A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Minister

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G3011

λειτουργός

leitourgos — minister

λειτουργός, -οῦ, ὁ (λιός, ἔργον), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁרַת, Jos.1:1 A, 3Ki.10:5, Psa.103:21, Sir.7:30, al. ;] 1. in cl., one who discharges a public office at his own expense, then, generally, 2. a public servant, a minister, servant: τ. ἁγίων λ., Heb.8:2 (cf. Neh.10:39, Sir, l.with); Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, Rom.15:16; pl., τ. θεοῦ, Rom.13:6, Heb.1:7" (LXX) ; λ. ὑμῶν τ. χρείας μου, Php.2:25.† SYN.: see: διάκονος, λειτουργέω (AS)

5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4782

מׇרְדֳּכַי

mor.de.khay — Mordecai

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.2 § Mordecai = "little man" or "worshipper of Mars" 1) cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim 2) a Jew who returned from exile with Zerubbabel

52 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H2001

הָמָן

ha.man — Haman

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Est.3.1; son of: Hammedatha (H4099); married to Zeresh (H2238); father of: Parshandatha (H6577), Dalphon (H1813), Aspatha (H0630), Poratha (H6334), Adalia (H0118), Aridatha (H0743), Parmashta (H6534), Arisai (H0747), Aridai (H0742), Vaizatha (H2055) § Haman = "magnificent" chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai

45 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6663

צָדֵק

tsa.daq — to justify

1) to be just, be righteous 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to have a just cause, be in the right 1a2) to be justified 1a3) to be just (of God) 1a4) to be just, be righteous (in conduct and character) 1b) (Niphal) to be put or made right, be justified 1c) (Piel) justify, make to appear righteous, make someone righteous 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to do or bring justice (in administering law) 1d2) to declare righteous, justify 1d3) to justify, vindicate the cause of, save 1d4) to make righteous, turn to righteousness 1e) (Hithpael) to justify oneself

38 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1247

διακονέω

diakoneō — to serve

διακονέω, ῶ (δίακονος); 1. generally, to minister, serre, wait upon, especially at table, to do one a service, cure for one's needs: absol., Mat.20:28, Mrk.10:45, Luk.10:40 22:26, 27, Jhn.12:2, 1Pe.4:11; ὅσα διηκόνησεν, 2Ti.1:18; with dative of person(s), Mat.4:11 8:15 25:44 27:55, Mrk.1:13, 31 15:41, Luk.4:39 8:3 12:37 17:8, Jhn.12:26, Act.6:2 19:22, Rom.15:25, Phm 13, Heb.6:10. 2. to serve as deacon: 1Ti.3:10, 3:13. 3. C. accusative of thing(s), to minister, supply, supply by ministration: 1Pe.1:12 4:10; pass., 2Co.3:3 8:19, 20.† SYN.: λειτουργέω, which see (Cremer, 179). (AS)

32 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1248

διακονία

diakonia — service

διακονία, -ας, ἡ (διάκονος), [in LXX for נַעַר, שָׁרַת pi.: Est.6:3, Est.6:5 A; 1Ma.11:58 * ;] the office and work of a διάκονος, service, ministry; (a) of domestic duties (Field, Notes, 63): Luk.10:40 (b) spec. of religious ministration, and the exercise of ministerial functions in the Church: Act.1:17, 25 6:1, 4 11:29 12:25 20:24; 21:19, Rom.11:13 12:7 15:31, 1Co.16:15, 2Co.4:1 6:3 8:4 9:1, 13, Eph.4:12, Col.4:17, 1Ti.1:12, 2Ti.4:5, 11, Heb.1:14, Rev.2:19; δ. τ. θανάτου, 2Co.3:7; τ. πνεύματος, 2Co. 3:8; τ. κατακρίσεως, τ, δικαιοσύνης, 2Co. 3:9; τ. καταλλαγῆς, 2Co. 5:18; τ. λειτουργίας, 2Co. 9:12; with obj. genitive, τὴν ὑμῶν δ., ib. 11:8; pl., 1Co.12:5.† (AS)

