Divine Service: ὑπηρετέω (Strong’s G5256: hypēreteō) Models Kingdom Ministry

Strong’s G5256: A verb derived from hypēretēs (under-rower), meaning to serve or minister. Originally referring to galley slaves rowing under command, it evolved to describe voluntary service. In biblical usage, it emphasizes devoted service to God’s purposes.

U- Unveiling the Word

ὑπηρετέω (hypēreteō) originated from maritime terminology, describing the coordinated effort of rowers working together under the command of a supervisor. This vivid metaphor transformed into a broader concept of dedicated service in the New Testament, particularly in Acts 13:36 where it describes David’s faithful service to God’s purpose. The early church adopted this term to emphasize the coordinated, purposeful nature of Christian ministry. Today, it reminds believers that effective service requires both submission to divine authority and cooperation with fellow servants in advancing God’s kingdom.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑπηρετέω, hypēreteō, hoop-ay-reh-TEH-oh
• Detailed Pronunciation: hoop (as in “hoop”) + ay (as in “day”) + reh (as in “red”) + teh (as in “tell”) + oh (as in “go”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• ὑπό (hypo) – prefix meaning “under”
• ἐρέτης (eretēs) – noun meaning “rower”
• -έω (-eō) – verbal suffix indicating continuous action
  Combined to mean “to serve under direction”

D – Defining Meanings

• To serve
• To minister
• To assist under authority

For compound words:

• ὑπό indicates position under authority
• ἐρέτης contributes the concept of coordinated effort
• The -έω suffix indicates ongoing action

Translation Options:

• “To serve faithfully” – emphasizes dedication
• “To minister purposefully” – highlights intentional service
• “To assist under direction” – maintains the original metaphor

E – Exploring Similar Words

• διακονέω (diakoneō, dee-ak-on-EH-oh) – “to serve, minister” – general service
  See G1247
• λειτουργέω (leitourgeō, lay-toorg-EH-oh) – “to perform public service”
  See G3008
• δουλεύω (douleuō, doo-LEV-oh) – “to serve as a slave”
  See G1398

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, ὑπηρετέω exhibits these features:

• Tense: Aorist (in NT usage)
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Participle
• Person: N/A (participle)
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Perfective

The word would morph in English as:

• Present: serves
• Past: served
• Perfect: has served
• Future: will serve

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexicons reveal rich insights about ὑπηρετέω. BDAG emphasizes its development from maritime terminology to general service. Thayer’s highlights its implication of working under authority toward a specific purpose. LSJ traces its nautical origins and evolution in classical Greek. Vine’s connects it to purposeful Christian ministry. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature and original meaning. Moulton and Milligan note its frequent use in papyri for official service. The lexicons collectively emphasize the word’s connotation of coordinated, purposeful service under authority.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 13:36: “For David, after he had [ὑπηρετέω] served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption.”

Additional References:
Acts 20:34
Acts 24:23

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ὑπηρετέω beautifully captures the essence of Christian service—coordinated effort under divine direction. Like ancient rowers working in unison, believers are called to serve God’s purposes in harmony with one another. The good news is that King Jesus provides both the perfect example of service and the power to serve effectively. Through His Spirit, we can participate in advancing His kingdom through purposeful, coordinated ministry.

D – Did You Know?

• The word originally described the coordinated rowing of ancient galleys
• Early Christian writers used it to describe church leadership roles
• It influenced the development of ecclesiastical terms for ministry

Strong’s G5256: A verb derived from hypēretēs (under-rower), meaning to serve or minister. Originally referring to galley slaves rowing under command, it evolved to describe voluntary service. In biblical usage, it emphasizes devoted service to God’s purposes.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: service, ministry, purpose, coordination, divine will, teamwork, church life, leadership, submission, Christian service, dedication​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​