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.
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And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot also; Abram's brother's son, and his goods, for he dwelled at Sodom; and departed. read more. Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; which dwelt in the oak grove of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, which were confederate with Abram. When Abram heard that his brother was taken, he harnessed his servants born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and followed till they came at Dan. And set himself and his servants in array, and fell upon them by night, and smote them, and chased them away unto Hobah, which lieth on the lefthand of Damascus, and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.
And Abram answered, "LORD Jehovah, what wilt thou give me? I go childless, and the cater of mine house, this Eliezer of Damascus, hath a son." And Abram said, "See, to me hast thou given no seed: lo, a lad born in my house shall be mine heir!" read more. And behold, the word of the LORD spake unto Abram saying, "He shall not be thine heir, but one that shall come out of thine own body shall be thine heir."
And God said unto Abraham, "See thou keep my covenant, both thou and thy seed after thee in their times. This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee: that ye circumcise all your men children. read more. Ye shall circumcise the foreskin of your flesh, and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And every manchild when it is eight days old, shall be circumcised among you in your generations, and all servants also born at home or bought with money, though they be strangers and not of thy seed. The servant born in thy house, and he also that is bought with money, must needs be circumcised, that my covenant may be in your flesh, for an everlasting bond.
And all the men in his house, whether they were born in his house or bought with money, though they were strangers, were circumcised with him.
For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him."
Abraham was old and stricken in days, and the LORD had blessed him in all things. And he said unto his eldest servant of his house which had the rule over all that he had, "Put thy hand under my thigh read more. that I may make thee swear by the LORD that is God of heaven and God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son, of the daughters of the Canaanites, among which I dwell. But shalt go unto my country and to my kindred, and there take a wife unto my son Isaac." Then said the servant unto him, "What and if the woman will not agree to come with me unto this land, shall I bring thy son again unto the land which thou camest out of?" And Abraham said unto him, "Beware of that, that thou bring not my son thither. The LORD God of heaven which took me from my father's house and from the land where I was born, and which spake unto me and sware unto me saying 'unto thy seed will I give this land' - he shall send his angel before thee, that thou mayest take a wife unto my son from thence. Nevertheless, if the woman will not agree to come with thee then shalt thou be without danger of this oath. But above all things bring not my son thither again." And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham and sware to him as concerning that matter. And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master and departed, and had of all manner goods of his master with him, and stood up and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
Come on, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hands be defiled upon him: for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brethren were content. Then as the Midianites merchant men passed by, they drew Joseph out of the pit and sold him unto the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought him into Egypt.
but all the servants that are bought for money shall ye circumcise, and then let them eat thereof.
If thou buy a servant that is an Hebrew, sixth years he shall serve, and the seventh he shall go out free paying nothing.
Then let his master bring him unto the judges and set him to the door or the doorpost, and bore his ear through with an awl, and let him be his servant forever. "If a man sell his daughter to be a servant: she shall not go out as the menservants do.
"He that stealeth a man and selleth him, if it be proved upon him, shall be slain for it.
If a man smite his servant or his maid in the eye and put it out, he shall let them go free for the eye's sake. Also, if he smite out his servant's or his maid's tooth, he shall let them go out free for the tooth's sake.
except the su be up when he is found, then there shall be blood shed for him. A thief shall make restitution: If he have not wherewith, he shall be sold for his theft.
And see that thou make them after the fashion that was showed thee in the mount."
