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of´is: In the Old Testament the word is often used in periphrastic renderings, e.g. “minister ... in the priest's office,†literally, act as priest (, etc.); “do the office of a midwife,†literally, cause or help to give birth (). But the word is also used as a rendering of different Hebrew words, e.g. כּן, keÌ„n, “pedestal,†“place†(, the King James Version “placeâ€; ); עבדה, ‛ăbhoÌ„dhaÌ„h, “labor,†“work†(); פּקדּה, pekÌ£uddaÌ„h, “oversight,†“charge†(); מעמד, ma‛ămaÌ„dh, literally, “standing,†e.g. waiting at table (); מש×מר, mishmaÌ„r, “charge,†observance or service of the temple ( the King James Version).
Similarly in the New Testament the word is used in periphrastic renderings, e.g. priest's office (, ); office of a deacon (διακονιÌα, diakonıÌa, ); office of a bishop (ἐπισκοπηÌ, episkopeÌ„Ì, ). the Revised Version (British and American) uses other renderings, e.g. “ministry†(); “serve as deacons†(). In , the Revised Version (British and American) has “office†(margin “overseershipâ€) for the King James Version “bishoprick.â€