NKJV 365 / Servant

NKJV 365 Day Reading Plan

Day 144 of 365 Servant (Heb. 'ebed) (20:3; 42:1; 2 Sam. 10:19; Jer. 7:25) Strong's #5650 This word is derived from a verb meaning "to serve," "to work," or "to enslave." While 'ebed can mean slave (Gen. 43:18), slavery in Israel was different than in most places in the ancient Middle East. Slavery was regulated by the Law of Moses, which prohibited indefinite slavery and required that slaves be freed on the Sabbath (seventh) year (Ex. 21:2)-and the Year of Jubilee-the fiftieth year (Lev. 25:25-28). Sometimes the Hebrew word can refer to the subjects of a king (2 Sam. 10:19). But usually the word is best translated servant. God referred to His prophets as "My servants" (Jer. 7:25) and spoke of the coming Messiah as His Servant, the One who would perfectly obey His will (see 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). Taken from NKJV Study Bible Isaiah 20:3 NASB 3 And the Lord said, "Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush,