ὀφθαλμο-δουλεία G3787
eye-service, service performed only when being watched
This compound noun describes service rendered only when under observation—working to impress human masters rather than from genuine devotion. It appears only in the New Testament and captures the vice of superficial, performative obedience. Both occurrences address Christian slaves, warning against this duplicity. Ephesians 6:6 and Colossians 3:22 both prohibit 'eye-service as people-pleasers,' urging instead sincere service as to Christ. The term vividly names the temptation to slack off when unsupervised, working diligently only when watched.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Paul uses this term in parallel passages (Ephesians 6:6, Colossians 3:22) within instructions to slaves. Both contexts contrast eye-service with wholehearted devotion. The multilingual glosses render the compound literally: English 'eye-service,' Spanish 'servicio-del-ojo, servicios-de-ojo,' German 'Augendienerei.' The concept identifies the hypocrisy of performing well only under direct observation, working for human approval rather than divine accountability. The term exposes the divided heart that performs externally while internally disengaged. 2×
AR["خِدمَةِ-العَينِ"]·ben["চোখ-দাসত্ব", "চোখের-দাসত্বে"]·DE["Augendienerei"]·EN["eye-service"]·FR["ὀφθαλμοδουλίαις", "ὀφθαλμοδουλίαν"]·heb["עֲבוֹדַת-עֵינַיִם", "עַבְדּוּת-עַיִן"]·HI["दिखवति-सेव"]·ID["pelayanan mata", "pelayanan-mata"]·IT["ophthalmodouliais", "ophthalmodoulian"]·jav["ngladosi-mripat"]·KO["눈-가림으로", "눈-앞-섬김"]·PT["servindo-aos-olhos", "serviço-da-aparência"]·RU["наглязной-службе", "служении-для-вида"]·ES["servicio-del-ojo", "servicios-de-ojo"]·SW["utumishi-wa-macho"]·TR["goz-hizmetinde"]·urd["آنکھ-کی-غلامی", "دکھاوے-کی-خدمتوں"]
Related Senses
H8104 1. Qal: keep, observe (law/covenant) (399×)G3101 1. disciple, learner (263×)H5826 1. Qal: to help, aid (53×)H8334 1. to minister, serve (52×)H8334 2. minister, servant, attendant (46×)G5083 1. observe or obey commands (41×)H8104 2. Niphal: beware, take heed (34×)G1247 1. to serve or minister to (32×)H3256 1. discipline, chastise (Piel active) (27×)H5833 1. help, aid, assistance (26×)H8104 3. Qal: watch, look out (26×)H5341 1. keep, observe (commandments) (24×)G5083 2. guard or protect someone (23×)H5647 2. serve, minister to (a person) (21×)H5826 2. Qal participle: helper (21×)G5219 1. obey, be obedient to (20×)H5341 2. guard, protect, preserve (a person) (20×)G1398 1. serve, render service to (19×)H5828 1. help, assistance (19×)H5411 1. Nethinim, temple servants (18×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ὀφθαλμο-δουλεία, ἡ, eye-service, NT