ὀφθαλμοδουλεία
ophthalmodouleía
G3787 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Work performed only when one is observed; the quality of being motivated by the awareness of being watched, rather than by inner commitment or diligence. Also refers to labor done merely to please onlookers or supervisors, rather than from genuine effort or integrity.
Semantic Range
service given only when watched, superficial diligence, insincere or perfunctory labor, labor done from a desire to please overseers instead of from conviction
Root / Etymology
Compound of ὀφθαλμός ('eye') and δουλεία ('service, slavery, servitude'). Formed in Koine Greek to denote service rendered primarily for appearances or under supervision.
Historical & Contextual Notes
ὀφθαλμοδουλεία is a rare Koine formation, attested chiefly in Pauline writings (notably Colossians 3:22 and Ephesians 6:6). The term does not appear in classical Greek and reflects the social realities of the Greco-Roman household, especially concerning slaves and laborers who might perform their duties with varying degrees of diligence, depending on whether they are supervised. The English phrase 'eye-service' is a later translation, introduced in the King James Version, which reasonably captures the sense, but may obscure the pejorative connotation in Greek: service motivated solely by appearances or the fear of immediate consequences, rather than by integrity. Distinct from broader terms for work or service (e.g., διακονία, δουλεία), it specifically denotes insincerity or hypocrisy in one’s labor. The term reinforces ethical teaching about working 'from the heart,' not only when watched. It is a New Testament-era neologism, with no evidence of broader usage outside early Christian texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὀφθαλμός and δουλεία; sight-labor, i.e. that needs watching (remissness):--eye-service.
Root Family
ὀφθαλμοδουλεία (ophthalmodouleia) — eye, service, enslavement
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3787-01 |
ὀφθαλμοδουλεία | ophthalmodouleia | N DAT F SG |
eye-service | in eye-service | eye-service | 1 |
G3787-02 |
ὀφθαλμοδουλείαν | ophthalmodouleian | N ACC F SG |
eyeservice | eye-driven service | eye-driven service | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3787-02 |
Ephesians 6:6 | ὀφθαλμοδουλείαν | ophthalmodouleian | N ACC F SG |
eyeservice | eye-driven service | eye-driven service |
G3787-01 |
Colossians 3:22 | ὀφθαλμοδουλεία | ophthalmodouleia | N DAT F SG |
eye-service | in eye-service | eye-service |