then take a wife for my son from thence. But if unwilling be the woman to follow thee, then shalt thou be clear from this mine oath, - Only my son, shalt thou not take back thither So the servant placed his hand, under the thigh of Abraham, his lord, - and sware to him, over this thing. Then took the servant ten camels, from among the camels of his lord, and went his way, - all the goods of his master being in his hand, - so be mounted, and went his way unto Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites; but let not, out own hand, be upon him, for our own brother, our own flesh, is he And his brethren hearkened. And there passed by certain Midianites travelling merchants, so they drew forth and uplifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites, for twenty pieces of silver, - and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
but, every man's servant bought with silver, - when thou hast circumcised him, then, shall he eat thereof:
When thou shalt acquire a servant who is a Hebrew, six years, shall he serve, - but in the seventh shall he go out freely - for nought.
then shall his lord bring him near unto God, and shall bring him near unto the door, or unto the door-post, - and his lord shall pierce his ear with an awl, so shall he serve him all his life. And when a man shall sell iris daughter to be a handmaid, she shall not go out according to the out-going of the men-servants,
And, he that stealeth a man of the sons of Israel, and selleth him, or he be found in his hand, shall, surely be put to death.
And, when a man smiteth the eye of his servant, or the eye of his handmaid, and destroyeth it, he shall send him forth, free, for his eye; or, if, the tooth of his servant or the tooth of his handmaid, he knock out, he shall send him forth, free, for his tooth.
should the sun have arisen upon him, there would be shedding of blood due for him, - he is surely to make restitution, if he hath nothing, then is he to be sold, for his theft.
And see thou and make them, by the pattern of them, which thou wast caused to behold in the mount
And when thy brother waxeth poor with thee, and so selleth himself unto thee, thou shalt not bind him with the bondage of a bondman: as a hired servant, as a settler, shall he remain with thee, - until the year of the jubilee, shall he serve with thee: read more. then shall he go forth from thee, he and his sons with him, - and shall return unto his family, and unto the possession of his fathers, shall he return. For, my bondmen, they are, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt, - they shall not sell themselves with the sale of a bondman. Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour, - so shalt thou stand in awe of thy God. And as for thy bondman and thy bond-maid which thou shalt have, of the nations that are round about you - from them, may ye buy bondman and bond-maid. Moreover also, of the sons of the settlers who are sojourning with you - of them, may ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land, - so shall they become yours, as a possession; and ye may take them as an inheritance for your sons after you to inherit as a possession, unto times age-abiding, of them, may ye take to be bondmen, - but, over your brethren the sons of Israel - a man over his brother, ye shall not rule, over him with rigour. And, when the hand of the sojourner and settler with thee getteth possessions, and thy brother with him, waxeth poor, - and so he selleth himself to the sojourner who is a settler with thee, or to one who hath taken root, of the family of the sojourner,
And, when the hand of the sojourner and settler with thee getteth possessions, and thy brother with him, waxeth poor, - and so he selleth himself to the sojourner who is a settler with thee, or to one who hath taken root, of the family of the sojourner,
And, when the hand of the sojourner and settler with thee getteth possessions, and thy brother with him, waxeth poor, - and so he selleth himself to the sojourner who is a settler with thee, or to one who hath taken root, of the family of the sojourner, after that he hath sold himself, a right of redemption, pertaineth to him, - one of his brethren, may redeem him;
after that he hath sold himself, a right of redemption, pertaineth to him, - one of his brethren, may redeem him; or, his uncle or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or, a near flesh-relation of his, of his family, may redeem him, or, his own hand may have gotten enough, and, so he may redeem himself.
or, his uncle or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or, a near flesh-relation of his, of his family, may redeem him, or, his own hand may have gotten enough, and, so he may redeem himself. Then shall he reckon with him that bought him, from the year that he was sold to him, unto the year of the jubilee, - and the silver for which he was sold shall be by the number of years, according to the days of a hired servant, shall he be with him.
Then shall he reckon with him that bought him, from the year that he was sold to him, unto the year of the jubilee, - and the silver for which he was sold shall be by the number of years, according to the days of a hired servant, shall he be with him. If there is yet a multitude of years, according to them, shall he return, as his redemption price, of the silver of him that bought him.
