What does δεῖ · ἐργάζομαι mean in the Bible?
δεῖ · ἐργάζομαι is a Greek phrase meaning "it is necessary/appropriate to work".
Greek · G1163, G2038
δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι
Be necessary · to work
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
δεῖG1163be necessary
Pronunciationdeî
Logical necessity or divine imperative, distinct from moral obligation expressed by ὀφείλει
Open lexicon entry →ἐργάζομαιG2038to work
Pronunciationergázomai
To work actively toward a result; labor that produces concrete outcomes, whether material or moral.
Open lexicon entry →What does δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι (dei ergazesthai) mean in the Bible?
δεῖ · ἐργάζομαι is a Greek phrase meaning "it is necessary/appropriate to work".
Full entry for δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι (G1163, G2038) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. it is necessary/appropriate to work
Strong'sG1163, G2038
Lexical occurrences0 versesSource Gloss
it is necessary/appropriate to work
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 40 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present33aorist6imperfect1
Voice
middle40
Mood
indicative16participle12infinitive6subjunctive3imperative3
NT Occurrences
Matthew 7:23ἐργαζόμενοιpresent middle participleparticipleMatthew 21:28ἐργάζουpresent middle imperativeimperativeMatthew 25:16ἠργάσατοaorist middle indicativecompletedMatthew 26:10ἠργάσατοaorist middle indicativecompletedMark 14:6ἠργάσατοaorist middle indicativecompletedLuke 13:14ἐργάζεσθαιpresent middle infinitiveinfinitiveJohn 5:17ἐργάζεταιpresent middle indicativeongoingJohn 5:17ἐργάζομαιpresent middle indicativeongoingJohn 6:27ἐργάζεσθεpresent middle imperativeimperativeJohn 6:28ἐργαζώμεθαpresent middle subjunctivesubjunctiveJohn 6:30ἐργάζῃpresent middle indicativeongoingJohn 9:4ἐργάζεσθαιpresent middle infinitiveinfinitiveJohn 9:4ἐργάζεσθαιpresent middle infinitiveinfinitiveActs 10:35ἐργαζόμενοςpresent middle participleparticipleActs 13:41ἐργάζομαιpresent middle indicativeongoingActs 18:3ἠργάζετοimperfect middle indicativebackgroundRomans 2:10ἐργαζομένῳpresent middle participleparticipleRomans 4:4ἐργαζομένῳpresent middle participleparticipleRomans 4:5ἐργαζομένῳpresent middle participleparticipleRomans 13:10ἐργάζεταιpresent middle indicativeongoing1 Corinthians 4:12ἐργαζόμενοιpresent middle participleparticiple1 Corinthians 9:13ἐργαζόμενοιpresent middle participleparticiple1 Corinthians 9:6ἐργάζεσθαιpresent middle infinitiveinfinitive1 Corinthians 16:10ἐργάζεταιpresent middle indicativeongoing2 Corinthians 7:10ἐργάζεταιpresent middle indicativeongoingGalatians 6:10ἐργαζώμεθαpresent middle subjunctivesubjunctiveEphesians 4:28ἐργαζόμενοςpresent middle participleparticipleColossians 3:23ἐργάζεσθεpresent middle imperativeimperative1 Thessalonians 2:9ἐργαζόμενοιpresent middle participleparticiple1 Thessalonians 4:11ἐργάζεσθαιpresent middle infinitiveinfinitive2 Thessalonians 3:10ἐργάζεσθαιpresent middle infinitiveinfinitive2 Thessalonians 3:11ἐργαζομένουςpresent middle participleparticiple2 Thessalonians 3:12ἐργαζόμενοιpresent middle participleparticiple2 Thessalonians 3:8ἐργαζόμενοιpresent middle participleparticipleHebrews 11:33εἰργάσαντοaorist middle indicativecompletedJames 1:20ἐργάζεταιpresent middle indicativeongoingJames 2:9ἐργάζεσθεpresent middle indicativeongoing2 John 1:8εἰργασάμεθαaorist middle indicativecompleted3 John 1:5ἐργάσῃaorist middle subjunctivesubjunctiveRevelation 18:17ἐργάζονταιpresent middle indicativeongoing
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι is built from this root: