Lexical Definition
διάκονος diákonos (dee-ak'-on-os) servant G:N-M/F
probably from an obsolete
deacon, minister, servant.
- an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties)
- specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess)
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| διακόνω | for a servant | LXX.Prov.10.4 |
| his servant | LXX.Esth.6.1 | |
| διακόνουσ | Deacons | 1Tim.3.8 |
| ministers | 2Cor.3.6 | |
| διακόνου | servant | Rom.16.27 |
| διακόνοισ | deacons | Phil.1.1 |
| servants | Matt.22.13 • John.2.5 | |
| διάκονόσ | a servant | Rom.13.4 |
| servant | Rom.13.4 | |
| διάκονοσ | a minister | Gal.2.17 • Col.1.23 • Col.1.25 |
| a servant | Col.1.7 • 1Tim.4.6 | |
| servant | Matt.20.26 • Matt.23.11 • Mark.9.35 • Mark.10.43 • John.12.26 • Eph.3.7 • Eph.6.21 • Col.4.7 | |
| διάκονον | a servant | Rom.15.8 • Rom.16.1 |
| servant | 1Thess.3.2 | |
| διάκονοι | Deacons | 1Tim.3.12 |
| servants | LXX.Esth.2.2 • LXX.Esth.6.3 • LXX.Esth.6.5 • John.2.9 • 1Cor.3.5 • 2Cor.6.4 • 2Cor.11.15 • 2Cor.11.15 • 2Cor.11.23 |
Abbott-Smith
διάκονος, -ου, ὁ, ἡ (derivation unknown), [in LXX for נַעַר, שָׁרַת pi.: Es 6:3, 5, א B Es 1:10 2:2, Pr 10:4, 4 Mac 9:17 * ;]
1. in general, a servant, attendant, minister: Mt 20:26 22:13 23:11, Mk 9:35 10:43, Jo 2:5, 9, I Co 3:5, Ga 2:17, Eph 6:21, Col 4:7; δ. θεοῦ, Ro 13:4, II Co 6:4, I Th 3:2; δ. Χριστοῦ, II Co 11:23, Col 1:7, I Ti 4:6; cf. ὁ δ. ὁ ἐμός, Jo 12:26; δ. περιτομῆς, Ro 15:8; δ. καινῆς διαθήκης, II Co 3:6; δ. δικαιοσύνης, II Co 11:15; δ. [εὐαγγελίου], Eph 3:7, Col 1:23; δ. [ἐκκλησίας], Col 1:25.
2. As technical term for Church officer (so in pre-Christian times, v. M, Th., I, 32), a deacon: Phl 1:1, I Ti 3:8, 12; fem. (cf. Eccl. διακονίσσα), Ro 16:1 (cf. I Ti 3:11, and CGT, in l., also M, Th., l.c.).†
SYN.: δοῦλος, bondman; θεράπων, servant acting voluntarily; ὑπηρέτης, servant, attendant, by etymol. suggesting subordination. All these imply relation to a person, in distinction from which δ. represents rather the servant in relation to his work. Cf. also λειτουργός, a public servant, in which the idea of service to the community is prominent; οἰκέτης, a house servant.
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Ezra | 1:10 · 2:2 · 6:3 · 6:5 |
| Proverbs | 10:4 |
| Matthew | 20:26 · 22:13 · 23:11 |
| Mark | 9:35 · 10:43 |
| John | 2:5 · 2:9 · 12:26 |
| Romans | 13:4 · 15:8 · 16:1 |
| 1 Corinthians | 3:5 |
| 2 Corinthians | 3:6 · 6:4 · 11:15 · 11:23 |
| Galatians | 2:17 |
| Ephesians | 3:7 · 6:21 |
| Philippians | 1:1 |
| Colossians | 1:7 · 1:23 · 1:25 · 4:7 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 3:2 |
| 1 Timothy | 3:8 · 3:11 · 3:12 · 4:6 |
Liddell-Scott-Jones
διάκονος [ᾱ],
Ionic dialect διήκονος, ὁ, later διάκων (which see):— servant, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; messenger, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2 attendant or official in a temple or religious guild, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—especially in the Christian church, deacon, [NT+4th c.AD+]: feminine, deaconess, [NT]
__II as adjective, servile, menial, ἐπιστήμη [Refs 5th c.BC+]: irregular comparative διᾱκονέστερος [Refs 5th c.BC+]