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One who serves, as distinguished from the master.
(1.) Hebrews meshereth, applied to an attendant on one of superior rank, as to Joshua, the servant of Moses (Exodus 33:11), and to the servant of Elisha (2 Kings 4:43). This name is also given to attendants at court (2 Chronicles 22:8), and to the priests and Levites (Jeremiah 33:21; Ezek. 44:11).
(2.) Hebrews pelah (Ezra 7:24), a "minister" of religion. Here used of that class of sanctuary servants called "Solomon's servants" in Ezra 2:55-58 and Nehemiah 7:57-60.
(3.) Greek leitourgos, a subordinate public administrator, and in this sense applied to magistrates (Romans 13:6). It is applied also to our Lord (Hebrews 8:2), and to Paul in relation to Christ (Romans 15:16).
(4.) Greek hyperetes (literally, "under-rower"), a personal attendant on a superior, thus of the person who waited on the officiating priest in the synagogue (Luke 4:20). It is applied also to John Mark, the attendant on Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:5).
(5.) Greek diaconos, usually a subordinate officer or assistant employed in relation to the ministry of the gospel, as to Paul and Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:5), Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21), Epaphras (Colossians 1:7), Timothy (1 Thessalonians 3:2), and also to Christ (Romans 15:8).
