This word generally signifies a slave. For formerly among the
Hebrews, and the neighbouring nations, the greater part of servants were
slaves, that is to say, they belonged absolutely to their masters, who
had a right to dispose of their persons, their bodies, goods, and even
of their lives, in some cases. The Hebrews had two sorts of servants or
slaves, Leviticus xxv, 44, 45, &c. Some were strangers, either bought,
or taken in the wars. The others were Hebrew slaves, who, being poor,
sold themselves, or were sold to pay their debts; or were delivered up
for slaves by their parents, in cases of necessity. This sort of Hebrew
slaves continued in slavery but to the year of jubilee; then they might
return to liberty again, and their masters could not retain them against
their wills. If they would continue voluntarily with their masters, they
were brought before the judges; there they made a declaration, that for
this time they disclaimed the privilege of the law, had their ears bored
with an awl, by applying them to the door-posts of their master, Exod.
xxi, 2, 5–7, &c; and after that they had no longer any power of
recovering their liberty, except at the next year of jubilee. Servant is
also taken for a man that dedicates himself to the service of another,
by the choice of his own will and inclination. Thus Joshua was the
servant of Moses, Elisha of Elijah, Gehazi of Elisha; St. Peter, St.
Andrew, St. Philip, and the rest, were servants of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews, and the neighbouring nations, the greater part of servants were
slaves, that is to say, they belonged absolutely to their masters, who
had a right to dispose of their persons, their bodies, goods, and even
of their lives, in some cases. The Hebrews had two sorts of servants or
slaves, Leviticus xxv, 44, 45, &c. Some were strangers, either bought,
or taken in the wars. The others were Hebrew slaves, who, being poor,
sold themselves, or were sold to pay their debts; or were delivered up
for slaves by their parents, in cases of necessity. This sort of Hebrew
slaves continued in slavery but to the year of jubilee; then they might
return to liberty again, and their masters could not retain them against
their wills. If they would continue voluntarily with their masters, they
were brought before the judges; there they made a declaration, that for
this time they disclaimed the privilege of the law, had their ears bored
with an awl, by applying them to the door-posts of their master, Exod.
xxi, 2, 5–7, &c; and after that they had no longer any power of
recovering their liberty, except at the next year of jubilee. Servant is
also taken for a man that dedicates himself to the service of another,
by the choice of his own will and inclination. Thus Joshua was the
servant of Moses, Elisha of Elijah, Gehazi of Elisha; St. Peter, St.
Andrew, St. Philip, and the rest, were servants of Jesus Christ.