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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Man-servant</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/m/man-servant.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/genesis/32-5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/m/man-servant.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Man-servant</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/m/manservant.htm" title="Manservant">◄</a> Man-servant <a href="/topical/m/manservant_and_maidservant.htm" title="Manservant and Maidservant">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#grk" title="Strong's Greek Concordance">Greek</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>A "man-servant" in biblical terms refers to a male servant or slave who is in the service of another person. The concept of servitude is prevalent throughout the Bible, reflecting the social and economic structures of ancient Near Eastern cultures. The term "man-servant" is often used interchangeably with "male servant" or "bondservant" in various translations of the Bible. Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "man-servant" is עֶבֶד (eved), which can mean servant, slave, or bondservant. The role and treatment of man-servants are addressed in several passages, reflecting the legal and moral expectations of Israelite society. In <a href="/exodus/20-10.htm">Exodus 20:10</a>, the commandment regarding the Sabbath includes man-servants: "but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates." This inclusion underscores the principle of rest and humane treatment for all, regardless of social status. The laws concerning Hebrew servants are detailed in <a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2-6</a>. A Hebrew man-servant was to serve for six years and be released in the seventh year without payment. If the servant chose to remain with his master, a ritual was performed to signify his permanent service. This reflects a system that allowed for servitude while also providing a path to freedom and protection for the servant. New Testament Context In the New Testament, the Greek term δοῦλος (doulos) is often used, which can also mean servant or slave. The New Testament addresses the relationship between masters and servants, emphasizing mutual respect and Christian conduct. <a href="/ephesians/6-5.htm">Ephesians 6:5-9</a> instructs: "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him." This passage highlights the Christian ethic of service and the spiritual equality of all believers, regardless of their social status. The relationship between master and servant is to be characterized by mutual respect and a shared commitment to serving Christ. Cultural and Theological Implications The concept of a man-servant in the Bible must be understood within its historical and cultural context. While the Bible reflects the realities of ancient societies where servitude was common, it also introduces principles that promote dignity, justice, and compassion. The biblical narrative progressively reveals God's desire for freedom and equality, culminating in the New Testament's emphasis on spiritual freedom and the inherent worth of every individual in Christ. The role of man-servants in biblical times serves as a backdrop for understanding broader themes of service, humility, and the transformative power of the Gospel, which calls all believers to serve one another in love, reflecting the servanthood of Christ Himself.<a name="grk" id="grk"></a><div class="vheading2">Greek</div><a href="/greek/3816.htm">3816. pais -- a child, boy, youth</a> ... genitive case) a child; specially, a slave or servant (especially a minister to a king; and by eminence to God) -- child, maid(-en), (man) servant, son, young ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3816.htm - 7k<a href="/greek/1401.htm">1401. doulos -- a slave</a> ... deo; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency) -- bond(-man), servant ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1401.htm - 7k<a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/7916.htm">7916. sakir -- hired</a> ... hired man, servant, hireling. From sakar; a man at wages by the day or year -- hired (man, servant), hireling. see HEBREW sakar. 7915, 7916. sakir. 7917 . ... /hebrew/7916.htm - 6k <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm">5650. ebed -- slave, servant</a> ... bondage, bondman, bondservant, manservant. From abad; a servant -- X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant, (man-)servant. see HEBREW abad. 5649, 5650. ebed. 5651 ... /hebrew/5650.htm - 6k<a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><a href="/library/luther/the_large_catechism/thou_shalt_not_covet_thy.htm">Thou Shalt not Covet Thy Neighbor's House. Thou Shalt not Covet ...</a> ... house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his. ... /...//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/thou shalt not covet thy.htm<a href="/library/moody/weighed_and_wanting/the_ten_commandments.htm">The Ten Commandments.</a> ... work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy ... //christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/the ten commandments.htm<a href="/library/miller/the_city_of_delight/chapter_i_a_princes_bride.htm">A Prince's Bride</a> ... "Prepared, master," was the response. "Then send hither"" But at that moment a man-servant dressed in the garb of a physician hastened into the chamber. ... /.../christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter i a princes bride.htm<a href="/library/various/constitutions_of_the_holy_apostles/sec_i_general_commandments.htm">General Commandments.</a> ... For it is written in the law, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his field, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass ... /.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i general commandments.htm<a href="/library/various/indian_methodist_hymn-book/the_ten_commandments.htm">The Ten Commandments.</a> ... thy work: but the seventh is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy ... /.../various/indian methodist hymn-book/the ten commandments.htm<a href="/library/various/the_heidelberg_catechism_/question_92_what_is_the.htm">What is the Law of God?</a> ... work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy ... /.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 92 what is the.htm<a href="/library/chrysostom/homilies_on_acts_and_romans/homily_xxv_rom_xiv_1.htm">Rom. xiv. 1, 2</a> ... strong. Ver.4. "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?". Whence it appears that they too judged, and did not despise only. ... /.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxv rom xiv 1.htm<a href="/library/schaff/the_creeds_of_the_evangelical_protestant_churches/luthers_small_catechism_a_d_1529.htm">Luther's Small Catechism. AD 1529.</a> ... Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor any thing that is his own. Was ist das? ... /.../luthers small catechism a d 1529.htm<a href="/library/hession/the_calvary_road/chapter_i_brokenness.htm">Brokenness</a> ... not equality with God a prize to be grasped at and hung on to, but letting it go for us and taking upon Him the form of a Servant"God's Servant, man's Servant ... //christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter i brokenness.htm<a href="/library/luther/the_large_catechism/the_ten_commandments_of_god.htm">The Ten Commandments of God.