SG Heritage Dictionary

Servant [\N] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. SERV'ANT , [ L . servans , from servo , to keep or hold; properly one that waits, that is, stops, holds, attends, or one that is bound.]

2. A person, male or female, that attends another for the pupose of performing menial offices for him, ot who is employed by another for such offices or for other labor, and is subject to his command. The word is correlative to master . Servant differs from slave , as the servant's subjection to a master is voluntary, the slave's is not. Every slave is a servant but every servant is not a slave.

3. Servants are of various kinds; as household or domestic servants , menial servants; laborers , who are hired by the day, week or other term, and do not reside with their employers, ot if they board in the same house, are employed abroad and not in the domestic services; apprentices , who are bound for a term of years to serve a master, for the purpose of learning his trade or occupation.

4. In a legal sense , stewards, factors, bailifs and other agents, are servants for the time they are employed in such character, as they act in subordination to others.

5. One in a state of subjection.

6. In Scripture , a slave; a bondman; one purchased for money, and who was compelled to serve till the year of jubilee; also, one purchased for a term of years.

7. The subject of a king; as the servents of David or of Saul.

8. The Syrians became servants to David. 2 Samuel 8:2 .

9. A person who voluntarily serves another or acts as his minister; as joshua was the servant of Moses, and the apostles the apostles the servants of Christ. So Christ himself is called a servant , Isaiah 42:1 . Moses is called the servant of the Lord, Duet. 34.

10. A person employed or used as an unstrument in accomplishing God's purposes of mercy or wrath. So Nebuchadnezzar is called the servant of God. Jeremiah 25:9 .

11. One who yields obedience to another. The saints are called servants of God, or of righteousness; and the wicked are called the servants of sin.

12. That which yields obedience, or acts on subordination as an instrument.

13. One that makes painful sacrifices in compliance with the weakness or wants of others.

14. A person of base condition or ignoble spirit.

15. A word of civilith. I am, sir, your humble or obedient servant .

16. Our betters tell us they are our humble servants , but understand us to be their slaves. Swift.

17. Servant of servants , one debased to the lowest condition of servitude.

Servant [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

To subject. [ Not in use .]

Servant [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. One who serves, or does services, voluntarily or on compulsion; a person who is employed by another for menial offices, or for other labor, and is subject to his command; a person who labors or exerts himself for the benefit of another, his master or employer; a subordinate helper.

2. One in a state of subjection or bondage.

3. A professed lover or suitor; a gallant.

Servant [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

To subject.

Servant Encyclopedia Britannica

SERVANT. See Master and Servant.

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 21, p. 684
[5 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]

Servant Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

This word generally signifies a slave. For formerly among the Hebrews, and the neighbouring nations, the greater part of servants were slaves, that is to say, they belonged absolutely to their masters, who had a right to dispose of their persons, their bodies, goods, and even of their lives, in some cases. The Hebrews had two sorts of servants or slaves, Leviticus xxv, 44, 45, &c. Some were strangers, either bought, or taken in the wars. The others were Hebrew slaves, who, being poor, sold themselves, or were sold to pay their debts; or were delivered up for slaves by their parents, in cases of necessity. This sort of Hebrew slaves continued in slavery but to the year of jubilee; then they might return to liberty again, and their masters could not retain them against their wills. If they would continue voluntarily with their masters, they were brought before the judges; there they made a declaration, that for this time they disclaimed the privilege of the law, had their ears bored with an awl, by applying them to the door-posts of their master, Exod. xxi, 2, 5–7, &c; and after that they had no longer any power of recovering their liberty, except at the next year of jubilee. Servant is also taken for a man that dedicates himself to the service of another, by the choice of his own will and inclination. Thus Joshua was the servant of Moses, Elisha of Elijah, Gehazi of Elisha; St. Peter, St. Andrew, St. Philip, and the rest, were servants of Jesus Christ.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
[259 words — estimated reading time: 2 minutes]

Servantess [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A maidservant.

Servantry [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A body of servants; servants, collectively.

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

986 KJV and 867 BSB verses contain “servant” — showing the first 20. Show all 1,117 verses (searchable)

Genesis 9:25

And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

he said, “Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

Genesis 9:26

And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

He also declared: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the servant of Shem.

Genesis 9:27

God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

May God expand the territory of Japheth; may he dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant.”

Genesis 14:14

And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.

Genesis 14:15

And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.

Genesis 15:3

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Genesis 16:5

And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Then Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I delivered my servant into your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

Genesis 16:6

But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

“Here,” said Abram, “your servant is in your hands. Do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she fled from her.

Genesis 16:8

And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

“Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied.

Genesis 17:27

And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.

And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him.

Genesis 18:3

And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

“My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by.

Genesis 18:5

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

And I will bring a bit of bread so that you may refresh yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. After that, you may continue on your way.” “Yes,” they replied, “you may do as you have said.”

Genesis 18:7

And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.

Genesis 19:2

And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”

Genesis 19:19

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

Your servant has indeed found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I cannot run to the mountains; the disaster will overtake me, and I will die.

Genesis 20:8

Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

Early the next morning Abimelech got up and summoned all his servants; and when he described to them all that had happened, the men were terrified.

Genesis 21:25

And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.

But when Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had seized,

Genesis 22:3

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.

Genesis 22:5

And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,

“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.”

Genesis 22:19

So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.

Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.