"'If thy brother that dwelleth by thee wax poor and sell himself unto thee, thou shalt not let him labour as a bondservant doeth: but as a hired servant and as a sojourner he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the trumpet year, read more. and then shall he depart from thee: both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own kindred again and unto the possessions of his fathers; for they are my servants which I brought out of the land of Egypt, and shall not be sold as bondmen. See therefore that thou reign not over him cruelly, but fear thy God. "'If thou wilt have bondservants and maidens, thou shalt buy them of the heathen that are round about you, and of the children of the strangers that are sojourners among you, and of their generations that are with you, which they begat in your land. And ye shall possess them and give them unto your children after you, to possess them for ever: and they shall be your bondmen. But over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not reign one over another cruelly. "'When a stranger and a sojourner waxeth rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him waxeth poor and sell himself unto the stranger that dwelleth by thee or to any of the stranger's kin:
"'When a stranger and a sojourner waxeth rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him waxeth poor and sell himself unto the stranger that dwelleth by thee or to any of the stranger's kin:
"'When a stranger and a sojourner waxeth rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him waxeth poor and sell himself unto the stranger that dwelleth by thee or to any of the stranger's kin: after that he is sold he may be redeemed again: one of his brethren may buy him out;
after that he is sold he may be redeemed again: one of his brethren may buy him out; whether it be his uncle or his uncle's son, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his kindred: either if his hand can get so much he may be loosed.
whether it be his uncle or his uncle's son, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his kindred: either if his hand can get so much he may be loosed. And he shall reckon with him that bought him, from the year that he was sold in unto the trumpet year, and the price of his buying shall be according unto the number of years, and he shall be with him as a hired servant.
And he shall reckon with him that bought him, from the year that he was sold in unto the trumpet year, and the price of his buying shall be according unto the number of years, and he shall be with him as a hired servant. If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again for his deliverance, of the money that he was sold for.
If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again for his deliverance, of the money that he was sold for. If there remain but few years unto the trumpet year, he shall so count with him, and according unto his years give him again for his redemption,
If there remain but few years unto the trumpet year, he shall so count with him, and according unto his years give him again for his redemption, and shall be with him year by year as a hired servant, and the other shall not reign cruelly over him in thy sight.
and shall be with him year by year as a hired servant, and the other shall not reign cruelly over him in thy sight. If he be not bought free in the meantime, then he shall go out in the trumpet year and his children with him;
If he be not bought free in the meantime, then he shall go out in the trumpet year and his children with him; for the children of Israel are my servants which I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.
And I charged your judges the same time, saying, 'Hear your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him. See that ye know no man in judgment: but hear the small as well as the great and be afraid of no man, for the judgment is God's. And the cause that is too hard for you, bring unto me and I will hear it.'
but thou must eat them before the LORD thy God, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen: both thou, thy son and thy daughter, thy servant and thy maid and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, in all that thou puttest thine hand to.
If thy brother, an Hebrew, sell himself to thee, or an Hebrewess, he shall serve thee six years and the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: read more. but shalt give him of thy sheep and of thy corn and of thy wine, and give him of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God delivered thee thence: wherefore I command thee this thing today. But and if he say unto thee, 'I will not go away from thee,' because he loveth thee and thine house and is well at ease with thee: Then take an awl and nail his ear to the door therewith and let him be thy servant forever, and unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise. And let it not grieve thine eyes to let him go out from thee, for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee in his service six years. And the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee. Let him dwell with thee, even among you in what place he himself liketh best, in one of thy cities where it is good for him, and vex him not.
If any man be found stealing any of his brethren the children of Israel, and maketh chevisance of him or selleth him, the thief shall die. And thou shalt put evil away from thee.
Thou shalt not defraud a hired servant that is needy and poor, whether he be of thy brethren or a stranger that is in thy land within thy cities.
"'Cursed be he that hindereth the right of the stranger, fatherless and widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
Ye stand here this day every one of you before the LORD your God: both the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officers and all the men of Israel; your children, your wives and the strangers that are in thine host, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water; read more. that thou shouldest come under the covenant of the LORD thy God, and under his oath which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day. For to make thee a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
and commanded them, saying, "At the end of seven years, in the time of the free year, in the feast of the tabernacles, when all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God, in the place which he hath chosen: see that thou read this law before all Israel in their ears. read more. Gather the people together: both men, women and children and the strangers that are in thy cities, that they may hear, learn and fear the LORD your God, and be diligent to keep all the words of this law, and that their children which know nothing may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it."
