What does κοπιάω · νήθω mean in the Bible?
κοπιάω · νήθω is a Greek phrase meaning "they do not toil or spin thread".
Greek · G2872, G3514
οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν
To feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard · to spin
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
κοπιάω G2872 to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard
Pronunciation kopiáō
To labor intensely with physical or spiritual exertion; exhaustion results from the work itself, not mere activity
Open lexicon entry →
νήθω G3514 to spin
Pronunciation nḗthō
Open lexicon entry →
What does οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν (ou kopiōsin oude nēthousin) mean in the Bible?
κοπιάω · νήθω is a Greek phrase meaning "they do not toil or spin thread".
Full entry for οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν (G2872, G3514) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G2872, G3514?
G2872, G3514 is connected to 23 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. they do not toil or spin thread
Source Gloss
they do not toil or spin thread
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 23 Tenses Present, Aorist, Perfect Voices Active
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 9×
Present Active Matt 11:28 · 1 Tim 5:17 · Acts 20:35 · 1 Thess 5:12 · Rom 16:12 · 1 Cor 16:16 · 2 Tim 2:6 7×
Aorist Active Luke 5:5 1×
Perfect Active John 4:6 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 13×
Present Active 1 Cor 4:12 · 1 Tim 4:10 · Matt 6:28 · Luke 12:27 · Col 1:29 5×
Aorist Active Rom 16:6 · Rom 16:12 · 1 Cor 15:10 · Phil 2:16 4×
Perfect Active John 4:38 · Gal 4:11 · Rev 2:3 4×
Imperative command or strong request 1×
Present Active Eph 4:28 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 22 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 12 aorist 5 perfect 5
Voice
active 22
Mood
indicative 12 participle 9 imperative 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 6:28 κοπιῶσιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 11:28 κοπιῶντες present active participle participle Luke 5:5 κοπιάσαντες aorist active participle participle Luke 12:27 κοπιᾷ present active indicative ongoing John 4:38 κεκοπιάκατε perfect active indicative resultant John 4:38 κεκοπιάκασιν perfect active indicative resultant John 4:6 κεκοπιακὼς perfect active participle participle Acts 20:35 κοπιῶντας present active participle participle Romans 16:12 κοπιώσας present active participle participle Romans 16:12 ἐκοπίασεν aorist active indicative completed Romans 16:6 ἐκοπίασεν aorist active indicative completed 1 Corinthians 4:12 κοπιῶμεν present active indicative ongoing 1 Corinthians 15:10 ἐκοπίασα aorist active indicative completed 1 Corinthians 16:16 κοπιῶντι present active participle participle Galatians 4:11 κεκοπίακα perfect active indicative resultant Ephesians 4:28 κοπιάτω present active imperative imperative Philippians 2:16 ἐκοπίασα aorist active indicative completed Colossians 1:29 κοπιῶ present active indicative ongoing 1 Thessalonians 5:12 κοπιῶντας present active participle participle 1 Timothy 5:17 κοπιῶντες present active participle participle 2 Timothy 2:6 κοπιῶντα present active participle participle Revelation 2:3 κεκοπίακες perfect active indicative resultant
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
οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν is built from this root:
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
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain