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διάκονος

diákonos

G1249 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who serves or attends to the needs of others; a person engaged in service, whether in a domestic, social, or religious setting. The core meaning is that of a servant or helper, with extensions in certain contexts to roles such as an agent, intermediary, or officially assigned attendant. In early Christian contexts, may refer specifically to a person holding a recognized role of service within assemblies, but does not inherently imply an office or rank.

Semantic Range

servant, attendant, agent, assistant, waiter (at table), one who provides practical help, person responsible for service in a community, person holding a specific role of service within early Christian assemblies

Root / Etymology

From the root διᾰκον- (meaning to serve or provide for), possibly connected to the verb διακονέω ('to serve, to wait upon'). The formation is likely from διά (through, by means of) + the stem κόν- (of uncertain origin, sometimes linked to κινέω 'to move'), but this is debated; etymology ultimately uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, διάκονος designates one who waits at table, serves, or attends to another’s needs, especially in domestic or social contexts. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, its range widened to include attendants, assistants, or lower-level officials, but always retaining the sense of one who serves on behalf of another. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew terms for servants or helpers but does not denote priestly or official leadership roles. In the New Testament, διάκονος can refer generically to a servant, but sometimes is used for individuals with recognized responsibilities in the community, later formalized as the office of 'deacon.' The term can apply to both men and women (cf. Phoebe in Romans 16:1). English translations like 'minister,' 'deacon,' and 'servant' reflect various aspects of the term, but sometimes impose later ecclesiastical meanings not present in the earliest usages. Despite later association with an ecclesiastical office, in the first-century context διάκονος primarily highlights function rather than title or rank, contrasting with terms such as δοῦλος (bondservant) that emphasize subjection, or λειτουργός (public servant, liturgist) which denotes official or cultic service.

Translation Consistency

primary "servant" 5 occurrences

Matches the primary SILEX sense (one who serves or attends); is the most common and natural English rendering in the P2 data (e.g., "servant/servant-attendant"); covers domestic, social, and early Christian contexts without implying a formal office; simple and consistent for all forms of διάκονος.

Alternatives (25 occurrences):
"servant-attendant" (15x) "serving attendants" (7x) "attendants" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from an obsolete (to run on errands; compare διώκω); an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess):--deacon, minister, servant.

Root Family

διάκονος (diakonos) — to serve, to attend, to help

Root διακον- to serve, to attend, to help

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1249-04 διάκονος diakonos N NOM M SG minister servant-attendant servant-attendant 15
G1249-01 διάκονοι diakonoi N NOM M PL servants serving attendants serving attendants 7
G1249-03 διάκονον diakonon N ACC M SG a servant serving one servant (serving one) 3
G1249-02 διακόνοις diakonois N DAT M PL servants to attendants attendants 3
G1249-05 διακόνους diakonous N ACC M PL Deacons servants servants 2

Occurrences in Scripture

30 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1249-04 Matthew 20:26 διάκονος diakonos N NOM M SG servant servant-attendant servant-attendant
G1249-02 Matthew 22:13 διακόνοις diakonois N DAT M PL servants to attendants attendants
G1249-04 Matthew 23:11 διάκονος diakonos N NOM M SG servant servant-attendant servant-attendant
G1249-04 Mark 9:35 διάκονος diakonos N NOM M SG servant servant-attendant servant-attendant
G1249-04 Mark 10:43 διάκονος diakonos N NOM M SG servant servant-attendant servant-attendant
G1249-02 John 2:5 διακόνοις diakonois N DAT M PL servants to attendants attendants
G1249-01 John 2:9 διάκονοι diakonoi N NOM M PL servants serving attendants serving attendants
G1249-04 John 12:26 διάκονος diakonos N NOM M SG servant servant-attendant servant-attendant
G1249-04 Romans 13:4 διάκονός diakonos N NOM M SG minister servant-attendant servant-attendant
G1249-04 Romans 13:4 διάκονός diakonos-2 N NOM M SG minister servant-attendant servant-attendant
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