And there cried a certain woman of the wives of the children of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, "Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD. And the creditor is come to fetch my two sons, to be his bondmen."
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem and to make them bondmen and bondwomen. What other thing do ye - ye unhappy - than offend the LORD your God? But now hear me, and deliver the captives again which ye have taken of your brethren: for the great wrath of the LORD is upon you!"
And there arose a great complaint of the people, and of their wives, against their brethren the Jews. For there were some that said, "Our sons and daughters and we are too many, let us take corn for them to eat, that we may live." read more. Some said, "Let us set our lands, vineyards, and houses, to pledge, and take up corn in the dearth." But some said, "Let us borrow money of the king's tribute for our lands and vineyards. Now are our brethrens' bodies as our own bodies and their children as our children: else should we subdue our sons and daughters into bondage, and some of our daughters are subdued already, and no strength is there in our hands, and other men shall have our lands and vineyards." But when I heard their complaint and such words, it displeased me sore, and I advised so in my mind, that I rebuked the councilors and the rulers, and said unto them, "Will ye require usury one of another?" And I brought a great congregation against them, and said unto them, "We, after our ability, have bought our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the Heathen. And will ye sell your brethren, whom we have bought unto us?" Then held they their peace, and could find nothing to answer. Also I said, "It is not good, that ye do. Ought ye not to walk in the fear of God because of the rebuke of the Heathen our enemies? I and my brethren, and my servants have lent them money and corn: but as for usury, let us leave it. Therefore this same day see that ye restore them their lands again, their vineyards, oil gardens, and houses, and the hundredth part of the money of the corn, wine, and oil, that ye have won of them." Then said they, "We will restore them again and will require nothing of them and will do as thou hast spoken." And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do so. And I shook my lap, and said, "God shake out every man after the same manner from his house and labour, that maintaineth not this word: even thus be he shaken out, and void." And all the congregation said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did so.
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment, for all them that are oppressed with wrong.
Woe be unto you that make unrighteous laws, and devise things, which be too hard for to keep: wherethrough the poor are oppressed on every side, and the innocents of my people are therewith robbed of judgment: that widows may be your prey, and that ye may rob the fatherless. read more. What will ye do in time of the visitation and destruction, that shall come from far? To whom will ye run for help? Or to whom will ye give your honour, that he may keep it?
These are the words that the LORD spake unto Jeremiah the prophet, when Zedekiah was agreed with all the people at Jerusalem, that there should be proclaimed a liberty: so that every man should let his servant and handmaid go free, Hebrew and Hebrewess, and no Jew to hold his brother as a bond man. read more. Now as they had consented, even so they were obedient, and let them go free. But afterward they repented, and took again the servants and the hand maidens, whom they had let go free, and so made them bond again. For the which cause the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah from the LORD himself, saying, "Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers, when I brought them out of Egypt, that they should no more be bondmen: saying, 'When seven years are out, every man shall let his bought servant, a Hebrew go free, if he have served him six years.' But your fathers obeyed me not and hearkened not unto me. As for you, ye were now turned, and did right before me, in that ye proclaimed, every man to let his neighbour go free, and in that ye made a covenant before me, in the temple that beareth my name. But yet ye have turned yourselves again, and blasphemed my name, in this: That every man hath required his servant and handmaid again, whom ye had letten go quit and free, and compelled them to serve you again, and to be your bondmen. And therefore thus sayeth the LORD: Ye have not obeyed me, every man to proclaim freedom unto his brother and neighbour: wherefore, I will call you unto a freedom, sayeth the LORD - even unto the sword, to the pestilence, and to hunger, and will make you to be plagued in all the kingdoms of the earth. Yea, those men that have broken my covenant, and not kept the words of the covenant which they made before me - when they hewed the calf in two, and when there went through the two halves thereof - The princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the gelded men, the Priests and all the people of the land, which went through the two sides of the calf. Those men will I give into the power of their enemies, and into the hands of them that follow upon their lives. And their dead bodies shall be meat for the fowls of the air, and beasts of the field. As for Zedekiah the king of Judah and his princes, I will deliver them into the power of their enemies, and of them that desire to slay them, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's host, which now is departed from you. But through my commandment, sayeth the LORD, they shall come again before this city, they shall fight against it, win it, and burn it. Moreover I will lay the cities of Judah so waste, that no man shall dwell therein."
