Quick Definition
δουλεύω v. I am a slave, am subject to, obey
Strong's Definition
from 1401; to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary)
KJV Usage: be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | δουλόω
37.25 · Control, Rule · Control, Restrain
to be a slave to, to be controlled by (a figurative extension of meaning of δουλεύω[a] ‘to be a slave,’ 87.79) to be under the control of some influence and to serve the interests of such In a number of languages it may be difficult to translate more or less literally ‘but they serve their own appetites.’ One can, however, often translate this expression in ROM 16:18 as ‘but they do just what their own desires told them to do’ or ‘they do whatever they desired to do.’
ROM 6:6 · ROM 9:12 · ROM 16:18 · GAL 4:8 · GAL 4:9 · GAL 4:25 · TIT 3:3
35.27 · Help, Care For · Serve
to serve to serve, normally in a humble manner and in response to the demands or commands of others It is possible that in MAT 6:24 δουλεύω[a], namely, to be a slave (see 87.79).
MAT 6:24 · MAT 6:24 · LUK 15:29 · LUK 16:13 · LUK 16:13 · ACT 20:19 · ROM 7:6 · ROM 7:25 · ROM 12:11 · ROM 14:18 · GAL 5:13 · EPH 6:7 · PHP 2:22 · COL 3:24 · 1TH 1:9 · 1TI 6:2
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
δουλεύω; fut. δουλεύσω; 1 aor. ἐδούλευσα; pf. δεδούλευκα; (δοῦλος) ; Sept. for 733; 1. prop. to be a slave, serve, do service: absol., Eph. vi.7; 1 Tim. vi. 2; τινί, Mt. vi. 24; Lk. xvi. 13; Ro. ix. 12; said of nations in subjection to other nations, Jn. viii. 33; Acts vii. 7; men are said δουλεύειν who bear the yoke of the Mosaic law, Gal. iv. 25 (see δουλεία). 2. metaph. to obey, submit to; a. in a good sense: absol. to yield obedience, Ro. Vil. 6; τινί. to obey one’s commands and render to him the services due, Lk. xv. 29; God: Mt. vi. 24; Lk. xvi. 13; 1 Th. 1. 9: κυρίῳ and τῷ κυρίῳ, Acts xx. 19; Ro. xii. 11 (not Ree.*, see below); Eph. vi. 7; Christ: Ro. xiv. 18; Col. iii. 24; νόμῳ θεοῦ, acc. to the context, feel myself bound to, Ro. vii. 25; τοῖς θεοῖς, to worship gods, Gal. iv. 8; τῷ καιρῷ (Anth. 9,441, 6), wisely adapt one’s self to, Ro. xii. 11 Ree." (see above), cf. Fritzsche ad loc. ; perform services of kindness and Christian love : ἀλλήλοις, Gal. v. 13; used of those who zealously advance the interests of anything: ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον equiv. to ὡς πατρὶ τέκνον δουλεύει, ἐμοὶ ἐδούλευσεν καὶ οὕτω σὺν ἐμοὶ ἐδούλ. etc. Phil. ii. 22 [W. 422 (393); 577 (537)]. ὍὌ. ina bad sense, of those who become slaves to some base power, to yield to, give one’s self up to: τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, Ro. vi. 6; νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας, Ro. vii. 25; ἐπιθυμίαις x. ἡδοναῖς, Tit. iii. 8, (Xen. mem. 1, 5, 5; apol. Soer. 16; Plat. Phaedrus p. 238 e.; Polyb. 17, 15,16; Hdian. 1, 17, 22 [9 ed. Bekk.]) ; τῇ κοιλίᾳ, Ro. xvi. 18, (γαστρί, Anthol. 11, 410,4; Xen. mem. 1, 6, 8; abdomini servire, Sen. de benef. 7, 26, 4; ventri obedire, Sall. [Cat. i. 1]); μαμωνᾷ, to devote one’s self to getting wealth : Mt. vi. 24; Lk. xvi. 18. τοῖς στοιχείοις τοῦ κόσμου, Gal. iv. 9.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
