Greek · G2038 · unreviewed

ἐργάζομαι

To work

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

ἐργάζομαι G2038

Pronunciation ergázomai

What does ἐργάζομαι (ergázomai) mean in the Bible?

ἐργάζομαι (ergázomai) is a Greek word meaning "to work". ἐργάζομαι (ἔργον), [in LXX for עָבַד, פָּעַל, עָשָׂה, etc.

Full entry for ἐργάζομαι (G2038) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to work

Extended definition

To work actively toward a result; labor that produces concrete outcomes, whether material or moral.

(ἔργον), [in LXX for עָבַד, פָּעַל, עָשָׂה, etc. ;]

1intrans.,

ato work, labour: Mat.21:28, Luk.13:14, Jhn.5:17 9:4 b, Act.18:3, 1Co.9:6, 2Th.3:10-12; τ. χερσίν, 1Co.4:12, 1Th.4:11; νυκτὸς κ. ἡαέρας, 1Th.2:9, 2Th.3:8; of working for pay, Mat.21:28; for reward, Rom.4:4-5;

bto work at a trade or business, to trade: before Iv (Dem.), Mat.25:16.

2Trans.,

ato work, work out, do, produce, perform: with accusative, 2Co.7:10, Col.3:23, 2Th.3:11, Jas.1:20, 2Jn.8, before εἰς, III Jn 5; ἔργον, Act.13:41 (LXX); id. before εἰς, Mat.26:10; ἐν, Mrk.14:6; ἔργα, Jhn.3:21; τὰ ἔ. τ. θεοῦ, Jhn.6:28 9:4; τὸ ἔ. κυρίου, 1Co.16:10; τ. ἀγαθόν, Rom.2:10, Eph.4:28 (see AR, Eph.) 190); id. before πρός, Gal.6:10; κακόν, before dative of person(s) (more frequently dupl. accusative, in cl.), Rom.13:10; δικαιοσύνην, Act.10:35, Heb.11:33; ἀνομίαν, Mat.7:23; ἁμαρτίαν, Jas.2:9; σημεῖον, Jhn.6:30; τ. ἱερά, 1Co.9:13; τ. θάλασσαν (work the sea, i.e. make one's living from it), Rev.18:17;

bto work for, earn by working (cl.): Jhn.6:27 (cf. κατ-, περι-, προσ-εργάζομαι; Cremer, 258; on the force of the aorist of this verb, see M, Pr., 116).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Present Aorist Perfect Imperfect

Voices

Middle Passive

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 13×

Present Middle Matt 7:23 · 1 Cor 4:12 · 1 Cor 9:13 · 1 Thess 2:9 · 2 Thess 3:8 · 2 Thess 3:12 · Rom 2:10 · Rom 4:4 · Rom 4:5 · Acts 10:35 · Eph 4:28 · 2 Thess 3:11 12×

Perfect Passive John 3:21 1×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 6×

Present Middle Luke 13:14 · John 9:4 · 1 Cor 9:6 · 1 Thess 4:11 · 2 Thess 3:10 6×

Indicative states a fact or reality 16×

Present Middle John 5:17 · Rom 13:10 · 1 Cor 16:10 · 2 Cor 7:10 · Jas 1:20 · Acts 13:41 · John 6:30 · Jas 2:9 · Rev 18:17 10×

Aorist Middle Matt 25:16 · Matt 26:10 · Mark 14:6 · Heb 11:33 · 2 John 1:8 5×

Imperfect Middle Acts 18:3 1×

Imperative command or strong request 3×

Present Middle John 6:27 · Col 3:23 · Matt 21:28 3×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×

Present Middle John 6:28 · Gal 6:10 2×

Aorist Middle 3 John 1:5 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 40 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 5 ongoing 10 imperative 3 background 1 subjunctive 3 infinitive 6 participle 12

Tense

present 33 aorist 6 imperfect 1

Voice

middle 40

Mood

indicative 16 participle 12 infinitive 6 subjunctive 3 imperative 3

NT Occurrences

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)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Biblical Witnesses

Luke 13:10-17 work ergázomai Infinitive · Present Middle

labor or activity performed on the Sabbath day, exemplified by healing

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 work ergázomai Participle · Present Middle

performing sacred duties at the altar as legitimate labor deserving support

3 John 1:5 work ergázomai Subjunctive · Aorist Middle

faithful service or labor performed for believers and strangers

Proverbs 12:11 work ergázomai

productive labor or employment as means of sustenance and livelihood

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details