32 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1249

διάκονος

diakonos — servant

διάκονος, -ου, ὁ, ἡ (derivation unknown), [in LXX for נַעַר, שָׁרַת pi.: Est.6:3, 5, א B Est.1:10 2:2, Pro.10:4, 4Ma.9:17 * ;] 1. in general, a servant, attendant, minister: Mat.20:26 22:13 23:11, Mrk.9:35 10:43, Jhn.2:5, 9, 1Co.3:5, Gal.2:17, Eph.6:21, Col.4:7; δ. θεοῦ, Rom.13:4, 2Co.6:4, 1Th.3:2; δ. Χριστοῦ, 2Co.11:23, Col.1:7, 1Ti.4:6; cf. ὁ δ. ὁ ἐμός, Jhn.12:26; δ. περιτομῆς, Rom.15:8; δ. καινῆς διαθήκης, 2Co.3:6; δ. δικαιοσύνης, 2Co.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, see M, Th., I, 32), a deacon: Php.1:1, 1Ti.3:8, 12; fem. (cf. Eccl. διακονίσσα), Rom.16:1 (cf. 1Ti.3:11, and CGT, in l., also M, Th., l.with).† 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. (AS)

27 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3816

παῖς

pais — child

παῖς, genitive, παιδός, ὁ, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for עֶבֶד, also for נַעַר, נַעֲרָה, etc. ;] 1. a child, boy, youth, maiden: ὁ π., Mat.17:18, Luk.2:43 9:42, Act.20:12; ἡ π. Luk.8:51, 54 (on the artic. fern, of address, see M, Pr., 70 f., 235; B1., § 33, 4); pl., Mat.2:16 21:15; of parentage, with genitive, Jhn.4:51 2. Like Heb. עֶבֶד, Lat. Auer, Fr. garcon, Eng. boy (Æsch., Aristoph., Xen., al.), servant, slave, attendant: Mat.8:6, 8 8:13 Luk.7:7 12:45 15:26; in late writers (Diod., LXX: Gen.41:37, al.), of a king's attendant or minister : Mat.14:2; so (= Heb. יְהוָֹה עֶבֶד) π. τ. θεοῦ (Psa.69:18, Isa.41:8, Wis.2:13, al.), of Israel, Luk.1:54; of David, Luk.1:69, Act.4:25; of Jesus (but see Dalman, Words, 277 f.), Mat.12:18 (LXX), Act.3:13, 26 4:27, 30.† SYN.: 1. τέκνον, child, with emphasis on parentage and the consequent community of nature; υἱός, son, with emphasis on the privileged position of heirship; π. refers both to age and parentage, but with emphasis on the former. Cf. also (παιδάριον), (παιδίον), (παιδίσκη), and see Westc. on 1Jn.3:1. 2. see: θεράπων, and cf. Thackeray, Gr., 7 f (AS)

24 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H1777

דִּין

din — to judge

1) to judge, contend, plead 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to act as judge, minister judgment 1a2) to plead a cause 1a3) to execute judgment, requite, vindicate 1a4) to govern 1a5) to contend, strive 1b) (Niphal) to be at strife, quarrel Aramaic equivalent: din (דִּין "to judge" H1778)

24 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3547

כָּהַן

ka.han — to minister

1) to act as a priest, minister in a priest's office 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to minister as a priest, serve as a priest 1a2) to be or become a priest 1a3) to play the priest

