Servants

Early mention of — Ge 9:25,26.

Divided into

Male. — Ge 24:34; 32:5.

Female. — Ge 16:6; 32:5.

Bond. — Ge 43:18; Le 25:46.

Hired. — Mr 1:20; Lu 15:17.

Persons devoted to the service of another so called — Ps 119:49; Isa 56:6.

The subjects of a prince or king so called — Ex 9:20; 11:8.

Persons of low condition so called — Ec 10:7.

Persons devoted to God so called — Ps 119:49; Isa 56:6; Ro 1:1.

The term often used to express humility — Ge 18:3; 33:5; 1Sa 20:7; 1Ki 20:32.

Hired

Called hireling. — Job 7:1; Joh 10:12,13.

Engaged by the year. — Le 25:53; Isa 16:14.

Engaged by the day. — Mt 20:2.

Not to be oppressed. — De 24:14.

To be paid without delay at the expiration of their service. — Le 19:13; De 24:15.

To be esteemed worthy of their hire. — Lu 10:7.

To partake of the produce of the land in the sabbatical year. — Le 25:6.

If foreigners not allowed to partake of the passover or holy things. — Ex 12:45; Le 22:10.

Anxiety of, for the end of their daily toil, alluded to. — Job 7:2.

Hebrew slaves serving their brethren to be treated as. — Le 25:39,40.

Hebrew slaves serving strangers to be treated as. — Le 25:47,53.

Often stood in the market place waiting for employment. — Mt 20:1-3.

Often will fed and taken care of. — Lu 15:17.

Often oppressed and their wages kept back. — Mal 3:5; Jas 5:4.

Slaves or bond

Called bondmen. — Ge 43:18; 44:9.

By birth. — Ge 14:14; Ps 116:16; Jer 2:14.

By purchase. — Ge 17:27; 37:36.

Captives taken in war often kept as. — De 20:14; 2Ki 5:2.

Strangers sojourning in Israel might be purchased as. — Le 25:45.

Persons belonging to other nations might be purchased as. — Le 25:44.

Persons unable to pay their debts liable to be sold as. — 2Ki 4:1; Ne 5:4,5; Mt 18:25.

Thieves unable to make restitution were sold as. — Ex 22:3.

More valuable than hired servants. — De 15:18.

When Israelites not to be treated with rigour. — Le 25:39,40,46.

When Israelites to have their liberty after six years service. — Ex 21:2; De 15:12.

Israelites sold as, refusing their liberty, to have their ears bored to the door. — Ex 21:5,6; De 15:16,17.

Israelites sold to strangers as, might be redeemed by their nearest of kin. — Le 25:47-55.

All Israelites sold as, to be free at the jubilee. — Le 25:10,40,41,54.

Could not when set free demand wives or children procured during servitude. — Ex 21:3,4.

To be furnished liberally, when their servitude expired. — De 15:13,14.

When foreigners to be circumcised. — Ge 17:13,27; Ex 12:44.

To be allowed to rest on the Sabbath. — Ex 20:10.

To participate in all national rejoicings. — De 12:18; 16:11,14.

Persons of distinction had many. — Ge 14:14; Ec 2:7.

Engaged in the most menial offices. — 1Sa 25:41; Joh 13:4,5.

Maimed of injured by masters to have their freedom. — Ex 21:26,27.

Masters to be recompensed for injury done to. — Ex 21:32.

Laws respecting the killing of. — Ex 21:20,21.

Of others not to be coveted or enticed away. — Ex 20:17; De 5:21.

Seeking protection not to be delivered up to masters. — De 23:15.

Custom of branding, alluded to. — Ga 6:17.

Sometimes rose to rank and station. — Ec 10:7.

Sometimes intermarried with their master’s family. — 1Ch 2:34,35.

Laws respecting marriage with female. — Ex 21:7-11.

Seizing and stealing of men for, condemned and punished by the law. — Ex 21:16; De 24:7; 1Ti 1:10.

Laws respecting, often violated. — Jer 34:8-16.

Bond, illustrative

Of Christ. — Ps 40:6; Heb 10:5; Php 2:7,8.

Of saints. — 1Co 6:20; 7:23.

Of the wicked. — 2Pe 2:19; Ro 6:16,19.

Christ condescended to the office of — Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Joh 13:5; Php 2:7.

Are inferior to their masters — Lu 22:27.

Should follow Christ’s example — 1Pe 2:21.

Duties of, to masters

To pray for them. — Ge 24:12.

To honour them. — Mal 1:6; 1Ti 6:1.

To revere them the more, when they are believers. — 1Ti 6:2.

To be subject to them. — 1Pe 2:18.

To obey them. — Eph 6:5; Tit 2:9.

