Eenkhathini zeBhayibheli, inceku beyitlhogomela umuzi namkha indawo yomunye umuntu. Itjhugululo yesiHebheru nesiGirigi yegama elithi, “inceku” ngezinye iinkhathi iqalisele kumphathi namkha umtlhogomeli womuzi.

Ngesikhathi uJosefa, indodana kaJakopo asigqila eGibhide, waba yinceku yendlu yekosakhe. Ekhabolakhona, umphathakhe lo, ‘wabeka koke anakho emahlombe kaJosefa.’ (Gen. 39:2-6) Kwathi ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, uJosefa naye wabambusi onamandla eGibhide, yeke wabeka inceku bona itlhogomele umuzakhe.—Gen. 44:4.

Ngesikhathi sakaJesu, abaphathi benarha bebahlala kude namaplasabo. Yeke abaphathabo bebanikelwa umsebenzi wokutlhogomela amasimabo nomsebenzi owenziwa emasimini.

Ngubani obekafumana umsebenzi wokuba yinceku lo? Utloli wakadeni omRoma, uColumella wathi, isigqila ebesikhethwa bona sibe yinceku namkha mtlhogomeli, bekufuze sibe “mumuntu owafundela ukuwenza umsebenzi lo.” Kufuze kube mumuntu “oqinisekisa ukuthi umsebenzi uyenziwa kodwana lokho akwenze ngaphandle kwelunya.” Wangenzelela wathi: “Okuqakathekileko kukuthi inceku kufuze ingacabangi ukuthi yazi yoke into begodu kufuze izimisele ukufunda izinto ezitjha.”

IliZwi lakaZimu lisebenzisa umfanekiso wenceku nomsebenzayo nalihlathulula okwenzeka ebandleni lobuKrestu. Ngokwesibonelo, umpostoli uPitrosi ukhuthaza amaKrestu bona asebenzise amakghonwawo “ekusizeni abanye njengabaphathi abahle bomusa omkhulu.”—1 Pit. 4:10.

UJesu wasebenzisa umfanekiso wenceku ofumaneka encwadini kaLukasi 16:1-8. Ngaphezu kwalokho, esiphorofidweni esikhuluma ngetshwayo lokuba kwakhe yiKosi, uJesu waqinisekisa abalandeli bakhe ngokuthi uzokukhetha “inceku ethembekileko nehlakaniphileko.” Umsebenzi wenceku leyo kunikela abalandeli bakaKrestu ilwazi abalitlhogako ngoZimu emihleni yokuphela. (Mat. 24:45-47; Luk. 12:42) Sikuthabela kwamamba- la ukuba hlangana nabantu abafumana iincwadi eziqinisa ukukholwa esizilungiselelwa yinceku ethembekileko, ezifumaneka ephasini loke.