O hear this word, ye fat cows, that be upon the hill of Samaria; yea, that do poor men wrong, and oppress the needy; yea, that say to your lords, 'Bring hither, let us drink.'
I will come and punish you, and I myself will be a swift witness against the witches, against the adulterers, against false swearers: yea, and against those that wrongfully keep back the hireling's duty, which vex the widows and the fatherless, and oppress the stranger, and fear not me, sayeth the LORD of Hosts.
Let every man abide in the same state wherein he was called. Art thou called a servant? Care not for it. Nevertheless if thou mayst be free, use it rather. read more. For he that is called in the Lord being a servant, is the Lord's freeman. Likewise he that is called being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are dearly bought; be not men's servants. Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Servants, be obedient unto your carnal masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your hearts, as unto Christ: not with service in the eyesight, as men-pleasers: but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart read more. with good will, even as though serving the Lord and not men. And remember that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, that shall he receive again of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And ye masters, do even the same things unto them, putting away threatenings: and remember that even your master also is in heaven, neither is there any respect of person with him.
Servants, be obedient unto your bodily masters in all things: not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart fearing God.
Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, seeing ye know that ye have also a master in heaven.
For there are many disobedient and talkers of vanity, and deceivers of minds, namely they of the circumcision,
The servants exhort to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please in all things, not answering again,
Paul the prisoner of Jesus Christ, and brother Timothy. Unto Philemon the beloved, and our helper, and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation of thy house. read more. Grace be with you and peace, from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always making mention always of thee in my prayers, when I hear of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints: so that the fellowship that thou hast in the faith is fruitful through knowledge of all good things, which are in you by Jesus Christ. And we have great joy and consolation over thy love: For by thee, brother, the saints' hearts are comforted. Wherefore though I be bold in Christ to enjoin thee, that which becometh thee; yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, though I be as I am, even Paul aged, and now in bonds for Jesus Christ's sake. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I begat in my bonds, which in time past was to thee unprofitable: but now profitable both to thee and also to me, whom I have sent home again. Thou therefore receive him, that is to say mine own heart, whom I would fain have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel. Nevertheless, without thy mind, would I do nothing, that that good which springeth of thee should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. Haply he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever, not now as a servant: but above a servant, I mean a brother beloved, specially to me: but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and also in the Lord? If thou count me a fellow, receive him as myself. If he have hurt thee or oweth thee ought, that lay to my charge. I, Paul, have written it with mine own hand. I will recompense it. So that I do not say to thee how that thou owest unto me even thine own self. Even so, brother, let me enjoy thee in the Lord. Comfort my heart in the Lord. Trusting in thine obedience, I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do more than I say for. Moreover, prepare me lodging: for I trust through the help of your prayers, I shall be given unto you. There salute thee, Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus; Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my helpers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits, Amen. {Here ends the Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle unto Philemon, Sent from Rome by Onesimus, a servant.}
Behold, the hire of the laborers which have reaped down your fields - which hire is of you kept back by fraud - crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
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".
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And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And when Moses turned again in to the host, the lad Joshua, his servant, the son of Nun, departed not out of the tabernacle.
but called his lad that waited upon him, and said, "Put her out at the doors from me and bolt the door after her." And she had a kirtle of divers colors upon her: for with such were the king's daughters that were virgins appareled; made strait unto them. Then his servant brought her out at the doors and locked the doors after her.
Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." And he called her, and she came before him.
