Strong's Lexicon
G1249 — διάκονος
Greek entry for Bible study and original-language reference.
Definition / Gloss
| Strong's Number: | G1249 |
|---|---|
| Word: | διάκονος |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Etymology: | probably from an obsolete diako "to run on errands" |
| Language: | Greek |
| Occurrences: | 29 |
| Transliteration: | diakonos |
| Phonetic Spelling/Pronunciation: | dee-ak'-on-os |
| Meaning: | 1. an attendant, a servant 2. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties) 3. (specially) a male Christian serving in a specific function and post (i.e. tending the widows and the poor, teaching, pastoring, etc) |
| KJV Renderings: | deacon, minister, servant |
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Thayer's Greek Lexicon
διάκονος, διακονου, ὁ, ἡ (of uncertain origin, but by no means, as was formerly thought, compounded of διά and κόνις, so as to mean, properly, ’raising dust by hastening’; cf. ἐγκόνειν; for the alpha in the preposition διά is short, in διάκονος, long. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Lexil. i., p. 218ff (English translation, p. 231f) thinks it is derived from the obsolete διάκω equivalent to διήκω (allied with διώκω; cf. Vanicek, p. 363)); one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master; a sergeant, attendant, minister;
1. universally: of the servant of a king, Mat 22:13; with the genitive of the person served, Mat 20:26; Mat 23:11; Mar 9:35; Mar 10:43 (in which passage it is used figuratively of those who advance others’ interests even at the sacrifice of their own); τῆς ἐκκλησίας, of one who does what promotes the welfare and prosperity of the church, Col 1:25; διάκονοι τοῦ Θεοῦ, those through whom God carries on his administration on earth, as magistrates, Rom 13:4; teachers of the Christian religion, 1Co 3:5; 2Co 6:4; 1Th 3:2 R T Tr WH text L marginal reading; the same are called διάκονοι (τοῦ) Χριστοῦ, 2Co 11:23; Col 1:7; 1Ti 4:6; ἐν κυρίῳ, in the cause of the Lord, Col 4:7; (Eph 6:21); ὁ διάκονος μου, my follower, Joh 12:26; τοῦ Σατανᾶ, whom Satan uses as a servant, 2Co 11:15; (ἁμαρτίας, Gal 2:17); διάκονος περιτομῆς (abstract for concrete), of Christ, who labored for the salvation of the circumcised, i. e. the Jews, Rom 15:8; with the genitive of the thing to which service is rendered, i. e. to which one is devoted: καινῆς διαθήκης, 2Co 3:6; τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, Eph 3:7; Col 1:23; δικαιοσύνης, 2Co 11:15.
2. a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use (cf. BB. DD., Dict. of Christ. Antiq., Schaff-Herzog under the word ; Lightfoot’s Commentary on Philippians, dissert. i. § i.; Julius Muller, Dogmatische Abhandlungen, p. 560ff): Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:8; 1Ti 3:12, cf. Act 6:3 ff; ἡ διάκονος, a deaconess (ministra, Pliny, epistles 10, 97), a woman to whom the care of either poor or sick women was entrusted, Rom 16:1 (cf. Dictionaries as above, under the word ; Lightfoot as above, p. 191; B. D. under the word ).
3. a waiter, one who serves food and drink: Joh 2:5; Joh 2:9, as in Xenophon, mem. 1, 5, 2; Hier. 3, 11 (4, 2); Polybius 31, 4, 5; Lucian, de merced. cond. § 26; Athen. 7, p. 291 a.; 10, 420 e.; see διακονέω, 2 and διακονία, 5; (also Wetstein (1752) on Mat 4:11). [SYNONYMS: διάκονος, δοῦλος, θεράπων, ὑπηρέτης: "διάκονος represents the servant in his activity for the work; not in his relation, either servile, as that of the δοῦλος, or more voluntary, as in the case of the θεράπων, to a person" Trench; yet cf. e. g. Rom 13:4; 2Co 6:4 etc.). δοῦλος opposed to ἐλεύθερος, and correlate to δεσπότης or κύριος, denotes a bondman, one who sustains a permanent servile relation to another. θεράπων is the voluntary performer of services, whether as a freeman or a slave; it is a nobler, tenderer word than δοῦλος. ὑπηρέτης according to its etymol. suggests subordination. Cf. Trench, § ix.; B. D. under the word ; Meyer on Eph 3:7; Schmidt, chapter 164.]
