Greek · G1401 · unreviewed

δοῦλος

Slave

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δοῦλος G1401

Pronunciation doûlos

What does δοῦλος (doûlos) mean in the Bible?

δοῦλος (doûlos) is a Greek word meaning "slave". δοῦλος, -η, -ον, [in LXX, ὁ δ. This term runs through the canonical themes of Kingdom, Messiah.

Full entry for δοῦλος (G1401) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

slave

Extended definition

Complete loss of personal autonomy and will to a master; metaphorically, enslavement to sin or Christ.

1in bondage to, subject to: Rom.6:19.

2As subst., ὁ, ἡ δ., a slave;

afem., ἡ δ., a female slave, bondmaid (Cremer, 702; DB, iii, 215): Luk.1:38, 48 Act.2:18" (LXX) ;

bmasc., ὁ δ., a slave, bond-man: Mat.8:9 18:23, al.; opposite to ἐλεύθερος, 1Co.7:22 12:13, Gal.3:28, Eph.6:8, Col.3:11, Rev.6:15 13:16 19:18; opposite to κύριος, δεσπότης, οἰκοδεσπότης, Mat.10:24 13:27, 28 Luk.12:46, Jhn.15:15, Eph.6:5, Col.3:22 4:1, al.; metaphorically, δ. Χριστοῦ, τοῦ Χρ., Ἰησοῦ Χρ., Rom.1:1, 1Co.7:22, Gal.1:10, Eph.6:6, Php.1:1, Col.4:12, Jas.1:1, 2Pe.1:1, Ju 1; δ. τ. θεοῦ, τ. κυρίου, Act.16:17, 2Ti.2:24, Tit.1:1, 1Pe.2:16, Rev.7:3 15:3; δ. πονηρός, ἀχρεῖος, κακός, Mat.18:32 24:48 25:26, 30, Luk.17:10 19:22; δ. ἁμαρτίας, Jhn.8:34, Rom.6:17, 20; τ. φθορᾶς, 2Pe.2:19.

Synonymsδιάκονος (q.V.), θεράπων, ὐπηρέτης (see DB, iii, 377; iv, 461, 469; DCG, i, 221; ii, 613; Cremer, 215, 702).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Paul’s self-description as a δοῦλος of God underscores that His authority in the letter is not self-appointed but derived from total submission to God’s rule, modeling the humble posture expected of all Christian leaders. 1 Timothy 6:1-2

It frames Paul’s identity and all Christian service as total allegiance to Christ. James 1:1

Illustrates the shift of allegiance from sin’s mastery to righteousness. John 8:31–47

Describes kingdom leadership. Mark 10:35–45

Describes universal bondage to sin. Romans 1:1-7

Frames James’s authority as derived and submissive, shaping how the whole letter is to be received. Romans 6:15-23

The gospel addresses believers within real social constraints, not in abstraction. James 1:1

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine Matt 10:24 · Matt 10:25 · Matt 18:26 · Matt 18:28 · Matt 20:27 · Matt 24:45 · Matt 24:46 · Matt 24:48 · Mark 10:44 · Luke 7:2 · Luke 12:43 · Luke 12:45 · Luke 12:47 · Luke 14:21 · Luke 14:22 · John 8:34 35×

Nominative · Plural · Masculine Matt 13:27 · Matt 13:28 · Matt 22:10 · Luke 12:37 · Luke 17:10 · John 4:51 · John 18:18 · Acts 16:17 · Rom 6:16 · Rom 6:17 · Rom 6:20 · 1 Cor 7:23 · 1 Cor 12:13 · Eph 6:5 · Eph 6:6 · Phil 1:1 22×

Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 18:27 · Matt 24:50 · Luke 12:46 · Gal 4:1 · Phil 2:7 · Rev 15:3 6×

Genitive · Plural · Masculine Matt 18:23 · Matt 25:19 · John 18:26 · Rev 19:2 · Rev 19:18 5×

Dative · Plural · Masculine Matt 22:8 · Mark 13:34 · Acts 4:29 · Col 4:1 · Rev 1:1 · Rev 11:18 · Rev 22:6 7×

Dative · Singular · Masculine Matt 8:9 · Luke 7:8 · Luke 14:21 · Luke 17:9 · John 18:10 · Rev 1:1 6×

Accusative · Plural · Masculine Matt 21:34 · Matt 21:35 · Matt 21:36 · Matt 22:3 · Matt 22:4 · Matt 22:6 · Matt 25:14 · Luke 15:22 · Luke 19:13 · Luke 19:15 · John 15:15 · Acts 2:18 · Rom 6:16 · 2 Cor 4:5 · Titus 2:9 · Rev 2:20 19×

Accusative · Singular · Masculine Matt 25:30 · Matt 26:51 · Mark 12:2 · Mark 12:4 · Mark 14:47 · Luke 2:29 · Luke 7:3 · Luke 7:10 · Luke 14:17 · Luke 14:23 · Luke 17:7 · Luke 20:10 · Luke 20:11 · Luke 22:50 · John 18:10 · 2 Tim 2:24 18×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Rom 6:19 2×

Vocative · Singular · Masculine Matt 18:32 · Matt 25:21 · Matt 25:23 · Matt 25:26 · Luke 19:17 · Luke 19:22 6×

Canonical Themes

Kingdom Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 Timothy 6:1-2 slaves doûlos

One bound in service under authority.

James 1:1 δοῦλος doûlos

servant, bondservant

John 8:31–47 δοῦλος doûlos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

slave

Mark 10:35–45 δοῦλος doûlos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

slave

Romans 1:1-7 δοῦλος doûlos

Slave, bondservant belonging wholly to another.

Romans 6:15-23 δοῦλος doûlos Nominative · Plural · Masculine

Slave, servant under authority.

Additional Occurrences

James 1:1 δοῦλος doûlos

servant, bondservant, slave

Mark 10:35–45 δοῦλος doûlos

slave, bondservant

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Colossians 4 — Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship Ephesians 6 — Household Faithfulness and Standing Firm in the Armor of God Galatians 4 — No Longer Slaves: Sonship, Pastoral Anguish, and Children of Promise John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 8 — The Light of the World, True Freedom, and the I AM Before Abraham Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 19 — The Son of Man Seeks the Lost, Receives the Kingly Kingdom, and Weeps over Jerusalem Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Philippians 1 — Gospel Partnership and Joyful Witness in Christ Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 1 — The Gospel Reveals the Righteousness of God and the Wrath of God

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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