UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: servant

Semantic entry: 35.20

Semantic domains: Help, Care For

Subdomains: Serve

Definition: (derivative of ὑπηρετέω[a] ‘to serve,’ 35.19: διακονέω / 35.19: διακονία / 35.19: θεραπεύω / 35.19: ὑπηρετέω) a person who renders service

Notes: In rendering θεράπων, ὑπηρέτης, and διάκονος[a] in the sense of ‘servant,’ it is important to avoid a term which would be too specific, for example, ‘one who serves meals’ or ‘one who works around the house.’ It may, in fact, be necessary to use an expression which means essentially ‘helper.’|In the NT ὑπηρέτης is employed to refer to many diverse types of servants, such as attendants to a king, officers of the Sanhedrin, attendants of magistrates, and, especially in the Gospel of John, Jewish Temple guards.