Other Resources
Englishman's Greek Concordance
διάκονος (deacon)
Matthew 20:26
- KJV: But it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister
- GK: ουχ ούτως δε έσται εν υμίν αλλ΄ ος εάν θέλη εν υμίν μέγας γενέσθαι έσται υμών διάκονος
Matthew 22:13
- KJV: Then said the king to the servants Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
- GK: τότε είπεν ο βασιλεύς τοις διακόνοις δήσαντες αυτού πόδας και χείρας άρατε αυτόν και εκβάλετε εις το σκότος το εξώτερον εκεί έσται ο κλαυθμός και ο βρυγμός των οδόντων
Matthew 23:11
- KJV: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant
- GK: ο δε μείζων υμών έσται υμών διάκονος
Mark 9:35
- KJV: And he sat down and called the twelve and saith unto them If any man desire to be first shall be last of all and servant of all
- GK: και καθίσας εφώνησε τους δώδεκα και λέγει αυτοίς ει θέλει πρώτος είναι έσται πάντων έσχατος και πάντων διάκονος
Mark 10:43
- KJV: But so shall it not be among you but whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister
- GK: ουχ ούτως δε έσται εν υμίν αλλ΄ ος εαν θέλη γενέσθαι μέγας εν υμίν έσται διάκονος υμών
John 2:5
- KJV: His mother saith unto the servants Whatsoever he saith unto you do
- GK: λέγει η μήτηρ αυτού τοις διακόνοις ο αν λέγη υμίν ποιήσατε
John 2:9
- KJV: When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was but the servants which drew the water knew the governor of the feast called the bridegroom
- GK: ως δε εγεύσατο ο αρχιτρίκλινος το ύδωρ οίνον γεγενημένον και ουκ ήδει πόθεν εστίν οι δε διάκονοι ήδεισαν οι ηντληκότες το ύδωρ φωνεί τον νυμφίον ο αρχιτρίκλινος
John 12:26
- KJV: If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will Father honour
- GK: εάν εμοί διακονή τις εμοί ακολουθείτω και όπου ειμί εγώ εκεί και ο διάκονος ο εμός έσται και εάν τις εμοί διακονή τιμήσει αυτόν ο πατήρ
Romans 13:4
- KJV: For he is the minister of God thee for good But if thou do that which is evil be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain for he is the minister of God a revenger to wrath upon him that doeth evil
- GK: θεού γαρ διάκονός εστί σοι εις το αγαθόν εάν δε το κακόν ποιής φοβού ου γαρ εική την μάχαιραν φορεί θεού γαρ διάκονός εστίν εκδίκος εις οργήν τω το κακόν πράσσοντι
Romans 15:8
- KJV: Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises unto the fathers
- GK: λέγω δε χριστόν Ιησούν διάκονον γεγενήσθαι περιτομής υπέρ αληθείας θεού εις το βεβαιώσαι τας επαγγελίας των πατέρων
Romans 16:1
- KJV: I commend unto you Phebe our sister which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea
- GK: συνίστημι δε υμίν Φοίβην την αδελφήν ημών ούσαν διάκονον της εκκλησίας της εν Κεγχρεαίς
1 Corinthians 3:5
- KJV: Who then is Paul and who Apollos but ministers by whom ye believed even as the Lord gave to every man
- GK: τις ούν εστι Παύλος τις δε Απολλώς αλλ΄ διάκονοι δι΄ ων επιστεύσατε και εκάστω ως ο κύριος έδωκεν
2 Corinthians 3:6
- KJV: Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament not of the letter but of the spirit for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life
- GK: ος και ικάνωσεν ημάς διακόνους καινής διαθήκης ου γράμματος αλλά πνεύματος το γαρ γράμμα αποκτείνει το δε πνεύμα ζωοποιεί
2 Corinthians 6:4
- KJV: But in all approving ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses
- GK: αλλ΄ εν παντί συνιστώντες εαυτούς ως θεού διάκονοι εν υπομονή πολλή εν θλίψεσιν εν ανάγκαις εν στενοχωρίαις
2 Corinthians 11:15
