Douleia denotes a condition of bondage or being held under a controlling power, set against freedom in several passages.

The occurrences portray bondage as a condition that bears children, holds people through fear of death, is associated with fear, or binds creation to corruption; it is repeatedly set in contrast with freedom.

1. Bondage under a controlling condition · dominant

   In Galatians 4:24, the accusative form occurs in the clause about a covenant “bearing children for slavery”; Galatians 5:1 speaks of being held by a “yoke of slavery.” In Hebrews 2:15, those fearing death are described as held in slavery, while Romans 8:15 and Romans 8:21 place it respectively with fear and corruption, in settings contrasted with adoption or freedom.

   Galatians 4:24Galatians 5:1Hebrews 2:15Romans 8:15Romans 8:21

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB uses “slavery” in each supplied verse, describing children borne for it, a yoke of it, people held in it, a spirit of it toward fear, and creation's bondage to corruption. These renderings confirm the clauses' overall portrayal rather than isolate every contribution of the term.