minister, officer, servant

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(assistant). Attendant (Ex. 24:13¹³And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. (Exodus 24:13); Josh. 1:1¹Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, (Joshua 1:1); 1 Kings 19:21²¹And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. (1 Kings 19:21); Ezra 8:17¹⁷And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. (Ezra 8:17)). Magistrate (Rom. 13:6⁶For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. (Romans 13:6)). Preacher and teacher (1 Cor. 4:1¹Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1); 2 Cor. 3:6⁶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)). Celestial high priest (Heb. 8:1-3¹Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; ²A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. ³For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. (Hebrews 8:1‑3)).

“Minister” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

The word commonly occurring in the Old Testament is sharath, “to minister, serve.” Joshua was Moses’ minister. All God’s hosts are called “ministers of his, that do his pleasure,” and He maketh “his ministers a flaming fire.” The priests were the ministers of Jehovah (Josh. 1:1¹Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, (Joshua 1:1); Psa. 103:21²¹Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. (Psalm 103:21); Psa. 104:4⁴Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: (Psalm 104:4); Joel 2:17¹⁷Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (Joel 2:17)). In the New Testament three words are used.

1. διάκονος. See DEACON.

2. λειτουργός, “a public servant,” one holding an official position. It is applied to the Lord; to angels; to Paul; and to magistrates (Rom. 13:6⁶For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. (Romans 13:6); Rom. 15:16¹⁶That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:16); Heb. 1:7⁷And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. (Hebrews 1:7); Heb. 8:2²A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (Hebrews 8:2)).

3. ὑπηρέτης, literally “under-rower,” and so an “attendant” on, or “assistant” to a superior authority (Luke 1:2²Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; (Luke 1:2); Luke 4:20²⁰And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Luke 4:20); Acts 13:5⁵And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. (Acts 13:5); Acts 26:16¹⁶But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; (Acts 26:16); 1 Cor. 4:1¹Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1)). It is also translated “officer” and “servant.”

“Officer” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

This word is used in scripture indefinitely for any one in authority, there being seven Hebrew words so translated. In the New Testament are

1. πράκτωρ, from “to do or act,” it occurs only in Luke 12:58⁵⁸When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. (Luke 12:58). It is used for the officer appointed to exact the money adjudicated by the judge.

2. ὑπηρἐτης, literally “an under-rower,” a subordinate officer, who assisted the priests and the Roman governors (Matt. 5:25²⁵Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. (Matthew 5:25); John 7:32,45-46³²The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. (John 7:32)
⁴⁵Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? ⁴⁶The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. (John 7:45‑46); John 18:3-22³Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? ⁵They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. ⁶As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. ⁷Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. ⁸Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: ⁹That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. ¹⁰Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. ¹¹Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? ¹²Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, ¹³And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. ¹⁴Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. ¹⁵And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. ¹⁶But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. ¹⁷Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. ¹⁸And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. ¹⁹The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. ²⁰Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. ²¹Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. ²²And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? (John 18:3‑22); John 19:6⁶When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. (John 19:6); Acts 5:22,26²²But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, (Acts 5:22)
²⁶Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. (Acts 5:26)). It is also translated “minister” and “servant.”

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

5257 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

ὑπηρέτης

Transliteration:

huperetes

Phonic:

hoop-ay-ret’-ace

Meaning:

from 5259 and a derivative of ἐρέσσω (to row); an under-oarsman, i.e. (generally) subordinate (assistant, sexton, constable)

KJV Usage:

minister, officer, servant