If there is yet a multitude of years, according to them, shall he return, as his redemption price, of the silver of him that bought him. Or, if there is but a small remainder of years, until the year of the jubilee, then shall he reckon to himself, according to the years thereof, shall he return his price of redemption.
Or, if there is but a small remainder of years, until the year of the jubilee, then shall he reckon to himself, according to the years thereof, shall he return his price of redemption. As a servant hired year by year, shall he be with him, he shall not rule over him with rigour, before thine eyes.
As a servant hired year by year, shall he be with him, he shall not rule over him with rigour, before thine eyes. But if he be not redeemed in any of these ways, then shall he go out in the jubilee year, he, and his sons with him.
But if he be not redeemed in any of these ways, then shall he go out in the jubilee year, he, and his sons with him. For, unto me, are the sons of Israel, bondmen, my bondmen, they are, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt. I, Yahweh, am your God.
And I charged your judges, at that time, saying, - Ye are to hear between your brethren and shall judge righteously, between each magi and his brother and his sojourner. Ye shall not take note of faces in judgment - so the small as the great, shall ye hear, ye shall not shrink from the face of any man, for judgment, unto God, belongeth, - but the thing which is too hard for you, shall ye bring near unto me, and I will hear it.
but before Yahweh thy God, shalt thou eat it in the place which Yahweh thy God shall choose, thou and thy son and thy daughter, and thy servant and thy handmaid, and the Levite who is within thy gates, - so shalt thou rejoice before Yahweh thy God, in all whereunto thou puttest thy hand.
When thy brother a Hebrew man (or a Hebrew woman) selleth himself unto thee, then shall he serve thee six years, - and in the seventh year, shalt thou let him go out free from thee; and when thou lettest him go out free, from thee, thou shalt not let him go out empty: read more. thou shalt, richly load, him out of thy flock, and out of thy threshing-floor and out of thy wine-vat, - of that wherewith Yahweh thy God hath blessed thee, shalt thou give unto him; and thou shalt remember that a servant, thou wast in the land of Egypt, and that Yahweh thy God, redeemed thee, - for this cause, am I commanding thee this thing, to-day. And it shall be, if he shall say unto thee, I will not go away from thee, - because he loveth thee, and thy household, because he is well off with thee, then shalt thou take an awl and thrust it through his ear unto the door, so shall he be thy servant all his life. And unto thine handmaid also, shalt thou do thus. It shall not be hard in thine eyes when thou lettest him go out free, from thee; for to the double of the hire of a hireling, hath he served thee six years, - -so will Yahweh thy God bless thee, in all that thou doest.
Thou shalt not deliver up a slave unto his lord, - one who maketh his escape unto thee, from his lord: with thee, shall he remain in thy midst, in the place which he shall choose in any of thy gates where it seemeth good to him, - thou shalt not oppress him.
When a man is found stealing any person from among his brethren of the sons of Israel, and making merchandise of him, or selling hint, then shall that thief die, so shalt thou consume the wicked thing out of thy midst.
Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, - of thy brethren or of thy sojourners that are in thy land, within thy gates;
Cursed, be he that perverteth the right of the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow. And all the people shall say - Amen.
Ye are stationed, to-day, all of you, before Yahweh your God, - your heads your tribes, and your elders and your officers, every man of Israel; your little ones your wives, and thy sojourner that is in the midst of thy camps, - from him that heweth thy wood unto him that draweth thy water: read more. that thou mayest pass through into the covenant of Yahweh thy God and into his oath, - which Yahweh thy God is solemnising with thee, to-day: that he may confirm thee to-day as his own people, while, he, becometh thine own God, as he spake unto thee, - and as he sware unto thy fathers, unto Abraham unto Isaac and unto Jacob.
And Moses commanded them, saying, - At the end of seven years in the appointed season of the year of release, during the festival of booths; when all Israel cometh in to see the face of Yahweh thy God, in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt lead this law before all Israel, in their hearing. read more. Call together the people - the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner who is within thy gates, - that they may hear, and that they may learn, so shall they revere Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; and that their children who know not, may hear and learn, that they may revere Yahweh your God, - all the days that ye are living upon the soil, which ye are passing over the Jordan to possess.
