Quick Definition
a female slave, bonds-maid
Strong's Definition
a female slave (involuntarily or voluntarily)
Derivation: feminine of G1401 (δοῦλος);
KJV Usage: handmaid(-en)
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
δοῦλος, δούλη, δοῦλον (derived by most from δέω, to tie, bind; by some from ΔΑΛΩ, to ensnare, capture ((?) others besides; cf. Vanicek, p. 322)); serving, subject to: παρεστήσατε τά μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσία, Rom_6:19. Then substantively, ἡ δούλη, a female slave, bondmaid, handmaid: τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῦ κυρίου, one who worships God and submits to him, Act_2:18 (from Joe_2:29 ()); Luk_1:38; Luk_1:48. ὁ δοῦλος, the Sept. for ςΖαΖγ;
1. a slave, bondman, man of servile condition;
a. properly: opposed to ἐλεύθερος, 1Co_7:21; 1Co_12:13; Gal_3:28; Eph_6:8; Col_3:11; Rev_6:15; Rev_13:16; Rev_19:18; opposed to κύριος, δεσπότης, οἰκοδεσπότης, Mat_10:24; Mat_13:27; Luk_12:46; Joh_15:15 Eph_6:5; Col_3:22; Col_4:1; 1Ti_6:1; Tit_2:9, and very often.
b. metaphorically, α. one who gives himself up wholly to another's will, 1Co_7:23; or dominion, τῆς ἁμαρτίας, Joh_8:34; Rom_6:17; Rom_6:20; τῆς φθορᾶς, 2Pe_2:19, (τῶν ἡδονῶν, Athen. 12, p. 531 c.; τῶν χρημάτων, Plutarch, Pelop c. 3; τοῦ πίνειν, Aelian v. h. 2, 41). β. the δοῦλοι Χριστοῦ, τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, are those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men: used of apostles, Rom_1:1; Gal_1:10; Php_1:1; 2Ti_2:24; Tit_1:1; Jas_1:1; 2Pe_1:1; of other preachers and teachers of the gospel, Col_4:12; 2Ti_2:24; Jud_1:1; of the true worshippers of Christ (who is κύριος πάντων, Act_10:36), Eph_6:6. The δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ, ιΐδεΘδ ςΗαΐγΕι, are those whose agency God employs in executing his purposes: used of apostles, Act_4:29; Act_16:17; of Moses (Jos_1:1), Rev_15:3; of prophets (Jer_7:25; Jer_25:4), Rev_1:1; Rev_10:7; Rev_11:18; of all who obey God's commands, his true worshippers, Luk_2:29; Rev_2:20; Rev_7:3; Rev_19:2; Rev_19:5; Rev_22:3; Rev_22:6; (Psalm 33:23 (); Psalm 68:37 (); Psalm 88:4, 21 ()). γ. δοῦλος τίνος, devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests: Mat_20:27; Mar_10:44; strenuously laboring for another's salvation, 2Co_4:5.
2. a servant, attendant, (of a king): Mat_18:23; Mat_18:26 ff. (Synonym: see διάκονος.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
δούλη doulē 3x
female slave, bondmaid, Luk_1:38 ; Luk_1:48 ; Act_2:18
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
δούλη , ἡ , see δοῦλος G1401 .
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
δούλη, ἡ, see: δοῦλος.
δοῦλος, -η, -ον,
[in LXX, ὁ δ. nearly always for עֶבֶד; ὁ δ. chiefly for שִׁפְחָה ,אָמָה ;]
__1. in bondage to, subject to: Rom.6:19.
__2. As subst., ὁ, ἡ δ., a slave;
__(a) fem., ἡ δ., a female slave, bondmaid (Cremer, 702; DB, iii, 215): Luk.1:38, 48 Act.2:18" (LXX) ;
__(b) masc., ὁ δ., a slave, bond-man: Mat.8:9 18:23, al.; opposite to ἐλεύθερος, 1Co.7:22 12:13, Gal.3:28, Eph.6:8, Col.3:11, Rev.6:15 13:16 19:18; opposite to κύριος, δεσπότης, οἰκοδεσπότης, Mat.10:24 13:27, 28 Luk.12:46, Jhn.15:15, Eph.6:5, Col.3:22 4:1, al.; metaphorically, δ. Χριστοῦ, τοῦ Χρ., Ἰησοῦ Χρ., Rom.1:1, 1Co.7:22, Gal.1:10, Eph.6:6, Php.1:1, Col.4:12, Jas.1:1, 2Pe.1:1, Ju 1; δ. τ. θεοῦ, τ. κυρίου, Act.16:17, 2Ti.2:24, Tit.1:1, 1Pe.2:16, Rev.7:3 15:3; δ. πονηρός, ἀχρεῖος, κακός, Mat.18:32 24:48 25:26, 30, Luk.17:10 19:22; δ. ἁμαρτίας, Jhn.8:34, Rom.6:17, 20; τ. φθορᾶς, 2Pe.2:19.
SYN.: διάκονος (q.V.), θεράπων, ὐπηρέτης (see DB, iii, 377; iv, 461, 469; DCG, i, 221; ii, 613; Cremer, 215, 702). (AS)
