Genesis 15:13
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
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Serve
Begin with the exact English word as it appears in the King James Bible. Follow its whole-Bible usage, book distribution, related indexed forms, Webster 1828, every occurrence, and the occurrence-specific Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek mappings behind it.
Revelation 22:3
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Read in context →Jeremiah
29 occurrences in 26 verses.
Browse those occurrences →Where serve appears.
This is exact English-word usage from the canonical KJV token index, not a Strong's estimate.
Genesis
99 verses
Exodus
2523 verses
Leviticus
22 verses
Numbers
55 verses
Deuteronomy
2525 verses
Joshua
1512 verses
Judges
53 verses
1 Samuel
99 verses
2 Samuel
43 verses
1 Kings
33 verses
2 Kings
33 verses
1 Chronicles
11 verses
2 Chronicles
87 verses
Job
33 verses
Psalms
88 verses
Isaiah
66 verses
Jeremiah
2926 verses
Ezekiel
76 verses
Daniel
77 verses
Zephaniah
11 verses
Malachi
11 verses
Matthew
32 verses
Luke
98 verses
John
21 verses
Acts
33 verses
Romans
66 verses
Galatians
11 verses
Colossians
11 verses
1 Thessalonians
11 verses
2 Timothy
11 verses
Hebrews
44 verses
Revelation
22 verses
Which Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek words stand behind this KJV word?
These relationships come from exact verse + token-position mappings. We do not assume that one English spelling always equals one Strong's number. A single English token can also carry more than one source tag, so the Strong's-link total can exceed the number of English occurrences.
עָבַד
ʻâbad · aw-bad'
161 times translated as this KJV form291 total Strong's occurrences
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
Strong's KJV usage: × be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
Other KJV renderings
Strong's first: Genesis 15:13Strong's last: Malachi 3:14
Open full H5647 profile →δουλεύω
douleúō · dool-yoo'-o
13 times translated as this KJV form29 total Strong's occurrences
to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary)
Strong's KJV usage: :--be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice).
Strong's first: Matthew 6:24Strong's last: 1 Thessalonians 1:9
Open full G1398 profile →λατρεύω
latreúō · lat-ryoo'-o
13 times translated as this KJV form21 total Strong's occurrences
to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
Strong's KJV usage: :--serve, do the service, worship(-per).
Other KJV renderings
Strong's first: Matthew 4:10Strong's last: Revelation 22:3
Open full G3000 profile →διακονέω
diakonéō · dee-ak-on-eh'-o
7 times translated as this KJV form38 total Strong's occurrences
to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); technically, to act as a Christian deacon
Strong's KJV usage: :--(ad-)minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.
Other KJV renderings
Strong's first: Luke 10:40Strong's last: Acts 6:2
Open full G1247 profile →פְּלַח
pᵉlach · pel-akh'
7 times translated as this KJV form10 total Strong's occurrences
to serve or worship
Strong's KJV usage: minister, serve.
Other KJV renderings
Strong's first: Daniel 3:12Strong's last: Daniel 7:27
Open full H6399 profile →שָׁרַת
shârath · shaw-rath'
4 times translated as this KJV form97 total Strong's occurrences
to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
Strong's KJV usage: minister (unto), (do) serve(-ant, -ice, -itor), wait on.
Other KJV renderings
Strong's first: 2 Chronicles 29:11Strong's last: Ezekiel 20:32
Open full H8334 profile →יָד
yâd · yawd
1 times translated as this KJV form1,573 total Strong's occurrences
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]
Strong's KJV usage: ( be) able, × about, armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, × bounty, broad, (broken-) handed, × by, charge, coast, consecrate, creditor, custody, debt, dominion, × enough, fellowship, force, × from, hand(-staves, -y work), × he, himself, × in, labour, large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, × mine, ministry, near, × of, × order, ordinance, × our, parts, pain, power, × presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, swear, terror, × thee, × by them, × themselves, × thine own, × thou, through, × throwing, thumb, times, × to, × under, × us, × wait on, (way-) side, where, wide, × with (him, me, you), work, yield, × yourselves.
Strong's first: 1 Samuel 10:7Strong's last: 1 Samuel 10:7
Open full H3027 profile →עֲבֹדָה
ʻăbôdâh · ab-o-daw'
1 times translated as this KJV form141 total Strong's occurrences
work of any kind
Strong's KJV usage: act, bondage, bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, × wrought.
Other KJV renderings
Strong's first: Leviticus 25:39Strong's last: Leviticus 25:39
Open full H5656 profile →עָמַד
ʻâmad · aw-mad'
1 times translated as this KJV form520 total Strong's occurrences
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
Strong's KJV usage: abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
Other KJV renderings
Strong's first: Jeremiah 40:10Strong's last: Jeremiah 40:10
Open full H5975 profile →Strong's data is a concordance/lexical reference layer. Scripture context controls interpretation. Lexical source data is shown separately from future TWBC editorial teaching.