Now, a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets, made outcry unto Elisha, saying - Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and, thou, knowest that, thy servant, was one who revered Yahweh, - now, the creditor, hath come to take my two boys to himself as bondmen.
Now, therefore, ye, are thinking to tread down, the children of Judah and Jerusalem, as servants and as handmaids for yourselves. But is it not so - that, ye yourselves, are altogether guilty against Yahweh your God? Now, therefore, hearken unto me, and restore the captives whom ye have taken captive from among your brethren, - for, the glow of the anger of Yahweh, is over you.
Then came there to be a great outcry of the people and their wives, - against their brethren the Jews. And there were some who were saying, Our sons and our daughters, are we pledging, - that we may obtain corn, and eat, and keep ourselves alive. read more. And there were some who were saying, Our fields and our vineyards and our houses, are we pledging, - -that we may obtain corn in the dearth. And there were others who were saying, We have borrowed silver, for the king's tribute, - upon our lands and our vineyards. Now, therefore, as is the flesh of our brethren, so is our flesh, as are their children, so are our children. Yet lo! we are putting in subjection our sons and our daughters, for bondservants, yea there are some of our daughters already trodden down, and we are powerless, and, our fields and our vineyards, belong to others. And it angered me greatly, - when I heard their outcry, and these words. So my heart took counsel unto me and I contended with the nobles and with the deputies, and said to them, A loan on interest - every man to his brother, are ye making, - So I appointed over them a great assembly; and I said unto them, We, have bought our brethren the Jews, who had sold themselves unto the nations, according to our ability, and will, ye, even sell your brethren, or shall they sell themselves unto us? And they were silent, and found no answer. Then said I, Not good, is the thing which ye are doing, - ought ye not, in the fear of God, to walk, because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? I too, then, my brethren and my young men, might be lending unto them on interest silver and corn! I pray you, let us leave off this lending on interest! Restore, I pray you, unto them this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, - also the hundredth of silver and corn, new wine and oil, for which ye have been lending to them. And they said, We will restore them, and, from them, will we require nothing, so, will we do, as thou, art saying. Then called I the priests, and put them on oath, to do according to this promise. Also, my lap, shook I out, and said - Thus and thus, may God shake out every man who shall not confirm this promise, out of his house and out of his labour, yea, thus and thus, let him be shaken out and empty, - And all the convocation said, Amen! and praised Yahweh, and the people did according to this promise.
Yahweh is one, who executeth righteousness, Yea vindication for all the oppressed.
Alas! for them who ordain iniquitous decree, - And, busy writers, who make a business of writing mischief: Turning aside from judgment, the poor, And robbing, of justice, the oppressed of my people, - So that, widows, become, their spoil, And of the fatherless, they make prey. read more. What, then, will ye do for the day of visitation, And for the devastation, which from afar, shall come? Unto whom, will ye flee for help? And where will ye leave your gory?
The word which came unto Jeremiah, from Yahweh, - after that King Zedekiah had solemnised a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem, proclaiming unto them liberty: that every man should let his servant and every man his handmaid, being a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free, - so that no man should use them as slaves, to wit a Jew his brother; read more. so then they hearkened - even all the princes and all the people who had entered into the covenant that every man should let his servant and every man his handmaid, go free, so as not to use them as slaves, any longer, - yea they hearkened, and let them go, howbeit they turned after that, and brought back the servants and the handmaids whom they had let go, free, and brought them into subjection as servants and as handmaids, So then the word of Yahweh came unto Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying: Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, - I myself, solemnised a covenant with your fathers, in the day when I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves saying: At the end of seven years, shall ye let go every man his brother, being a Hebrew, who shall sell himself unto thee and serve thee, six years, then shalt thou let him go, free, from thee, Howbeit your fathers hearkened not unto me neither inclined their ear. And, though, ye, just now turned and did that which was right in mine eyes, by proclaiming liberty, every man to his neighbour, - and solemnised a covenant before me, in the house on which my Name hath been called, yet have ye turned and profaned my Name, and brought back, every man his servant and every man his hand-maid, whom ye had let go, free, at their own desire, - and have brought them into subjection, to become your servants and handmaids. Therefore - Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye, have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every man to his brother and every man to his neighbour: Behold me! proclaiming, to you, a liberty: Declareth Yahweh unto the sword, unto the pestilence, and unto the famine, so will I make you a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth; and will give the men who are transgressing my covenant, in that they have not confirmed the words of the covenant, which they solemnised, before me, when they cut the calf, in twain, and passed between the parts thereof; even the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs and the priests, and all the people of the land, - who passed between the parts of the calf, yea I will give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them who are seeking their life, - and their dead bodies shall become food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth. Zedekiah king of Judah also with his princes, will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them who are seeking their life, - even into the hand of the force of the king of Babylon, who are going up from you. Behold me! giving command, Declareth Yahweh, and I will bring them back unto this city, and they will fight against it and capture it, and consume it with fire, - and, the cities of Judah, will I make too desolate to have an inhabitant.
