Bible Lexicons

Berry's Synonyms of the New TestamentBerry's NT Synonyms

Servant, Slave

δοῦλος, θεράπων, διάκονος, οἰκέτης, ὑπηρέτης.

δοῦλος is the usual word for slave, one who is permanently in servitude, in subjection to a master. θεράπων is simply one who renders service at a particular time, sometimes as a slave, more often as a freeman, who renders voluntary service prompted by duty or love. It denotes one who serves, in his relation to a person. διάκονος also may designate either a slave or a freeman, it denotes a servant viewed in relation to his work. οἰκέτης designates a slave, sometimes being practically equivalent to δοῦλος. Usually, however, as the etymology of the term indicates, it means a slave as a member of the household, not emphasizing the servile idea, but rather the relation which would tend to mitigate the severity of his condition. ὑπηρέτης means literally an under-rower, and was used to describe an ordinary rower on a war-galley. It is then used, as in the N.T., to indicate any man, not a slave, who served in a subordinate position under a superior.