Read the word in context.
209 occurrences match the current filters. Each row keeps its exact KJV token position so Original Word and TSK remain occurrence-specific.
H5647
And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
H5647
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
H5647
Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
H5647
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
H5647
If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
H5647
Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
H5647
Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
H5647
And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
H5647
They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.
H5656
And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
H5647
But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:
H5647
This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:
H5647
And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.
H5647
And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
H5647
Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
H5647
And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
H5647
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
H5647
And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
H5647
Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
H5647
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
H5647
For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
H5647
And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.
H5647
And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
H5647
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
H5647
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
English meaning and historical usage.
Dictionary data is kept visibly separate from Scripture and from lexical Strong's data.
serve
SERVE, verb transitive serv. [Latin servio. This verb is supposed to be from the noun servus, a servant or slave, and this from servo, to keep.]
1. To work for; to bestow the labor of boky and mind in the employment of another.
Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy youngest daughters. Genesis 29:15.
No man can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24.
2. To act as the minister of; to perform official duties to; as, a minister serves his prince.
Had I served God as diligently as I have served the king, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. Cardinal Woolsey.
3. To attend at command; to wait on.
A goddess among gods, ador'd and serv'd
By anbels numberless, thy daily train. Milton.
4. To obey servilely or meanly. be not to wealth a servant.
5. To supply with food; as, to be served in plate.
6. To be subservient or subordinate to.
Bodies bright and greater should not serve
The less not bright. Milton.
7. To perform the duties required in; as, the curate served two churches.
8. To obey; to perform duties in the employment of; as, to serve the king or the country in the army or navy.
9. To be sufficient, or to promote; as, to serve one's turn, end or purpose.
10. To help by good offices; as, to serve one's country.
11. To comply with; to submit to.
They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment. Hooker.
12. To be sufficient for; to satisfy; to content.
One half pint bottle serves them both to dine,
And is at once their vinegar and wine. Pope.
13. To be in the place of any thing to one. A sofa serves the Turks for a seat and a couch.
14. To treat; to requite; as, he served me ungratefully; he served me very ill; We say also, he served me a trick, that is he deceived me, or practiced an artifice on me.
15. In Scripture and theology, to obey and worship; to act in conformity to the law of a superior, and treat him with due reverence.
Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth. As for me and my house, we will serve the lord. Joshua 24:14.
16. In a bad sense, to obey; to yeild compliance or act according to.
Serving divers lusts and treasures. Titus 3:1.
17. To worship; to render homage to; as, to serve idols or false gods.
18. To be a slave to; to be in bondage to.
19. To serve one's self of, to use; to make use of; a Gallicism, [se sevir de.]
I will serve myself of this concession. Chillingworh.
20. To use; to manage; to apply. The guns are well served.
21. In seamen's language, to wind something round a rope to prevent friction.
To serve up, to prepare and present in a dish; as, to serve up a sirloin of beef in plate; figuratively, to prepare.
To serve in, as used by Shakespeare, for to bring in, as meat by an attendant, I have never to be used in America.
To serve out, to distribute in portions; as, to serve out provisions to soldiers.
To serve a writ, to read it to the defendant; or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode.
To serve an attachment, or writ of attachment, to levy it on the or goods by seizure; or to seize.
To serve an execution, to levy it on lands, goods or person by seizure or taking possession.
To serve a warrant, to read it, and to seize the person against whom it is issued.
In general, to serve a process, is to read it so as to give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an attested copy with him or his attorney, or at his usual place of abode.
To serve an office, to discharge a public duty. [This phrase, I believe, is not used in America. We say, a man serves in an office, that is, serves the public in an office.]
SERVE, verb intransitive serv.
1. To be a servant or slave.
The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve Isaiah 14:3.
2. To be employed in labor or or other business for another.
3. To be in subjection.
4. To wait; to attend; to perform domestic offices to another.
5. To perform duties, as in the army, navy or in any office. An officer serves five years in India, or under a particular commander. The late scretary of the colony, and afterwards state, of Connecticut, was annually appointed, and served in the office sixty years.
6. To answer; to accomplish the end.
She feared that all would not serve. Sidney.
7. To be sufficient for a purpose.
This little brand will serve to light your fire. Dryden.
8. To suit; to be convenient. Take this, and use it as occasion serves.
9. To conduce; to be of use.
Our victory only served to lead us on to other visionary prospects. Swift.
10. To officiate or minister; to do the honors of; as, to serve at a public dinner.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). A conservative base-form lookup may be used when the exact inflected KJV form is not a Webster headword.
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