δουλεύω douleuō 25x
to be a slave or servant; to be in slavery or subjection, Jn. 8:33; Acts 7:7; Rom. 9:12; to discharge the duties of a slave or servant, Eph. 6:7; 1 Tim. 6:2; to serve, be occupied in the service of, be devoted, subservient, Mt. 6:24; Lk. 15:29; Acts 20:19; Rom. 14:18; 16:18; met. to be enthralled, involved in a slavish service, spiritually or morally, Gal. 4:9, 25; Tit. 3:3
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
δουλεύω
(< δοῦλος), [in LXX for עבד, as Ge 14:4, exc. Da TH 7:14, 27 (פְּלַח), Is 56:6 (שׁרת pi.)* ;]
to be a slave, be subject to, serve: absol., Ro 7:6, Ga 4:25, I Ti 6:2; c. dat pers., Mt 6:24, Lk 15:29 16:13, Ro 9:12 (LXX); of nations, Jo 8:33, Ac 7:7 (LXX); θεῷ, τ. κυρίῳ, Mt 6:24, Lk 16:13, Ac 20:19, Ro 12:11 (R, mg., καιρῷ) 16:18, Eph 6:7, Col 3:24, I Th 1:9; τ. Χριστῷ, Ro 14:18, Col 3:24; νόμῳ θεοῦ, Ro 7:25; τ. θεοῖς, Ga 4:8; τ. καιρῷ, Ro 12:11 (R, mg. for κυρίῳ); ἀλλήλοις, Ga 5:13; σὺν ἐμοί Phl 2:22; τ. ἁμαρτίᾳ, Ro 6:6; νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας, Ro 7:25; ἐπιθυμίαις κ. ἡδοναις, Tit 3:3; τ. κοιλία, Ro 16:18; μαμωνᾷ, Mt 6:24, Lk 16:13; τ. στοιχείοις τ, κόσμου, Ga 4:9 (Cremer, 217).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
δουλεύω. We can cite no example of δ. used in a religious sense from pagan literature, but the syncretistic occult P Leid W τῷ σῷ ἀγγέλῳ. Note also the mention of the ἱερόδουλοι in connexion with the Serapeum in P Leid Di 2 (p.c. 162) σοὶ δὲ γίνοιτο, ἀνθ᾽ ὧν πρὸς τὸ θεῖον ὁσίως διάκ[ει)σαι καὶ τῶν ἱεροδούλων καὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ πάντων ἀντιλαμβάνῃ, ἐπαφροδισία, χάρις κτλ., and in P Tebt I. 635 (B.c. 140--30) where reference is made to the revenues accruing to the priests from various sources including the ἱερόδουλοι. The mention immediately afterwards of *‘ the so-called ἀφροδίσια " leads the editors to believe that these ἱερόδουλοι were ἑταῖραι, like the votaries of Aphrodite at Corinth; but cf. Otto (Przester i, p. 118), who understands simply a ‘‘ lower ” order of priests in contrast to the tribal priests. See Grenfell-Hunt’s note on P Tebt Zc. Δουλεύω in MGr = *©work,’’ ‘‘serve.”’
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
δουλεύω (douleuō) — be a slave. δουλ-εύω, (δοῦλος) to be a slave, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. serve, be subject, τό τ᾽ ἄρχειν καὶ τὸ δ. δίχα [Refs 4th c.BC+]; δ. ζεύγλαις[Refs 5th c.BC+]; δ. γαστρί, ὕπνῳ, λαγνείᾳ, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῇ γῇ δ. make oneself a slave to one's land, i. e. give up rights that one may keep it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δ. τῷ καιρῷ accommodate oneself to the occasion, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
3. render a service, τινά [Refs 6th c.AD+]