waiting at table; in a wider sense: service, ministration.
Strong's:
διακονία
attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate) Derivation: from G1249;
διακονία, -ας, ἡ (< διάκονος), [in LXX for נַעַר, שָׁרַת pi.: Refs Est.6:3, Est.6:5 A; 1Ma.11:58 * ;] the office and work of a διάκονος, service, ministry; __(a) of domestic duties (Field, Notes, 63): Luk.10:40 __(b) spec. of religious ministration, and the exercise of ministerial functions in the Church: Refs Act.1:17, 25 6:1, 4 11:29 12:25 20:24; 21:19, Rom.11:13 12:7 15:31, 1Co.16:15, 2Co.4:1 6:3 8:4 9:1, 13, Eph.4:12, Col.4:17, 1Ti.1:12, 2Ti.4:5, 11, Heb.1:14, Rev.2:19; δ. τ. θανάτου, 2Co.3:7; τ. πνεύματος, ib. 3:8; τ. κατακρίσεως, τ, δικαιοσύνης, ib. 3:9; τ. καταλλαγῆς, ib. 5:18; τ. λειτουργίας, ib. 9:12; with obj. genitive, τὴν ὑμῶν δ., ib. 11:8; pl., 1Co.12:5.† (AS)
Thayer:
1) service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others 2) of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men 2a) of the office of Moses 2b) of the office of the apostles and its administration 2c) of the office of prophets, evangelists, elders etc. 3) the ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection esp. those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities 4) the office of the deacon in the church 5) the service of those who prepare and present food
διακονία
diakonia
dee-ak-on-ee'-ah
From G1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate)
KJV Usage: (ad-) minister (-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service (-ing).
διάκονος
diakonos
dee-ak'-on-os
Probably from διάκω diakō (obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess)
KJV Usage: deacon, minister, servant.
G1247 διακονέωδιακονέω
diakoneō
dee-ak-on-eh'-o
From G1249; to beanattendant, that is, waitupon (menially or as a host, friend or [figuratively] teacher); technically to actasa Christian deacon
KJV Usage: (ad-) minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.
G1377 διώκωδιώκω
diōkō
dee-o'-ko
A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb δίω diō (to flee; compare the base of G1169 and G1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute
KJV Usage: ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press toward.
G5834Synonyms
See Definition for diakonos { [G1249]}
See Definition for douloo { [G1402]}
See Definition for therapon { [G2324]}
See Definition for yperetes { [G5257]}
1249 represents the servant in his activity for the work? not in
his relation, either servile, as that of that 1402, or more
voluntary, as in the case of 2324, to a person. 1402 opp. to 1249
denotes a bondman, one who sustains a permanent servile relation to
another. 2324 is the voluntary performer of services, whether as a
freeman or a slave? it is a nobler tenderer word than 1402. 5257
suggests subordination.
G5928Servant, Slave.
See Definition for doulos { [G1401]}
See Definition for therapon { [G2324]}
See Definition for diakonos { [G1249]}
See Definition for oiketes { [G3610]}
See Definition for yperetes { [G5257]}
doulos is the usual word for slave, one who is permanently in
servitude, in subjection to a master.
therapon is simply one who renders service at a particular time,
sometimes as a slave, more often as a freeman, who renders voluntary
service prompted by duty or love. It denotes one who serves, in
his relation to a person.
diakonos also may designate either a slave or a freeman, it denotes
a servant viewed in relation to his work.
oiketes designates a slave, sometimes being practically equivalent
to doulos. Usually, however, as the etymology of the term
indicates, it means a slave as a member of the household, not
emphasizing the servile idea, but rather the relation which would tend
to mitigate the severity of his condition.
yperetes means literally an under-rower, and was used to describe
an ordinary rower on a war-galley. It is then used, as in the N.T., to
indicate any man, not a slave, who served in a subordinate position
under a superior.