</a> ... 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle [ox, nor his ass], nor anything that is his. Secondly. ... /.../luther/the large catechism/the ten commandments of god.htm<a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/m/manservant.htm">Manservant (14 Occurrences)</a> ... Exodus 21:32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto ... the land hath been to you for food, to thee, and to thy man-servant, and to ... /m/manservant.htm - 12k<a href="/topical/m/man-servant.htm">Man-servant (18 Occurrences)</a> Man-servant. Manservant, Man-servant. Manservants . Multi-Version Concordance ... (BBE YLT). Manservant, Man-servant. Manservants . Reference Bible. /m/man-servant.htm - 12k<a href="/topical/m/manservant's.htm">Manservant's (1 Occurrence)</a> ...Manservant's (1 Occurrence). Exodus 21:27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. ... /m/manservant's.htm - 6k<a href="/topical/m/man-servant's.htm">Man-servant's (1 Occurrence)</a> Man-servant's. Manservant's, Man-servant's. Mansion . Multi-Version Concordance ... (ASV WBS). Manservant's, Man-servant's. Mansion . Reference Bible. /m/man-servant's.htm - 6k<a href="/topical/w/woman-servant.htm">Woman-servant (12 Occurrences)</a> ... 20:10 But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on that day you are to do no work, you or your son or your daughter, your man-servant or your woman ... /w/woman-servant.htm - 10k<a href="/topical/m/maid-servant.htm">Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)</a> ... 20:10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy ... /m/maid-servant.htm - 22k<a href="/topical/m/maidservants.htm">Maidservants (28 Occurrences)</a> ... thou shalt eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy ... /m/maidservants.htm - 15k<a href="/topical/m/maidservant.htm">Maidservant (73 Occurrences)</a> ... 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy ... /m/maidservant.htm - 28k<a href="/topical/s/servant-girl.htm">Servant-girl (18 Occurrences)</a> ... Jeremiah 34:9 That every man was to let his Hebrew man-servant and his Hebrew servant-girl go free; so that no one might make use of a Jew, his countryman, as ... /s/servant-girl.htm - 11k<a href="/topical/r/rejoiced.htm">Rejoiced (83 Occurrences)</a> ... but before Jehovah thy God thou dost eat it, in the place which Jehovah thy God doth fix on, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy ... /r/rejoiced.htm - 33k<a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Servant-of-the-Lord.html">Who is the Servant of the Lord in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org</a> <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Servant-Songs.html">What are the four Servant Songs in Isaiah? | GotQuestions.org</a> <a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/servant-leadership.html">What is servant leadership? | GotQuestions.org</a> <a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div>Man-servant (18 Occurrences)<a href="/genesis/32-5.htm">Genesis 32:5</a> and I have ox, and ass, flock, and man-servant, and maid-servant, and I send to declare to my lord, to find grace in his eyes.' (YLT)<a href="/exodus/20-10.htm">Exodus 20:10</a> but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/exodus/20-17.htm">Exodus 20:17</a> Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's. (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/exodus/21-20.htm">Exodus 21:20</a> If a man gives his man-servant or his woman-servant blows with a rod, causing death, he is certainly to undergo punishment. (BBE YLT)<a href="/exodus/21-26.htm">Exodus 21:26</a> If a man gives his man-servant or his woman-servant a blow in the eye, causing its destruction, he is to let him go free on account of the damage to his eye. (BBE YLT)<a href="/exodus/21-27.htm">Exodus 21:27</a> And if he smite out his man-servant's tooth, or his maid-servant's tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. (ASV WBS YLT)<a href="/exodus/21-32.htm">Exodus 21:32</a> If the ox gore a man-servant or a maid-servant, there shall be given unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. (ASV BBE WBS YLT)<a href="/leviticus/25-6.htm">Leviticus 25:6</a> And the Sabbath of the land will give food for you and your man-servant and your woman-servant and those working for payment, and for those of another country who are living among you; (BBE YLT)<a href="/leviticus/25-44.htm">Leviticus 25:44</a> And thy man-servant and thy handmaid whom thou hast 'are' of the nations who 'are' round about you; of them ye buy man-servant and handmaid, (YLT)<a href="/deuteronomy/5-14.htm">Deuteronomy 5:14</a> but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou. (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/deuteronomy/5-21.htm">Deuteronomy 5:21</a> Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's wife; neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbor's. (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/deuteronomy/12-18.htm">Deuteronomy 12:18</a> but thou shalt eat them before Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God in all that thou puttest thy hand unto. (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/deuteronomy/16-11.htm">Deuteronomy 16:11</a> and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are in the midst of thee, in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there. (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/deuteronomy/16-14.htm">Deuteronomy 16:14</a> and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/job/31-13.htm">Job 31:13</a> If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me; (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/jeremiah/34-9.htm">Jeremiah 34:9</a> that every man should let his man-servant, and every man his maid-servant, that is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that none should make bondmen of them, 'to wit', of a Jew his brother. (ASV BBE WBS YLT)<a href="/jeremiah/34-10.htm">Jeremiah 34:10</a> And all the princes and all the people obeyed, that had entered into the covenant, that every one should let his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, go free, that none should make bondmen of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go: (ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)<a href="/jeremiah/34-16.htm">Jeremiah 34:16</a> But again you have put shame on my name, and you have taken back, every one his man-servant and his servant-girl, whom you had sent away free, and you have put them under the yoke again to be your servants and servant-girls. (BBE YLT)<a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><a href="/topical/m/man-servant.htm">Man-servant</a><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><a href="/topical/m/man-servant.htm">Man-servant (18 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/m/man-servants.htm">Man-servants (1 Occurrence)</a><a href="/topical/m/maids.htm">Maids (28 Occurrences)</a><a href="/topical/m/maidservants.htm">Maidservants (28 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/m/manservant.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Manservant"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Manservant" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/m/manservant_and_maidservant.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Manservant and Maidservant"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Manservant and Maidservant" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>