"What should I set this before a hundred men?" And he said, "Set it before the people and let them eat. For thus sayeth the LORD, 'They shall eat and leave.'"
And when he was departed from him a furlong of ground, Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master hath spared Naaman, this Syrian, so that he hath not taken from him that which he brought! As surely as the LORD liveth, I will run after him and take somewhat."
And when the servant of the men of God rose up early, and was gone out: Behold, there was an Host round about the town with horses and chariots. Then said his lad to him, "Alas master, 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
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but all the servants that are bought for money shall ye circumcise, and then let them eat thereof. A stranger and a hired servant shall not eat thereof.
And if his master have given him a wife and she have borne him sons or daughters: then the wife and her children shall be her master's and he shall go out alone.
except the su be up when he is found, then there shall be blood shed for him. A thief shall make restitution: If he have not wherewith, he shall be sold for his theft.
But if the priest buy any fowl with money he may eat of it, and he also that is born in his house may eat of his bread.
saying, "Master, my servant lieth sick at home of the palsy, and is grievously pained."
The Centurion answered and said, "Sir, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Then Jesus said unto the Centurion, "Go thy way; and as thou believest, so be it unto thee." And his servant was healed the selfsame hour.
"Behold my child, whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul delighteth: I will put my spirit on him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.
and said unto his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen again from death, and therefore are such miracles wrought by him."
And Peter followed him afar off, unto the high priest's place: and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end.
And anon he called them. And they left their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired servants, and went their way after him.
And Peter followed him a great way off, even into the palace of the high priest, and he was there and sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
And some began to spit at him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with their fists, and to say unto him, "Aread unto us." And the servants buffeted him on the face.
He remembereth mercy: and helpeth his servant Israel.
And hath raised up a horn of salvation unto us, in the house of his servant David.
Wherefore I thought not myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word and my servant shall be whole.
Happy are those servants, which their Lord, when he cometh, shall find waking; Verily I say unto you, he will gird himself about, and make them sit down to meat, and walk by them, and minister unto them.
But and if the evil servant shall say in his heart, 'My master will defer his coming,' and shall begin to smite the servants, and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken:
Then he came to himself and said, 'How many hired servants at my father's have bread enough, and I die for hunger.
and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.'
No servant can serve two masters, for either he shall hate the one and love the other, or else he shall lean to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God, and mammon."
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat: or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? And I am among you, as he that ministereth.
An hired servant which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flyeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hired servant flyeth because he is a hired servant, and careth not for the sheep.
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world then would my ministers surely fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence."
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus, whom ye delivered and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had judged him to be loosed:
First unto you hath God raised up his son Jesus, and him he hath sent to bless you, that every one of you should turn from your wickedness."
which by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, 'Why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things?
For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and also Pontius Pilate with the gentiles, and the people of Israel, gathered themselves together:
So that thou stretch forth thine hand, that healing, and signs, and wonders be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus."
When the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him,
What art thou that judgest another man's servant? Whether he stand or fall, that pertaineth unto his master. Yea, he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand.
For he that is called in the Lord being a servant, is the Lord's freeman. Likewise he that is called being free, is Christ's servant.
and whoremongers; to them that defile themselves with mankind; to menstealers; to liars and to perjured, and so forth if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholesome doctrine
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a minister, to bear witness of those things which should be spoken afterward.
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
If thou buy a servant that is an Hebrew, sixth years he shall serve, and the seventh he shall go out free paying nothing.
But and if the servant say, 'I love my master and my wife and my children, I will not go out free.' Then let his master bring him unto the judges and set him to the door or the doorpost, and bore his ear through with an awl, and let him be his servant forever. read more. "If a man sell his daughter to be a servant: she shall not go out as the menservants do.
"'If thou wilt have bondservants and maidens, thou shalt buy them of the heathen that are round about you, and of the children of the strangers that are sojourners among you, and of their generations that are with you, which they begat in your land.