22 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3000

λατρεύω

latreuō — to minister

λατρεύω (λάτρις, a hired servant), [in LXX (always, as λατρεία, of the service of God or of heathen divinities) chiefly for עָבַד, Exo.3:12, al.; in Dan LXX TH (Dan.3:12, al.) for פְּלַח ;] 1. to work for hire. 2. to serve; in cl., also of divine service, to serve, worship, and so always in NT: with dative of person(s), τ. θεῷ, Mat.4:10, Luk.4:8" (LXX), Act.7:7 24:14 27:23, Heb.9:14, Rev.7:15 22:3; of idol worship (cf. Exo.20:5, Eze.20:32), Act.7:42, Rom.1:25; τ. θεῷ. ἐν τ. πνεύματί μου, Rom.1:9; id. ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει, 2Ti.1:3; μετ᾽ εὐλαβείας κ. δέους, Heb.12:28; ἐν ὁσιότητι κ. δικαιοσύνῃ, Luk.1:74; (without θεῷ) νηστείαις κ. δεήσεσι, Luk.2:37; πνεύματι θεοῦ, Php.3:3; absol., Act.26:7; ὁ λατρεύων, the worshipper, Heb.9:9 10:2; of ministerial service, with dative of thing(s), Heb.8:5 13:10.† SYN.: λειτουργέω, q.v (AS)

21 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2872

κοπιάω

kopiaō — to labor

κοπιάω, -ῶ (κόπος), [in LXX chiefly for יָגַע ;] 1. (as in cl.) to grow weary: Mat.11:28, Jhn.4:6, Rev.2:3 (cf. Isa.40:31). 2. Hence, in LXX and NT, to work with effort, to toil: absol., Mat.6:23, Luk.5:5 12:27, Jhn.4:38, Act.20:35, 1Co.4:12, Eph.4:28, 2Ti.2:5; with accusative of thing(s), Jhn.4:38; frequently in Paul. Epp., of ministerial labour: 1Co.15:10 16:16; before ἐν, Rom.16:12, 1Th.5:12 (see M, Th., in l), 1Ti.5:17; εἰς, Rom.16:6, Gal.4:11, Php.2:16, Col.1:29, 1Ti.4:10.† (AS)

20 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5257

ὑπηρέτης

hupēretēs — servant

ὑπηρέτης, -ου, ὁ (ὑπό + ἐρέτης, a rower) [in LXX: Pro.14:35 (עֶבֶד), Wis.6:4, al. ;] prop., an under rower; hence, generally, a servant, attendant, minister: of a magistrate's attendant, Mat.5:25; of officers of the Synagogue or Sanhedrin, Mat.26:58, Mrk.14:54, 65, Luk.4:20, Jhn.7:32, 45-46 18:3, 12 18:22 19:6, Act.5:22, 26; of the attendants of kings, οἱ ὑ. οἱ ἑμοί Jhn.18:36; of Christian ministers, Act.13:5 26:16; ὑπηρέται λόγου, Luk.1:2; Χριστοῦ, 1Co.4:1; δοῦλοι κ. ὑ., Jhn.18:18.† SYN.: see: διάκονος (AS)

20 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3623

οἰκονόμος

oikonomos — manager

οἰκονόμος, -ου, ὁ (οἶκος + νέμω, to manage) [in LXX chiefly for עַל ;] 1. prop., the manager of a household or estate, a house- or land-steward (usually a slave or freedman): Luk.12:42 16:1, 3 16:8, 1Co.4:2, Gal.4:2; ὀ οἰ. τ. πόλεως (RV, treasurer; cf. I Est.4:49), Rom.16:23. 2. Metaphorical (in wider sense; cf. οἰκονομία), an administrator, a steward: of Christian ministers, 1Co.4:1, Tit.1:7; of Christians generally, 1Pe.4:10.† (AS)

10 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H6399

פְּלַח

pe.lach — to serve

1) to serve, worship, revere, minister for, pay reverence to 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to pay reverence to 1a2) to serve

10 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4993

מַתִּתְיָ֫הוּ

mat.tit.yah — Mattithiah

A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at 1Ch.9.31; son of: Shallum (H7967M) § Mattithiah = "gift of Jehovah" 1) a Levite who presided over the offerings 2) a Levite appointed by David to minister in the musical service before the ark 3) one of the family of Nebo who had a foreign wife in the time of Ezra 4) one of the men who stood at the right hand of Ezra when he read the law to the people

