δουλεύω douleuō

Greek word for “be a slave” · Strong’s G1398 · used 25 times in 23 verses

Explore it in the Word Atlas

Meaning

δουλεύω; (δοῦλος); to be a slave, be subject to, serve: absol.;

How it is translated

Glosses given for douleuō in context, with how often each is used:

• serve 10
• serving 4
• enslaved 2
• have we been under bondage 1
• will be in bondage 1
• being enslaved 1
• will serve 1
• slavery 1
• do serve 1
• rendering service 1
• has served 1
• should serve 1

Where it is used

Chapters where it is used most

Galatians 4 (3), Romans 7 (2), Matthew 6 (1), Luke 15 (1), Luke 16 (1), John 8 (1), Acts 7 (1), Acts 20 (1), Romans 6 (1), Romans 9 (1)

Forms

• δουλεύειν 8
• δουλεύοντες 3
• δουλεύω 2
• δουλεύων 2
• δουλεύετε 2
• δεδουλεύκαμεν 1
• δουλεύσουσιν 1
• δουλεύσει 1
• δουλεύουσιν 1
• ἐδουλεύσατε 1

Words used with it

Words that share verses with douleuō more often than their overall frequency would suggest:

• καταφρονέω kataphroneō “to despise” 3
• μισέω miseō “to hate” 3
• μαμμωνᾶς mammōnas “wealth” 2
• ἀντέχω antechō “to cling to” 2
• μετά meta “with/after” 5
• πῶς pōs “how?!” 3
• καταργέω katargeō “to abate” 2
• γινώσκω ginōskō “to know” 3
• ἐπιστρέφω epistrephō “to turn” 2
• οὐδείς oudeis “none” 3
• μᾶλλον mallon “more” 2
• τέκνον teknon “child” 2

Key verses

The verses using douleuō that are most connected by cross-references (King James Version):

• Matthew 6:24 — No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God…
• Acts 20:19 — Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
• Romans 12:11 — Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
• Romans 14:18 — For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
• Romans 16:18 — For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
• Galatians 4:8 — Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
• Galatians 4:9 — But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in…
• Galatians 5:13 — For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
• Colossians 3:24 — Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9 — For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
• 1 Timothy 6:2 — And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved,…
• Titus 3:3 — For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one…

See all 23 verses in the Word Atlas

Hebrew and Greek text, tagging, glosses and lexicon definitions: STEPBible.org, Tyndale House Cambridge (TAHOT, TAGNT, TBESH, TBESG; CC BY 4.0), adapted. Counts follow King James verse numbering; a word counts each time it is written.