Hear ye this word, ye heifers of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, - who say to their lords, Bring in, and let us drink!
Therefore will I draw near unto you for judgment, and will become a swift witness against the mutterers of incantations, and against the adulterers, and against them that swear to a falsehood, - and against them who rob the hire of the hireling, the widow and the fatherless, and that drive away the sojourner, and do not revere me, saith Yahweh of hosts.
Each one, in the calling wherein he was called, in the same, let him abide: A bond-servant, wast thou called? let it not cause thee concern; but, if thou canst even become, free, rather use it. read more. For, he who in the Lord was called, being a bond-servant, is, a freed-man of the Lord: in like manner, he that was called being, a freeman, is Christ's bond-servant: - With a price, have ye been bought, - do not become bond-servants of men: Each one, wherein he was called, brethren, in the same, let him abide with God.
Ye servants, be obedient unto them who, after the flesh, are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto the Christ; Not by way of eye-service as man-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God, from the soul, read more. with good will, rendering service - as unto the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that, each one, whatsoever he may do that is good, the same, shall he receive back from the Lord, whether bond or free. And ye masters, the same things, be doing towards them, forbearing your threat - knowing that, both their and your Master, is in the heavens, and, respect of persons, there is none, with him.
Ye servants! be obedient, in all things, unto them who, according to the flesh, are your masters, - not with eye-service, as man-pleasers, but with singleness of heart, revering the Lord, -
Ye masters! that which is just and equitable, unto your servants, be rendering, knowing that, ye also, have a Master in heaven.
For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, -
Servants, unto their own masters, to be submitting themselves in all things, to be, well-pleasing, not gainsaying,
Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy my brother, - unto Philemon the beloved, and a fellow worker of ours, And unto Apphia our sister. And unto Archippus our fellow-soldier, and unto the assembly which meeteth, at thy house:
I am giving thanks unto my God - always, making mention, of thee, in my prayers, Hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus and towards all the saints, - read more. To the end that, the fellowship of thy faith, may become, energetic, by a personal knowledge of every good thing that is in us towards Christ; For, much joy, have I had, and encouragement, by occasion of thy love, in that, the tender affections of the saints, have had rest given them by thee, brother. Wherefore, though I have, much, freedom of speech, in Christ, to be enjoining upon thee that which is befitting, Yet, for loves sake, I rather exhort, - being, such a one, as Paul the aged, now, also, even a prisoner of Christ Jesus, - I exhort thee concerning my own child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, - Onesimus: Him who, at one time, was, unto thee, unserviceable, but, now, unto thee and unto me, serviceable; Whom I have sent back unto thee - him, that is, my own, tender affections! - Whom, I, was minded, with myself, to detain, that, in thy behalf, unto me, he might be ministering in the bonds of the joyful message; But, apart from thy mind, I wished to do, nothing, that, not as by necessity, thy goodness should be, but, by choice. For, peradventure, for this cause, was he separated for an hour, that, as an age-abiding possession, thou mightest have him back, - No longer as a servant, but above a servant - a brother beloved, very greatly to me, but, how much rather, to thee - both in the flesh and in the Lord! If, therefore, thou holdest me as one in thy fellowship, take him unto thee, as myself; And, if he hath wronged thee at all or oweth thee aught, the same, unto me, do thou reckon: - I, Paul, have written it with, my own, hand, - I, will repay it ; that I may not tell thee - that, thyself, unto me, thou still owest. Yea! brother, I, would, from thee, have help, in the Lord: give rest unto my tender affections in Christ. Confident of thine obedience, I have written unto thee, knowing that, even beyond what I say, thou wilt do: - At the same time, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto you. There salute thee - Epaphras my fellow-captive in Christ Jesus, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, - my fellow-workers. The favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, be with your spirit.
