δοῦλος

δοῦλος — doûlos

δοῦλος, δούλη, δοῦλον (derived by most from δέω, to tie, bind; by some from ΔΑΛΩ, to ensnare, capture ((?) others besides; cf. Vanicek, p. 322)); serving, subject to: παρεστήσατε τά μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσία, Rom 6:19. Then substantively, ἡ δούλη, a female slave, bondmaid, handmaid: τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου, one who worships God and submits to him, Act 2:18 (from Joe 2:29 ); Luk 1:38; Luk 1:48. ὁ δοῦλος, the Sept. for עֶבֶד;

1. a slave, bondman, man of servile condition;

a. properly: opposed to ἐλεύθερος, 1Co 7:21; 1Co 12:13; Gal 3:28; Eph 6:8; Col 3:11; Rev 6:15; Rev 13:16; Rev 19:18; opposed to κύριος, δεσπότης, οἰκοδεσπότης, Mat 10:24; Mat 13:27; Luk 12:46; Joh 15:15 Eph 6:5; Col 3:22; Col 4:1; 1Ti 6:1; Tit 2:9, and very often.

b. metaphorically, α. one who gives himself up wholly to another's will, 1Co 7:23; or dominion, τῆς ἁμαρτίας, Joh 8:34; Rom 6:17; Rom 6:20; τῆς φθορᾶς, 2Pe 2:19, (τῶν ἡδονῶν, Athen. 12, p. 531 c.; τῶν χρημάτων, Plutarch, Pelop c. 3; τοῦ πίνειν, Aelian v. h. 2, 41). β. the δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ, τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, are those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men: used of apostles, Rom 1:1; Gal 1:10; Php 1:1; 2Ti 2:24; Tit 1:1; Jas 1:1; 2Pe 1:1; of other preachers and teachers of the gospel, Col 4:12; 2Ti 2:24; Jud 1:1; of the true worshippers of Christ (who is κύριος πάντων, Act 10:36), Eph 6:6. The δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ, יְהוָה עַבְדֵי, are those whose agency God employs in executing his purposes: used of apostles, Act 4:29; Act 16:17; of Moses (Jos 1:1), Rev 15:3; of prophets (Jer 7:25; Jer 25:4), Rev 1:1; Rev 10:7; Rev 11:18; of all who obey God's commands, his true worshippers, Luk 2:29; Rev 2:20; Rev 7:3; Rev 19:2; Rev 19:5; Rev 22:3; Rev 22:6; (Psalm 33:23; Psalm 68:37; Psalm 88:4, 21 ). γ. δοῦλος τίνος, devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests: Mat 20:27; Mar 10:44; strenuously laboring for another's salvation, 2Co 4:5.

2. a servant, attendant, (of a king): Mat 18:23; Mat 18:26 ff. (Synonym: see διάκονος.)