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True Words Baptist Church — Revelation 21:5
DEEP KJV WORD STUDY

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.

209exact KJV occurrences 176Old Testament 33New Testament 32books containing the word 9mapped Strong's IDs 208occurrence-specific Strong's links
FIRST OCCURRENCE

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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LAST OCCURRENCE

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:

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KJV DISTRIBUTION

Where serve appears.

This is exact English-word usage from the canonical KJV token index, not a Strong's estimate.

ORIGINAL-LANGUAGE MAP

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.

HebrewH5647
עָבַד

ʻâbad · aw-bad'

161 times translated as this KJV form291 total Strong's occurrences

v

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,

Strong's first: Genesis 15:13Strong's last: Malachi 3:14

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GreekG1247
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.

Strong's first: Luke 10:40Strong's last: Acts 6:2

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HebrewH3027
יָד

yâd · yawd

1 times translated as this KJV form1,573 total Strong's occurrences

n-f

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

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HebrewH5975
עָמַד

ʻâmad · aw-mad'

1 times translated as this KJV form520 total Strong's occurrences

v

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.

Strong's first: Jeremiah 40:10Strong's last: Jeremiah 40:10

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Strong's data is a concordance/lexical reference layer. Scripture context controls interpretation. Lexical source data is shown separately from future TWBC editorial teaching.

EVERY OCCURRENCE

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.

Joshua 24:18
H5647

And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

Joshua 24:19
H5647

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

Joshua 24:20
H5647

If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

Joshua 24:21
H5647

And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:22
H5647

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

Joshua 24:24
H5647

And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

Judges 2:19
H5647

And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

Judges 9:28
H5647

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

Judges 9:28
H5647

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

Judges 9:28
H5647

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

Judges 9:38
H5647

Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

1 Samuel 7:3
H5647

And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 10:7
H3027

And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

1 Samuel 11:1
H5647

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

1 Samuel 12:10
H5647

And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

1 Samuel 12:14
H5647

If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

1 Samuel 12:20
H5647

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

1 Samuel 12:24
H5647

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1 Samuel 17:9
H5647

If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

1 Samuel 26:19
H5647

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

2 Samuel 15:8
H5647

For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

2 Samuel 16:19
H5647

And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

2 Samuel 16:19
no direct Strong's tag

And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

2 Samuel 22:44
H5647

Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

1 Kings 9:6
H5647

But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:

WEBSTER’S 1828

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.

SOURCE & METHOD

Know what each layer is—and what it is not.

KJV English usageExact token counts, verse counts, first/last occurrence, and book distribution come from the canonical TWBC PCE KJV index.
Webster 1828Historical English dictionary material is reproduced as dictionary data, not as inspired Scripture or TWBC commentary.
Original Word / Strong'sHebrew, Aramaic, and Greek links attach by exact verse + KJV token position. No global “English word always equals Strong's ID” rule is used.

Curated TWBC teaching will remain a separate editorial layer. Raw source data is never silently rewritten to force a doctrinal conclusion.