To attend to their call. — Ps 123:2.

To please them well in all things. — Tit 2:9.

To sympathise with them. — 2Sa 12:18.

To prefer their business to their own necessary food. — Ge 24:33.

To bless God for mercies shown to them. — Ge 24:27,48.

To be faithful to them. — Lu 16:10-12; 1Co 4:2; Tit 2:10.

To be profitable to them. — Lu 19:15,16,18; Phm 1:11.

To be anxious for their welfare. — 1Sa 25:14-17; 2Ki 5:2,3.

To be earnest in transacting their business. — Ge 24:54-56.

To be prudent in the management of their affairs. — Ge 24:34-49.

To be industrious in labouring for them. — Ne 4:16,23.

To be kind and attentive to their guests. — Ge 43:23,24.

To be submissive even to the froward. — Ge 16:6,9; 1Pe 2:18.

Not to answer them rudely. — Tit 2:9.

Not to serve them with eye-service, as men-pleasers. — Eph 6:6; Col 3:22.

Not to defraud them. — Tit 2:10.

Should be contented in their situation — 1Co 7:20,21.

Should be compassionate to their fellows — Mt 18:33.

Should serve

For conscience towards God. — 1Pe 2:19.

In the fear of God. — Eph 6:5; Col 3:22.

As the servants of Christ. — Eph 6:5,6.

Heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men. — Eph 6:7; Col 3:23.

As doing the will of God from the heart. — Eph 6:6.

In singleness of heart. — Eph 6:5; Col 3:22.

With good will. — Eph 6:7.

When patient under injury are acceptable to God — 1Pe 2:19,20.

When Good

Are the servants of Christ. — Col 3:24.

Are brethren beloved in the Lord. — Phm 1:16.

Are the Lord’s freemen. — 1Co 7:22.

Are partakers of gospel privileges. — 1Co 12:13; Ga 3:28; Eph 6:8; Col 3:11.

Deserve the confidence of their masters. — Ge 24:2,4,10; 39:4.

Often exalted. — Ge 41:40; Pr 17:2.

Often advanced by master. — Ge 39:4,5.

To be honoured. — Ge 24:31; Pr 27:18.

Bring God’s blessing upon their masters. — Ge 30:27,30; 39:3.

Adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. — Tit 2:10.

Have God with them. — Ge 31:42; 39:21; Ac 7:9,10.

Are prospered by God. — Ge 39:3.

Are protected by God. — Ge 31:7.

Are guided by God. — Ge 24:7,27.

Are blessed by God. — Mt 24:46.

Are mourned over after death. — Ge 35:8.

Shall be rewarded. — Eph 6:8; Col 3:24.

The property of masters increased by faithful — Ge 30:29,30.

Characteristics of wicked servants

Eye-service. — Eph 6:6; Col 3:22.

Men-pleasers. — Eph 6:6; Col 3:22.

Deceit. — 2Sa 19:26; Ps 101:6,7.

Quarrelsomeness. — Ge 13:7; 26:20.

Covetousness. — 2Ki 5:20.

Lying. — 2Ki 5:22,24.

Stealing. — Tit 2:10.

Gluttony. — Mt 24:49.

Unmerciful to their fellows. — Mt 18:30.

Will not submit to correction. — Pr 29:19.

Do not bear to be exalted. — Pr 30:21,22; Isa 3:5.

Shall be punished. — Mt 24:50.

Good — Exemplified

Eliezer. — Ge 24:1-67.

Deborah. — Ge 24:59; 35:8.

Jacob. — Ge 31:36-40.

Joseph. — Ge 39:3; Ac 7:10.

Servants of Boaz. — Ru 2:4.

Jonathan’s armour bearer. — 1Sa 14:6,7.

David’s servants. — 2Sa 12:18.

Captive maid. — 2Ki 5:2-4.

Servants of Naaman. — 2Ki 5:13.

Servants of Centurion. — Mt 8:9.

Servants of Cornelius. — Ac 10:7.

Onesimus after his conversion. — Phm 1:11.

Bad — Exemplified

Servants of Abraham and Lot. — Ge 13:7.

Servants of Abimelech. — Ge 21:25.

Absalom’s servants [Absalom’s servants obeyed a bad master; they were bad men rather than bad servants]. — 2Sa 13:28,29; 14:30.

Ziba. — 2Sa 16:1-4.

Servants of Shimei. — 1Ki 2:39.

Jeroboam. — 1Ki 11:26.

Zimri. — 1Ki 16:9.

Gehazi. — 2Ki 5:20.

Servants of Amon. — 2Ki 21:23.

Job’s servants. — Job 19:16.

Servants of the High Priest. — Mr 14:65.

Onesimus before his conversion. — Phm 1:11.