Quick Definition
I minister to, serve
Strong's Definition
to be a subordinate, i.e. (by implication) subserve
Derivation: from G5257 (ὑπηρέτης);
KJV Usage: minister (unto), serve
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ὑπηρετέω, ὑπηρέτω; 1 aorist ὑπηρέτησα; from Herodotus down; to be ὑπηρέτης (which see), properly,
a. to act as rower, to row, (Diodorus, Aelian).
b. to minister, render service: τίνι, Act_13:36; Act_20:34; Act_24:23.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ὑπηρετέω hypēreteō 3x
to subserve, Act_13:36 ;
to relieve, supply, Act_20:34 ;
to render kind offices, Act_24:23
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** ὑπηρετέω , -ῶ ( < ὑπηρέτης ),
[in LXX : Wis_16:21 ; Wis_16:24-25 ; Wis_19:6 , Sir_39:4 * ;] prop ., to serve as rower on a ship ( Diod ., al. ). In cl . always metaph ., to minister to, serve: c. dat. pers ., Act_13:36 ; Act_20:34 ; Act_24:23 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ὑπηρετέω [page 654]
serve, minister to : (a) c. dat, pers. P Tebt II. 420 .19 (iii/A.D.) πάλιν σαι ὑπηρετῶ , I will serve you again, P Oxy I. 58 .24 (A.D. 288) appointment of treasury officials δηλαδὴ δὲ τοιούτους αἱρεθῆναι ποιήσειτε ( l. ποιήσετε ) τούτοις φρον [τι ]σταῖς ὑπηρετησομένους οἳ καὶ βασάνοις ὑποκείσοντα̣ι , you will of course take care that only such persons are appointed to assist these superintendents as are in a position to stand the test (Edd.), and the curious magical spell, P Lond 125 verso .18 (v/A.D.) ( = I. p. 124), for transforming a goddess into an old woman who shall declare ἐγώ σοι ὑπηρετήσω .
(b) c. dat. rei P Ryl II. 153 .11 (A.D. 138 161) ὑπηρετήσας πράγμασι ἡμῶν καὶ ὠφέλιμος ἡμῖν , has been of service in our affairs and useful to us, P Oxy I. 86 .14 (A.D. 338) ν ]αυτὴν παρασχεῖν . . . ὑπὲρ τοῦ δύνασθ [αι α ]ὐτὸν [ὑπη ]ρετήσασθαι τῇ δημοσίᾳ σι̣τ̣[ο ]πο̣ι̣ᾳ , to provide a boatman who shall help in the service of the public cornsupply (Edd.).
See further P Oxy VI. 929 .5 (ii/iii A.D.) εἰδώς σου τὸ [σ ]πουδεον ( l. σπουδαῖον ) τὸ πρὸς πάντας καὶ νῦν ἓν τοῦτό με ὑπηρετήσε̣ἰ̣ , knowing your goodness to all, I ask you now to do me this one service (Edd.), P Grenf II. 77 .34 (iii/iv A.D.) ( = Selections , p.122) π ]ᾶν οὖν ποιήσετε ὑπηρετῆσαι τὸν μέλλοντα ἐνεγκ [εῖ ]ν τὸ σῶμα ἐν ψωμίοις , you will take every care therefore to entertain with delicacies the man who is to convey the body with reference to certain funeral arrangements.
For the subst. ὑπηρεσία it must be sufficient to cite the following miscellaneous exx. P Tebt II. 302 .30 (A.D. 71 2) ἐκτελοῦντες τὰς τῶν θεῶν λειτουργίας καὶ ὑπηρεσίας , performing the services and ceremonies of the gods, ib. 393 .12 (A.D. 150) appointment of Harpalus as guard on the desert canal ποιοῦντα πᾶσαν τὴν ὑπηρε [σία ]ν καὶ [ὑδροφ ]υλακίαν , performing all the duties and watching of the water (Edd.), P Oxy XVII. 2123 .9 (nomination to office A.D. 247 8) ε̣[ἰσ ]δίδομεν εἰς ὑπηρεσίαν , we present for service as assistant (Edd.), P Ryl II. 238 .12 (A.D. 262) ὃ εἶχαν βουρδ̣ωνάριον εἰς ἐμὴν ὑπηρεσίαν κατέσχον , I have kept for my own use the mule which they had (Edd.), P Flor II. 157 .7 (iii/A.D.) arrangements for the supply of bread and τὴν ἄλλην ὑπηρε̣σ̣ι̣αν for workmen that ὑπηρετούμενοι they may work with alacrity ἔχοντες τὸ ἀμέριμνον τῶν τρο̣φῶν , and P Oxy I. 92 .2 (A.D. 335?) παράσχες εἰς ὑπηρεσίαν τῆς γεουχ (ικῆς ) οἰκίας οἴνου νέου κεράμια δέκα , provide for the service of the landowner s house ten jars of new wine.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ὑπηρετέω [Etym: ὑπηρέτης] "to do service on board ship, to do rower's service":— hence "to be a servant, do service, serve", Soph. , Ar. c. dat. "to minister to, serve", Lat. inservire, Hdt. , attic; ὑπ. τοῖς τρόποις "to comply with, humour" his ways, Ar. ; ὑπ. τῶι λόγωι "to second, support" it, Eur. : — ὑπ. τινί τι "to help" one in a thing, Soph. , Ar. , etc. absol. "to serve, lend aid", Soph. :—Pass. "to be done as service", Hdt. , Isocr.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ὑπηρετέω, -ῶ
(ὑπηρέτης) [in LXX: Wis.16:21, 24-25 19:6, Sir.39:4 * ;]
prop., to serve as rower on a ship (Diod., al.). In cl. always metaphorically, to minister to, serve: with dative of person(s), Act.13:36 20:34 24:23.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Minister (5256) hupereteo
Ministered (5256)(hupereteo from huperetes = an attendant or assistant <> from hupo = under, beneath + eretes = a rower = an "under rower" ~ a subordinate who waits to carry out a superior's commands) means to serve as a rower (see huperetes below), to do service on board the ship and then came mean simply to serve, render service or assistance or be helpful to someone.
In secular Greek usage the huperetes (Mt 5:25, 26:58; Mk 14:54, 65; Jn 7:32, 45, 46; 18:3, 12, 18, 22; 19:6; Acts 5:22, 26) referred to common sailors (distinguished from nautes = seaman) who were down in the ship's, doing one thing -- rowing and with their eyes on one man, the man standing at the front of the hull, shouting "Row, Row, Row!"
The verb hupereteo occurs 3 times in the NT and below are the other two uses...
Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;
Acts 20:23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.
Barnes has a pithy comment...
How much more influence will such a man have than he who has been worldly-minded; he who has sought to become rich; and he, the only memorials of whose life is, that he has sought “the fleece, not the flock”—that he has gained the property, not the souls of men.
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