ὑπηρέτης (G5257) — Greek Lexicon

ὑπηρέτης

hypērétēs

G5257 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ὑπηρετ- to serve under, to assist, to act as helper

Definition

Person who acts as a subordinate helper, assistant, or attendant, particularly one carrying out delegated tasks or instructions for another. The primary meaning refers to an under-rower (a rower on the lower deck of a ship), but the word extends metaphorically to various subordinate roles: a functionary, assistant, aide, or officer acting at the behest of a superior. In literary or institutional contexts, it may denote an official, an agent, or a servant entrusted with specific duties within a group or household.

Semantic Range

under-rower (oarsman), attendant, assistant, aide, subordinate official, synagogue attendant, officer, functionary, minister, helper, servant (but not slave)

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ὑπό (under) and ἐρέτης (rower); literally 'under-rower.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The literal sense of 'under-rower' appears in maritime contexts from classical Greek onward (e.g., in Xenophon and Polybius), where ὑπηρέτης described a rower subordinate to the shipmaster. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the word's use expands metaphorically to describe a subordinate official, assistant, or functionary—one who assists or executes the orders of another under authority. In the Septuagint and New Testament, ὑπηρέτης is commonly used for various attendants or assistants: (a) synagogue attendants (Luke 4:20), (b) officials or officers dispatched by authorities (Matthew 5:25; John 7:32), and (c) assistants in religious or legal proceedings. English translations often render ὑπηρέτης as 'servant,' 'minister,' or 'officer,' but each carries distinct connotations not always capturing the subordinate, delegated nature. Unlike διάκονος (deacon, servant, minister), ὑπηρέτης emphasizes acting under orders/instruction, as part of a hierarchical structure. It is distinct from δοῦλος (slave) and παῖς (household servant), which denote different roles and degrees of subordination. In some Hellenistic literature, ὑπηρέτης can refer to any assistant: e.g., a physician's helper or a magistrate’s attendant. The meaning is shaped by immediate context—whether mundane, administrative, or religious. The word does not denote slavish subservience but describes someone performing necessary functions in support of an office, leader, or system.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ὑπό and a derivative of (to row); an under-oarsman, i.e. (generally) subordinate (assistant, sexton, constable):--minister, officer, servant.

Root Family

ὑπηρέτης (hypērétēs) — to serve under, to assist, to act as helper

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G5257-01`	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants	9
`G5257-06`	ὑπηρετῶν	upereton	`N GEN M PL`	officers	of subordinate attendants	3
`G5257-03`	ὑπηρέτας	uperetas	`N ACC M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants	3
`G5257-05`	ὑπηρέτην	upereten	`N ACC M SG`	a minister	a subordinate attendant	2
`G5257-04`	ὑπηρέτῃ	uperete	`N DAT M SG`	attendant	to a subordinate assistant	2
`G5257-02`	ὑπηρέταις	uperetais	`N DAT M PL`	officers	to the subordinate assistants	1

Occurrences in Scripture

20 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G5257-04`	Matthew 5:25	ὑπηρέτῃ	uperete	`N DAT M SG`		to a subordinate assistant
`G5257-06`	Matthew 26:58	ὑπηρετῶν	upereton	`N GEN M PL`		of subordinate attendants
`G5257-06`	Mark 14:54	ὑπηρετῶν	upereton	`N GEN M PL`	servants	of subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	Mark 14:65	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	Luke 1:2	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	servants	subordinate attendants
`G5257-04`	Luke 4:20	ὑπηρέτῃ	uperete	`N DAT M SG`	attendant	to a subordinate assistant
`G5257-03`	John 7:32	ὑπηρέτας	uperetas	`N ACC M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	John 7:45	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	John 7:46	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-03`	John 18:3	ὑπηρέτας	uperetas	`N ACC M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	John 18:12	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	John 18:18	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-06`	John 18:22	ὑπηρετῶν	upereton	`N GEN M PL`	officers	of subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	John 18:36	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	servants	subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	John 19:6	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-01`	Acts 5:22	ὑπηρέται	uperetai	`N NOM M PL`	officers	subordinate attendants
`G5257-02`	Acts 5:26	ὑπηρέταις	uperetais	`N DAT M PL`	officers	to the subordinate assistants
`G5257-05`	Acts 13:5	ὑπηρέτην	upereten	`N ACC M SG`	helper	a subordinate attendant
`G5257-05`	Acts 26:16	ὑπηρέτην	upereten	`N ACC M SG`	a minister	a subordinate attendant
`G5257-03`	1 Corinthians 4:1	ὑπηρέτας	uperetas	`N ACC M PL`	servants	subordinate attendants

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