Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1401: δοῦλος
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 ὑμῶνδοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσία,
Romans 6:19. Then substantively, ἡ δούλη, a female slave, bondmaid, handmaid: τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῦκυρίου, one who worships God and submits to him,
Acts 2:18 (from
Joel 2:29());
Luke 1:38, 48. ὁ δοῦλος, the Sept. for עֶבֶד;
1. a slave, bondman, man of servile condition;
a. properly: opposed to ἐλεύθερος,
1 Corinthians 7:21;
1 Corinthians 12:13;
Galatians 3:28;
Ephesians 6:8;
Colossians 3:11;
Revelation 6:15;
Revelation 13:16;
Revelation 19:18; opposed to κύριος, δεσπότης, οἰκοδεσπότης,
Matthew 10:24;
Matthew 13:27;
Luke 12:46;
John 15:15Ephesians 6:5;
Colossians 3:22;
Colossians 4:1;
1 Timothy 6:1;
Titus 2:9, and very often.
b. metaphorically, α. one who gives himself up wholly to another's will,
1 Corinthians 7:23; or dominion, τῆςἁμαρτίας,
John 8:34;
Romans 6:17, 20; τῆς φθορᾶς,
2 Peter 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, τοῦΧριστοῦ, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, are those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men: used of apostles,
Romans 1:1;
Galatians 1:10;
Philippians 1:1;
2 Timothy 2:24;
Titus 1:1;
James 1:1;
2 Peter 1:1; of other preachers and teachers of the gospel,
Colossians 4:12;
2 Timothy 2:24;
Jude 1:1; of the true worshippers of Christ (who is κύριος πάντων,
Acts 10:36),
Ephesians 6:6. The δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ, יְהוָהעַבְדֵי, are those whose agency God employs in executing his purposes: used of apostles,
Acts 4:29;
Acts 16:17; of Moses (
Joshua 1:1),
Revelation 15:3; of prophets (
Jeremiah 7:25;
Jeremiah 25:4),
Revelation 1:1;
Revelation 10:7;
Revelation 11:18; of all who obey God's commands, his true worshippers,
Luke 2:29;
Revelation 2:20;
Revelation 7:3;
Revelation 19:2, 5;
Revelation 22:3, 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:
Matthew 20:27;
Mark 10:44; strenuously laboring for another's salvation,
2 Corinthians 4:5.
2. a servant, attendant, (of a king):
Matthew 18:23, 26ff. (Synonym: see διάκονος.)