ἐργάζομαιergázomai
to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.
Greek (New Testament) · G2038
Meanings
1. intransitive
(a) to work, labour: Matthew 21:28, Luke 13:14, John 5:17, John 9:4, Acts 18:3, 1 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; τ. χερσίν, 1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:11; νυκτὸς κ. ἡαέρας, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8; of working for pay, Matthew 21:28; for reward, Romans 4:4, Romans 4:5
(b) to work at a trade or business, to trade: followed by ἐν (Dem.), Matthew 25:16.
2. Trans.
(a) to work, work out, do, produce, perform: with acc, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Colossians 3:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:11, James 1:20, 2 John 1:8, followed by εἰς, 3 John 1:5; ἔργον, Acts 13:41 (LXX); id. followed by εἰς, Matthew 26:10; ἐν, Mark 14:6; ἔργα, John 3:21; τὰ ἔ. τ. θεοῦ, John 6:28, John 9:4; τὸ ἔ. κυρίου, 1 Corinthians 16:10; τ. ἀγαθόν, Romans 2:10, Ephesians 4:28 (see AR, Eph.) 190); id. followed by πρός, Galatians 6:10; κακόν, followed by dative of person (more frequently dupl. acc, in classical Greek), Romans 13:10; δικαιοσύνην, Acts 10:35, Hebrews 11:33; ἀνομίαν, Matthew 7:23; ἁμαρτίαν, James 2:9; σημεῖον, John 6:30; τ. ἱερά, 1 Corinthians 9:13; τ. θάλασσαν (work the sea, i.e. make one's living from it), Revelation 18:17
(b) to work for, earn by working (classical Greek): John 6:27.
Same root
- ἔργονérgon · G2041toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act
- περιεργάζομαιperiergázomai · G4020to work all around, i.e. bustle about (meddle)
- προσεργάζομαιprosergázomai · G4333to work additionally, i.e. (by implication) acquire besides
- κατεργάζομαιkatergázomai · G2716to work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion
Where it appears
Appears 41 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 7:23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
- Matthew 21:28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
- Matthew 25:16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more.
- Matthew 26:10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?
- Mark 14:6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?
- Luke 13:14 But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
See every passage
- Matthew 7:23, 21:28, 25:16, 26:10
- Mark 14:6
- Luke 13:14
- John 3:21, 5:17, 6:27, 6:28, 6:30, 9:4
- Acts 10:35, 13:41, 18:3
- Romans 2:10, 4:4, 4:5, 13:10
- 1 Corinthians 4:12, 9:6, 9:13, 16:10
- 2 Corinthians 7:10
- Galatians 6:10
- Ephesians 4:28
- Colossians 3:23
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 4:11
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 3:10, 3:11, 3:12
- Hebrews 11:33
- James 1:20, 2:9
- 2 John 1:8
- 3 John 1:5
- Revelation 18:17
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.