1 The times and heart of Isaiah With at least 800 occurrences in the Old Testament, the term, servant, carries with it a wide range of meaning and application. Primarily, ebhed denotes one whose will is swallowed up in another’s—in other words, a slave. Yet it is important to note that in ancient Israel the term did not necessarily bear all the negative connotations associated with it today. Moreover, the title has a grand element as well, and it is this aspect of servanthood which Isaiah develops