Lo, the wage of the workers who have out down your fields - that which hath been kept back, by you, is crying out; and, the outcries of them who reaped, into the ears of the Lord of hosts, have entered:
Fausets
na'ar, meshareth. In our sense, "a free, voluntary attendant", as Joshua of Moses (Ex 33:11; so 2Ki 4:12,43; 5:20; 6:15 margin "minister"; 2Sa 13:17-18; 1Ki 20:14-15). 'Ebed on the other hand is "a bondservant or slave".
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Thus Yahweh used to speak unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend, - and when he returned unto the camp, his attendant Joshua son of Nun, a young man, moved not from the midst of the tent.
but called his young man who waited on him, and said - I pray you, put forth this woman from me, outside, - and bolt the door after her. Now she had upon her a long tunic, for, so, used king's daughters to apparel themselves, when they were virgins, in robes. And his attendant took her forth, outside, and bolted the door, after her.
Then said he unto Gehazi, his young man, Call this Shunammitess. And he called her, and she stood before him.
But his attendant said - How can I set this before a hundred men? And he said - Give to the people, that they may eat, for, Thus, saith Yahweh, They are about to eat and to leave remaining.
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said - Lo! my lord, hath restrained, this Naaman the Syrian, by not taking at his hand that which he brought! By the life of Yahweh, verily, I will runs after him, and accept of him, something.
And, when the attendant of the man of God arose early and went forth, lo! a force surrounding the city, with horses and chariots. Then said his young man unto him - Alas! my lord, what shall we do?
Hastings
Morish
1. The words ebed and ?????? (those most commonly used for 'servant') convey the idea of bondmen or slaves. Some were bought with money and some were taken in war: cf. also Ex 22:3. Such a servant, if circumcised, might among the Israelites eat of the Passover
See Verses Found in Dictionary
but, every man's servant bought with silver, - when thou hast circumcised him, then, shall he eat thereof: An alien or a hireling, shall not eat thereof.
If his lord gave him a wife, and she have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her lords, and, he shall go out by himself.
should the sun have arisen upon him, there would be shedding of blood due for him, - he is surely to make restitution, if he hath nothing, then is he to be sold, for his theft.
But when, a priest, buyeth any person, as the purchase of his silver, he may eat thereof, - and, the children of his household, they, may eat of his food.
and saying, Lord! my servant, is laid prostrate in the house, a paralytic, fearfully tortured.
But the centurion, answering, said, Lord! I am of no consideration, that, under my roof, thou shouldest enter, - but, only say with a word, and healed shall be my servant.
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Withdraw! and, as thou hast believed, be it done for thee. And healed was the servant in that hour.
Lo! my servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom, my soul, delighteth, - I will put my Spirit upon him, and, justice, unto the nations, will he report:
and he said unto his servants - This, is John the Immerser, - he hath arisen from the dead, for this cause, are the powers working mightily within him.
Now, Peter, was following him afar off, unto the court of the High-priest, - and, entering within, was sitting with the attendants, to see the end.
and, straightway, he called them, - and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat, with the hired men, they came away after him.
And, Peter, afar of, followed him, as far as within, into the court of the High-priest; and was sitting with the attendants, and warming himself by the light.
And some began to be spitting at him, and, covering up his face, and to be buffeting him, and saying to him - Prophesy! And, the attendants, with smart blows, took him.
He hath laid hold of Israel his servant, to be mindful of mercies:
And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us, In the house of David his servant:
Wherefore, neither deemed I, myself, worthy to come unto thee, - but speak with a word, and let my servant be healed.
Happy those servants, whom the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching! Verily, I say unto you - he will gird himself, and make them recline, and, coming near, will minister unto them.
But, if that servant should say in his heart - My lord delayeth to come! and should begin to be striking the youths and the maidens, - to be eating also, and drinking, and making himself drunk,
But coming, to himself, he said - How many hired servants of my father, have bread enough and to spare, whereas, I, with famine, here, am perishing!