8 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3008

λειτουργέω

leitourgeō — to minister

λειτουργέω, -ῶ (λειτουργός), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁרַת pi., also for עָבַד, צָבָא, etc. ;] 1. in cl., at Athens, to supply public offices at one's own cost, render public service to the State, hence, generally, 2. to serve the State, do a service, serve (of service to the Gods, Diod., i, 21): of the official service of priests and Levites (Exo.29:30, Num.16:9, Sir.4:14, 1Ma.10:42, al.; cf. Deiss., BS, 140 f.), Heb.10:11; of Christians: with dative of person(s) before ἐν, Rom.15:27 (cf. Sir.10:25); τ. κυρίῳ, Act.13:2.† SYN.: λατρεύω (which see), prop., to serve for hire, LXX (as some­times in cl.), always of service to the deity on the part of both priests and people (Exo.4:3, Deu.10:12, and similarly in NT). λειτουργέω "is the fulfilment of an office: it has a definite representative character, and corresponds with a function to be discharged". It is therefore used of serving in an office or ministry: in LXX always of priests and Levites, in NT, with its cognates (Rom.13:6 15:27, are not really exceptions), of services rendered either to God or man by apostles, prophets, teachers, and other officers of the church (cf. Tr., Syn., § xxxv; ICC on Rom.1:9; Westc., He., 232 ff.) (AS)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5256

ὑπηρετέω

hupēreteō — to serve

ὑπηρετέω, -ῶ (ὑπηρέτης) [in LXX: Wis.16:21, 24-25 19:6, Sir.39:4 * ;] prop., to serve as rower on a ship (Diod., al.). In cl. always metaphorically, to minister to, serve: with dative of person(s), Act.13:36 20:34 24:23.† (AS)

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5331

φαρμακεία

pharmakeia — sorcery

φαρμακία (Rec. -εία), -ας, ἡ (φαρμακεύω, to administer drugs) poët. and late prose form of φαρμακεία, [in LXX: Exo.7:11, 22 8:7, 18 (3, 14) (לָט, חַרְטֹם), Isa.47:9, 12 (כֶּשֶׁף) Wis.12:4 18:13 * ;] 1. generally, the use of medicine, drugs or spells (Xen.). 2. (a) poisoning (Plut., Polyb.); (b) sorcery, witchcraft: Gal.5:20 (see Lft., in l), Rev.9:21 (WH, txt., φαρμάκων) Rev.18:23 (cf. LXX, ll. with).† (AS)

2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1844

ἐξορκίζω

exorkizō — to adjure

ἐξ-ορκίζω (later form of ἐξορκόω ), [in LXX: Jdg.17:2 (אָלָה), Gen.24:3, 3Ki.22:16 (שָׁבַע hi.)* ;] 1. to administer an oath to (Dem., Polyb., al.). 2. to adjure: with accusative of person(s), before κατά, with genitive (as frequently in magic π.; MM, Exp., xiv), Mat.26:63.† (AS)

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G1845

ἐξορκιστής

exorkistēs — exorcist

ἐξ-ορκιστής, -οῦ, ὁ (ἐξορκίζω), 1. one who administers an oath. 2. an exorcist: Act.19:13.† (AS)

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2418

ἱερουργέω

hierourgeō — to minister

ἱερουργέω, -ῶ (ἱερουργός, a sacrificing priest) [in LXX: 4Ma.7:3 R (of. -γία, 4Mac 3:30 א R)* ;] to perform sacred rites; with accusative, to minister in priestly service (minister in sacrifice, R, mg.), τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, Rom.15:16.† (AS)

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

One who serves, as distinguished from the master. (1.) Heb. meshereth, applied to an attendant on one of superior rank, as to Joshua, the servant of Moses (Ex. 33:11), and to the servant of Elisha (2 Kings 4:43). This name is also given to attendants at court (2 Chr. 22:8), and to the priests and Levites (Jer. 33:21; Ezek. 44:11). (2.) Heb. 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 Neh. 7:57-60. (3.) Greek leitourgos, a subordinate public administrator, and in this sense applied to magistrates (Rom. 13:6). It is applied also to our Lord (Heb. 8:2), and to Paul in relation to Christ (Rom. 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 Cor. 3:5), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), Timothy (1 Thess. 3:2), and also to Christ (Rom. 15:8).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Minister in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →