Bible verses about Servants
(From Torrey's Topical Textbook)

Early mention of Genesis 9:25,26 DIVIDED INTO Male Genesis 24:34; 32:5 Female Genesis 16:6; 32:5 Bond Genesis 43:18; Leviticus 25:46 Hired Mark 1:20; Luke 15:17 Persons devoted to the service of another so called Psalms 119:49; Isaiah 56:6 The subjects of a prince or king so called Exodus 9:20; 11:8 Persons of low condition so called Ecclesiastes 10:7 Persons devoted to God so called Psalms 119:49; Isaiah 56:6; Romans 1:1 The term often used to express humility Genesis 18:3; 33:5; I Samuel 20:7; I Kings 20:32 HIRED Called hireling Job 7:1; John 10:12,13 Engaged by the year Leviticus 25:53; Isaiah 16:14 Engaged by the day Matthew 20:2 Not to be oppressed Deuteronomy 24:14 To be paid without delay at the expiration of their service Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:15 To be esteemed worthy of their hire Luke 10:7 To partake of the produce of the land in the sabbatical year Leviticus 25:6 If foreigners not allowed to partake of the passover or holy things Exodus 12:45; Leviticus 22:10 Anxiety of, for the end of their daily toil, alluded to Job 7:2 Hebrew slaves serving their brethren to be treated as Leviticus 25:39,40 Hebrew slaves serving strangers to be treated as Leviticus 25:47,53 Often stood in the market place waiting for employment Matthew 20:1-3 Often will fed and taken care of Luke 15:17 Often oppressed and their wages kept back Malachi 3:5; James 5:4 SLAVES OR BOND Called bondmen Genesis 43:18; 44:9 By birth Genesis 14:14; Psalms 116:16; Jeremiah 2:14 By purchase Genesis 17:27; 37:36 Captives taken in war often kept as Deuteronomy 20:14; II Kings 5:2 Strangers sojourning in Israel might be purchased as Leviticus 25:45 Persons belonging to other nations might be purchased as Leviticus 25:44 Persons unable to pay their debts liable to be sold as II Kings 4:1; Nehemiah 5:4,5; Matthew 18:25 Thieves unable to make restitution were sold as Exodus 22:3 More valuable than hired servants Deuteronomy 15:18 When Israelites not to be treated with rigour Leviticus 25:39,40,46 When Israelites to have their liberty after six years service Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12 Israelites sold as, refusing their liberty, to have their ears bored to the door Exodus 21:5,6; Deuteronomy 15:16,17 Israelites sold to strangers as, might be redeemed by their nearest of kin Leviticus 25:47-55 All Israelites sold as, to be free at the jubilee Leviticus 25:10,40,41,54 Could not when set free demand wives or children procured during servitude Exodus 21:3,4 To be furnished liberally, when their servitude expired Deuteronomy 15:13,14 When foreigners to be circumcised Genesis 17:13,27; Exodus 12:44 To be allowed to rest on the Sabbath Exodus 20:10 To participate in all national rejoicings Deuteronomy 12:18; 16:11,14 Persons of distinction had many Genesis 14:14; Ecclesiastes 2:7 Engaged in the most menial offices I Samuel 25:41; John 13:4,5 Maimed of injured by masters to have their freedom Exodus 21:26,27 Masters to be recompensed for injury done to Exodus 21:32 Laws respecting the killing of Exodus 21:20,21 Of others not to be coveted or enticed away Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21 Seeking protection not to be delivered up to masters Deuteronomy 23:15 Custom of branding, alluded to Galatians 6:17 Sometimes rose to rank and station Ecclesiastes 10:7 Sometimes intermarried with their master's family I Chronicles 2:34,35 Laws respecting marriage with female Exodus 21:7-11 Seizing and stealing of men for, condemned and punished by the law Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7; I Timothy 1:10 Laws respecting, often violated Jeremiah 34:8-16 BOND, ILLUSTRATIVE Of Christ Psalms 40:6; Hebrews 10:5; Philippians 2:7,8 Of saints I Corinthians 6:20; 7:23 Of the wicked II Peter 2:19; Romans 6:16,19 Christ condescended to the office of Matthew 20:28; Luke 22:27; John 13:5; Philippians 2:7 Are inferior to their masters Luke 22:27 Should follow Christ's example I Peter 2:21 DUTIES OF, TO MASTERS To pray for them Genesis 24:12 To honour them Malachi 1:6; I Timothy 6:1 To revere them the more, when they are believers I Timothy 6:2 To be subject to them I Peter 2:18 To obey them Ephesians 6:5; Titus 2:9 To attend to their call Psalms 123:2 To please them well in all things Titus 2:9 To sympathise with them II Samuel 12:18 To prefer their business to their own necessary food Genesis 24:33 To bless God for mercies shown to them Genesis 24:27,48 To be faithful to them Luke 16:10-12; I Corinthians 4:2; Titus 2:10 To be profitable to them Luke 19:15,16,18; Philemon 1:11 To be anxious for their welfare I Samuel 25:14-17; II Kings 5:2,3 To be earnest in transacting their business Genesis 24:54-56 To be prudent in the management of their affairs Genesis 24:34-49 To be industrious in labouring for them Nehemiah 4:16,23 To be kind and attentive to their guests Genesis 43:23,24 To be submissive even to the froward Genesis 16:6,9; I Peter 2:18 Not to answer them rudely Titus 2:9 Not to serve them with eye-service, as men-pleasers Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:22 Not to defraud them Titus 2:10 Should be contented in their situation I Corinthians 7:20,21 Should be compassionate to their fellows Matthew 18:33 SHOULD SERVE For conscience towards God I Peter 2:19 In the fear of God Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22 As the servants of Christ Ephesians 6:5,6 Heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men Ephesians 6:7; Colossians 3:23 As doing the will of God from the heart Ephesians 6:6 In singleness of heart Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22 With good will Ephesians 6:7 When patient under injury are acceptable to God I Peter 2:19,20 When Good Are the servants of Christ Colossians 3:24 Are brethren beloved in the Lord Philemon 1:16 Are the Lord's freemen I Corinthians 7:22 Are partakers of gospel privileges I Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:11 Deserve the confidence of their masters Genesis 24:2,4,10; 39:4 Often exalted Genesis 41:40; Proverbs 17:2 Often advanced by master Genesis 39:4,5 To be honoured Genesis 24:31; Proverbs 27:18 Bring God's blessing upon their masters Genesis 30:27,30; 39:3 Adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things Titus 2:10 Have God with them Genesis 31:42; 39:21; Acts 7:9,10 Are prospered by God Genesis 39:3 Are protected by God Genesis 31:7 Are guided by God Genesis 24:7,27 Are blessed by God Matthew 24:46 Are mourned over after death Genesis 35:8 Shall be rewarded Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:24 The property of masters increased by faithful Genesis 30:29,30 CHARACTERISTICS OF WICKED SERVANTS Eye-service Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:22 Men-pleasers Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:22 Deceit II Samuel 19:26; Psalms 101:6,7 Quarrelsomeness Genesis 13:7; 26:20 Covetousness II Kings 5:20 Lying II Kings 5:22,24 Stealing Titus 2:10 Gluttony Matthew 24:49 Unmerciful to their fellows Matthew 18:30 Will not submit to correction Proverbs 29:19 Do not bear to be exalted Proverbs 30:21,22; Isaiah 3:5 Shall be punished Matthew 24:50 Good-Exemplified Eliezer Genesis 24:1-67 Deborah Genesis 24:59; 35:8 Jacob Genesis 31:36-40 Joseph Genesis 39:3; Acts 7:10 Servants of Boaz Ruth 2:4 Jonathan's armour bearer I Samuel 14:6,7 David's servants II Samuel 12:18 Captive maid II Kings 5:2-4 Servants of Naaman II Kings 5:13 Servants of Centurion Matthew 8:9 Servants of Cornelius Acts 10:7 Onesimus after his conversion Philemon 1:11 Bad-Exemplified Servants of Abraham and Lot Genesis 13:7 Servants of Abimelech Genesis 21:25 Absalom's servants [Absalom's servants obeyed a bad master; they were bad men rather than bad servants] II Samuel 13:28,29; 14:30 Ziba II Samuel 16:1-4 Servants of Shimei I Kings 2:39 Jeroboam I Kings 11:26 Zimri I Kings 16:9 Gehazi II Kings 5:20 Servants of Amon II Kings 21:23 Job's servants Job 19:16 Servants of the High Priest Mark 14:65 Onesimus before his conversion Philemon 1:11