1 Corinthians 7:21

δοῦλος ἐκλήθης μή σοι μελέτω· ἀλλ' εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι μᾶλλον χρῆσαι
Art thou called being a servant? care for it: not but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
Word Reference
Original Word Definitions
δοῦλος
G1401 N-NSM
doulos
a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
  • a slave, bondman, man of servile condition
    • a slave
      • "metaphorically, one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men"devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests
    a servant, attendant
ἐκλήθης
G2564 V-API-2S
kaleō
to ___%___call___%___ (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)
  • to call
    • to call aloud, utter in a loud voice
      • "to invite
    to call i.e., to name, by name
    • to give a name to
      • to receive the name of, receive as a name
        • "to give some name to one, call his name
      to be called i.e., to bear a name or title (among men)"to salute one by name
μή
G3361 PRT-N
mē
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
  • no, not lest
σοι
G4671
soi
to thee
  • to you
μελέτω·
G3199 V-PAM-3S
melō
to be of interest to, i.e., to concern (only third person singular present indicative used impersonally, it matters)
  • to care about
ἀλλ'
G235
alla
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
  • but
    • nevertheless, notwithstanding
      • "an objection"an exception"a restriction"nay, rather, yea, moreover"forms a transition to the cardinal matter
εἰ
G1487 CONJ
ei
if, whether, that, etc
  • if, whether
καὶ
G2532 CONJ
kai
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
  • and, also, even, indeed, but
δύνασαι
G1410 V-PNI-2S
dynamai
to be able or possible
  • to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
    • "to be able to do something"to be capable, strong and powerful
ἐλεύθερος
G1658 A-NSM
eleutheros
unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e., (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability)
  • freeborn
    • in a civil sense, one who is not a slave
      • "of one who ceases to be a slave, freed, manumitted
    free, exempt, unrestrained, not bound by an obligation"in an ethical sense: free from the yoke of the Mosaic Law
γενέσθαι
G1096 V-2ADN
ginomai
to cause to be (___%___gen___%___-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
  • to become, i.e., to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
    • "to become, i.e., to come to pass, happen
    • of events
    to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage
    • of men appearing in public
    to be made, finished
    • of miracles, to be performed, wrought
    to become, be made
μᾶλλον
G3123 ADV
mallon
(adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather
  • more, to a greater degree, rather
    • much, by far
      • "rather, sooner"more willingly, more readily, sooner
χρῆσαι
G5530 V-ADM-2S
chraomai
to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, ___%___graze___%___ (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e., (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner
  • to receive a loan
    • "borrow"to take for one's use, to use
    • to make use of a thing

δοῦλος ἐκλήθης μή σοι μελέτω· ἀλλ' εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι μᾶλλον χρῆσαι
21
Art thou called being a servant? care for it: not but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
Cross References

Colossians 3:11

ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία βάρβαρος Σκύθης δοῦλος ἐλεύθερος ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός
11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

1 Peter 2:18

Οἱ οἰκέται ὑποτασσόμενοι ἐν παντὶ φόβῳ τοῖς δεσπόταις οὐ μόνον τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς καὶ ἐπιεικέσιν ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς σκολιοῖς
18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

1 Corinthians 12:13

καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι ἡμεῖς πάντες εἰς ἓν σῶμα ἐβαπτίσθημεν εἴτε Ἰουδαῖοι εἴτε Ἕλληνες εἴτε δοῦλοι εἴτε ἐλεύθεροι καὶ πάντες εἰς ἓν πνεῦμα ἐποτίσθημεν
13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Luke 12:29

καὶ ὑμεῖς μὴ ζητεῖτε τί φάγητε ἢ τί πίητε καὶ μὴ μετεωρίζεσθε·
29
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Luke 10:40

ἡ δὲ Μάρθα περιεσπᾶτο περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν· ἐπιστᾶσα δὲ εἶπεν Κύριε οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἡ ἀδελφή μου μόνην με κατέλιπεν διακονεῖν εἰπὲ οὖν αὐτῇ ἵνα μοι συναντιλάβηται
40
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Galatians 3:28

οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ· πάντες γὰρ ὑμεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ
28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6

μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε ἀλλ' ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν
6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your be made requests known unto God.

Luke 21:34

Προσέχετε δὲ ἑαυτοῖς μήποτε βαρυνθῶσιν ὑμῶν αἱ καρδίαι ἐν κραιπάλῃ καὶ μέθῃ καὶ μερίμναις βιωτικαῖς καὶ αἰφνίδιος ἐφ' ὑμᾶς ἐπιστῇ ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη
34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Hebrews 13:5

Ἀφιλάργυρος ὁ τρόπος ἀρκούμενοι τοῖς παροῦσιν αὐτὸς γὰρ εἴρηκεν Οὐ μή σε ἀνῶ οὐδ᾽ οὐ μή σε ἐγκαταλίπω
5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Philippians 4:11

οὐχ ὅτι καθ' ὑστέρησιν λέγω ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔμαθον ἐν οἷς εἰμι αὐτάρκης εἶναι
11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1 Peter 5:7

πᾶσαν τὴν μέριμναν ὑμῶν ἐπιῤῥίψαντες ἐπ' αὐτόν ὅτι αὐτῷ μέλει περὶ ὑμῶν
7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Timothy 6:1

Ὅσοι εἰσὶν ὑπὸ ζυγὸν δοῦλοι τοὺς ἰδίους δεσπότας πάσης τιμῆς ἀξίους ἡγείσθωσαν ἵνα μὴ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἡ διδασκαλία βλασφημῆται
1
Let as many as servants are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
1 Corinthians 7:20
Read 1 Corinthians 7
1 Corinthians 7:22