ὑπηρετ-έω G5256
to serve, minister to, attend; to perform service or assistance, especially in an official capacity
Originally meaning to serve as a rower on a ship (from hupēretēs, "under-rower"), this verb came to mean general service or ministry, especially of an official or subordinate kind. It implies active assistance and practical help rather than mere presence. In the New Testament, it describes both civic service (attendance and help) and ministerial service (practical support of ministry work). The term suggests organized, purposeful service rendered to someone or some cause, often with a note of subordination to the one served.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts 13:36 summarizes David's life: he "served" (hupēretēsas) the purpose of God in his own generation—fulfilled his ministerial calling. Acts 20:34 has Paul remind the Ephesian elders that his own hands "ministered" (hupēretēsan) to his needs and his companions'—manual labor supporting his ministry. Acts 24:23 describes Felix ordering the centurion to keep Paul in custody but allow his friends "to attend" (hupēretein) to his needs—provide practical service. The Spanish servir/sirviendo/sirvieron, French servir, and German forms all center on service/serving. The range covers ministry to God's purposes (David), self-supporting labor (Paul), and personal care (friends attending Paul), unified by the theme of practical, purposeful service. 3×
AR["أَنْ-يَخْدِمُوهُ", "خَدَمَ", "خَدَمَتْهَا"]·ben["সেবা-করিতে", "সেবা-করে", "সেবা-করেছে"]·DE["ὑπηρέτησαν", "ὑπηρετήσας", "ὑπηρετεῖν"]·EN["having-served", "served", "to-attend"]·FR["servir"]·heb["לְשָׁרֵת", "שֵׁרְתוּ", "שֵׁרֵת"]·HI["सेवा-करके", "सेवा-कीं", "सेवाकरने"]·ID["melayani"]·IT["servire"]·jav["ngladosi"]·KO["섬겼다", "섬기고", "섬기는-것을"]·PT["serviram", "tendo-servido"]·RU["послужив", "послужили", "служить"]·ES["servirle", "sirviendo", "sirvieron"]·SW["akihudumia", "kumhudumia", "zilihudumia"]·TR["hizmet-eden", "hizmet-etmeyi", "hizmet-etti"]·urd["خدمت-کر-کر", "خدمت-کرنا", "خدمت-کی"]
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
ὑπηρετ-έω, future -ήσωRefs 2nd c.AD+, etc.: pluperfect ὑπηρετήκειν Refs 5th c.BC+:—properly do service on board ship, as a rower (compare ὑπηρέτης, ὑπηρεσία), Refs 3rd c.BC+:—passive, πλοῖον ὑπὸ δύο ἀνθρώπων ὑπηρετεῖσθαι δυνάμενον Refs 1st c.BC+ __II to be a servant, do service, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to ἄρχω, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.2 with dative, minister to, serve, τῷ παρόντι δαίμονι Refs 5th…