λειτουργέωleitourgéō
to be a public servant, i.e. (by analogy) to perform religious or charitable functions (worship, obey, relieve)
Greek (New Testament) · G3008
Meanings
1. in classical Greek, at Athens, to supply public offices at one's own cost, render public service to the State, hence, generally
2. to serve the State, do a service, serve (of service to the Gods, Diod., i, 21): of the official service of priests and Levites (Exodus 29:30, Numbers 16:9, Sirach 4:14, 1 Maccabees 10:42, and elsewhere; cf. Deiss., BS, 140 f.), Hebrews 10:11; of Christians: with dative of person followed by ἐν, Romans 15:27 (cf. Sirach 10:25); τ. κυρίῳ, Acts 13:2.
Synonyms
λατρεύω (see that word), properly, to serve for hire, LXX (as sometimes in classical Greek), always of service to the deity on the part of both priests and people (Exodus 4:3, Deuteronomy 10:12, and similarly in NT). λειτουργέω "is the fulfilment of an office: it has a definite representative character, and corresponds with a function to be discharged". It is therefore used of serving in an office or ministry: in LXX always of priests and Levites, in NT, with its cognates (Romans 13:6, Romans 15:27, are not really exceptions), of services rendered either to God or man by apostles, prophets, teachers, and other officers of the church (cf. Tr., Syn., § xxxv; ICC on Romans 1:9; Westc., He., 232 ff.).
Same root
- λειτουργόςleitourgós · G3011a public servant, i.e. a functionary in the Temple or Gospel, or (genitive case) a worshipper (of God) or benefactor (of man)
- λειτουργικόςleitourgikós · G3010functional publicly ("liturgic"); i.e. beneficient
- λειτουργίαleitourgía · G3009public function (as priest ("liturgy") or almsgiver)
Where it appears
Appears 3 times in the Bible.
- Acts 13:2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
- Romans 15:27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.
- Hebrews 10:11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.