- KJV: Therefore no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works
- GK: ου μέγα ούν ει οι διακονοί αυτού μετασχηματίζονται ως διάκονοι δικαιοσύνης ων το τέλος έσται κατά τα έργα αυτών
2 Corinthians 11:23
- KJV: Are they ministers of Christ I speak as a fool I more in labours more abundant in stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in deaths oft
- GK: διάκονοι χριστού εισι παραφρονών λαλώ υπέρ εγώ εν κόποις περισσοτέρως εν πληγαίς υπερβαλλόντως εν φυλακαίς περισσοτέρως εν θανάτοις πολλάκις
Galatians 2:17
- KJV: But if while we seek to be justified by Christ we ourselves also are found sinners therefore Christ the minister of sin God forbid
- GK: ει δε ζητούντες δικαιωθήναι εν χριστώ ευρέθημεν και αυτοί αμαρτωλοί άρα χριστός αμαρτίας διάκονος μη γένοιτο
Ephesians 3:7
- KJV: Whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power
- GK: ου εγενόμην διάκονος κατά την δωρεάν της χάριτος του θεού την δοθείσάν μοι κατά την ενέργειαν της δυνάμεως αυτού
Ephesians 6:21
- KJV: But that ye also may know my affairs how I do Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord shall make known to you all things
- GK: ίνα δε ειδήτε και υμείς τα κατ΄ εμέ τι πράσσω πάντα υμίν γνωρίσει Τυχικός ο αγαπητός αδελφός και πιστός διάκονος εν κυρίω
Philippians 1:1
- KJV: Paul and Timotheus the servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons
- GK: Παύλος και Τιμόθεος δούλοι Ιησού χριστού πάσι τοις αγίοις εν χριστώ Ιησού τοις όυσιν εν Φιλίπποις συν επισκόποις και διακόνοις
Colossians 1:7
- KJV: As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant who is for you a faithful minister of Christ
- GK: καθώς και εμάθετε από Επαφρά του αγαπητού συνδούλου ημών ος εστι πιστός υπέρ υμών διάκονος του χριστού
Colossians 1:23
- KJV: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard which was preached to every creature under heaven whereof I Paul am made a minister
- GK: είγε επιμένετε τη πίστει τεθεμελιωμένοι και εδραίοι και μη μετακινούμενοι από της ελπίδος του ευαγγελίου ου ηκούσατε του κηρυχθέντος εν πάση τη κτίσει τη υπό τον ουρανόν ου εγενόμην εγώ Παύλος διάκονος
Colossians 1:25
- KJV: Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfil the word of God
- GK: ης εγενόμην εγώ διάκονος κατά την οικονομίαν του θεού την δοθείσάν μοι εις υμάς πληρώσαι τον λόγον του θεού
Colossians 4:7
- KJV: All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord
- GK: τα κατ΄ εμέ πάντα γνωρίσει υμίν Τυχικός ο αγαπητός αδελφός και πιστός διάκονος και σύνδουλος εν κυρίω
1 Thessalonians 3:2
- KJV: And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith
- GK: και επέμψαμεν Τιμόθεον τον αδελφόν ημών και διάκονον του θεού και συνεργόν ημών εν τω ευαγγελίω του χριστού εις το στηρίξαι υμάς και παρακαλέσαι υμάς περί της πίστεως υμών
1 Timothy 3:8
- KJV: Likewise the deacons grave not doubletongued not given to much wine not greedy of filthy lucre
- GK: διακόνους ωσαύτως σεμνούς μη διλόγους μη οίνω πολλώ προσέχοντας μη αισχροκερδείς
1 Timothy 3:12
- KJV: Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife ruling their children and their own houses well
- GK: διάκονοι έστωσαν μιάς γυναικός άνδρες τέκνων καλώς προϊστάμενοι και των ιδίων οίκων
1 Timothy 4:6
- KJV: If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine whereunto thou hast attained
- GK: ταύτα υποτιθέμενος τοις αδελφοίς καλός έση διάκονος Ιησού χριστού εντρεφόμενος τοις λόγοις της πίστεως και της καλής διδασκαλίας η παρηκολούθηκας