No longer, am I worthy to be called a son of thine, - Make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came unto his own father.
and, calling near one of the youths, he inquired what these things, could be.
No domestic, can, unto two masters, be in service; for either, the one, he will hate, and, the other, love, or, unto the one, he will hold, and, the other, despise: Ye cannot, unto God, be in service, and unto Riches.
For which is greater - he that reclineth? or he that ministereth? Is not he that reclineth? But, I, am, in your midst, as he that ministereth,
The hireling, even because he is no shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, vieweth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, - and, the wolf, seizeth them and scattereth, - Because, a hireling, he is, and hath no care for the sheep.
Jesus answered - My kingdom, is not of this world: If, of this world, had been my kingdom, mine own officers, would have been striving, that I should not be delivered up unto the Jews: but, now, my kingdom, is not from hence.
The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, - the God of our fathers, hath glorified his servant Jesus: - whom, ye, indeed, delivered up and denied to Pilate's, face when he had adjudged to release him;
Unto you first, God - having raised up his Servant - hath sent him forth, ready to bless you, when ye are turning away, each one, from your wickednesses.
Who, by our father, through means of the Holy Spirit, even by the mouth of David thy servant, said - Unto what end did nations rage, and, peoples, busy themselves with empty things?
For they were gathered together, of a truth, in this city, against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, - both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with them of the nations, and peoples of Israel; -
By stretching forth thy hand for healing, and by the coming to pass of both signs and wonders, through the name of thy holy servant Jesus.
And, when the messenger who had been speaking with him had departed, calling two of the domestics, and a devout soldier of them that constantly attended him,
Who art, thou, that judgest another's domestic? To his own master, he standeth or falleth; he shall, however, be made to stand, - for his master is able to make him stand.
For, he who in the Lord was called, being a bond-servant, is, a freed-man of the Lord: in like manner, he that was called being, a freeman, is Christ's bond-servant: -
fornicators, sodomites, man-stealers, liars, false- swearers, - and, if anything else, unto the healthful teaching, is opposed; -
Even Moses, indeed, was faithful in all his house, as an attendant, for a witness of the things which were to be spoken;
Smith
Servant.
[SLAVE]
See Slave
Watsons
SERVANT. The word generally signifies a slave. For formerly among the Hebrews, and the neighbouring nations, the greater part of servants were slaves, that is to say, they belonged absolutely to their masters, who had a right to dispose of their persons, their bodies, goods, and even of their lives, in some cases. The Hebrews had two sorts of servants or slaves, Le 25:44-45, &c. Some were strangers, either bought, or taken in the wars. The others were Hebrew slaves, who, being poor, sold themselves, or were sold to pay their debts; or were delivered up for slaves by their parents, in cases of necessity. This sort of Hebrew slaves continued in slavery but to the year of jubilee; then they might return to liberty again, and their masters could not retain them against their wills. If they would continue voluntarily with their masters, they were brought before the judges; there they made a declaration, that for this time they disclaimed the privilege of the law, had their ears bored with an awl, by applying them to the doorposts of their master, Ex 21:2,5-7, &c; and after that they had no longer any power of recovering their liberty, except at the next year of jubilee. Servant is also taken for a man that dedicates himself to the service of another, by the choice of his own will and inclination. Thus Joshua was the servant of Moses, Elisha of Elijah, Gehazi of Elisha; St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. Philip, and the rest, were servants of Jesus Christ.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
When thou shalt acquire a servant who is a Hebrew, six years, shall he serve, - but in the seventh shall he go out freely - for nought.
But, if the servant shall plainly say, I love my lord, and my wife and my sons, - I will not go out free, then shall his lord bring him near unto God, and shall bring him near unto the door, or unto the door-post, - and his lord shall pierce his ear with an awl, so shall he serve him all his life. read more. And when a man shall sell iris daughter to be a handmaid, she shall not go out according to the out-going of the men-servants,
And as for thy bondman and thy bond-maid which thou shalt have, of the nations that are round about you - from them, may ye buy bondman and bond-maid. Moreover also, of the sons of the settlers who are sojourning with you - of them, may ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land, - so shall they become yours, as a possession;