διάκονοςdiákonos
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)
Greek (New Testament) · G1249
Meanings
1. in general, a servant, attendant, minister: Matthew 20:26, Matthew 22:13, Matthew 23:11, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:43, John 2:5, John 2:9, 1 Corinthians 3:5, Galatians 2:17, Ephesians 6:21, Colossians 4:7; δ. θεοῦ, Romans 13:4, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:2; δ. Χριστοῦ, 2 Corinthians 11:23, Colossians 1:7, 1 Timothy 4:6; cf. ὁ δ. ὁ ἐμός, John 12:26; δ. περιτομῆς, Romans 15:8; δ. καινῆς διαθήκης, 2 Corinthians 3:6; δ. δικαιοσύνης, 2 Corinthians 11:15; δ. [εὐαγγελίου], Ephesians 3:7, Colossians 1:23; δ. [ἐκκλησίας], Colossians 1:25.
2. As technical term for Church officer, a deacon: Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 3:12; fem. (cf. Eccl. διακονίσσα), Romans 16:1 (cf. 1 Timothy 3:11, and CGT, in l., also M, Th., in the passage cited).
Synonyms
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.
Same root
- διώκωdiṓkō · G1377compare the base of G1169 (δειλός) and G1249 (διάκονος)); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute
- διακονίαdiakonía · G1248attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate)
- διακονέωdiakonéō · G1247to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); technically, to act as a Christian deacon
Where it appears
Appears 29 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 20:26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
- Matthew 22:13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you must be a servant.
- Mark 9:35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
- Mark 10:43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
- John 2:5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.