Greek · G2038, G2041 · unreviewed

ἐργάζομαι / ἔργον

To work · toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

ἐργάζομαι G2038 to work
Pronunciation ergázomai
To work actively toward a result; labor that produces concrete outcomes, whether material or moral.
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ἔργον G2041 toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act
Pronunciation érgon
Work as visible deed or accomplishment, whether human action or divine work, emphasizing observable result over mere intention.
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What does ἐργάζομαι / ἔργον (ergazomai / ergon) mean in the Bible?

ἐργάζομαι · ἔργον is a Greek word meaning "to work; work, deed".

Full entry for ἐργάζομαι / ἔργον (G2038, G2041) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to work; work, deed
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
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Present Middle Luke 13:14 · John 9:4 · 1 Cor 9:6 · 1 Thess 4:11 · 2 Thess 3:10
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
Imperfect Middle Acts 18:3
Imperative command or strong request
Present Middle John 6:27 · Col 3:23 · Matt 21:28
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose
Present Middle John 6:28 · Gal 6:10
Aorist Middle 3 John 1:5
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
Matthew 7:23 ἐργαζόμενοι present middle participle participle Matthew 21:28 ἐργάζου present middle imperative imperative Matthew 25:16 ἠργάσατο aorist middle indicative completed Matthew 26:10 ἠργάσατο aorist middle indicative completed Mark 14:6 ἠργάσατο aorist middle indicative completed Luke 13:14 ἐργάζεσθαι present middle infinitive infinitive John 5:17 ἐργάζεται present middle indicative ongoing John 5:17 ἐργάζομαι present middle indicative ongoing John 6:27 ἐργάζεσθε present middle imperative imperative John 6:28 ἐργαζώμεθα present middle subjunctive subjunctive John 6:30 ἐργάζῃ present middle indicative ongoing John 9:4 ἐργάζεσθαι present middle infinitive infinitive John 9:4 ἐργάζεσθαι present middle infinitive infinitive Acts 10:35 ἐργαζόμενος present middle participle participle Acts 13:41 ἐργάζομαι present middle indicative ongoing Acts 18:3 ἠργάζετο imperfect middle indicative background Romans 2:10 ἐργαζομένῳ present middle participle participle Romans 4:4 ἐργαζομένῳ present middle participle participle Romans 4:5 ἐργαζομένῳ present middle participle participle Romans 13:10 ἐργάζεται present middle indicative ongoing 1 Corinthians 4:12 ἐργαζόμενοι present middle participle participle 1 Corinthians 9:13 ἐργαζόμενοι present middle participle participle 1 Corinthians 9:6 ἐργάζεσθαι present middle infinitive infinitive 1 Corinthians 16:10 ἐργάζεται present middle indicative ongoing 2 Corinthians 7:10 ἐργάζεται present middle indicative ongoing Galatians 6:10 ἐργαζώμεθα present middle subjunctive subjunctive Ephesians 4:28 ἐργαζόμενος present middle participle participle Colossians 3:23 ἐργάζεσθε present middle imperative imperative 1 Thessalonians 2:9 ἐργαζόμενοι present middle participle participle 1 Thessalonians 4:11 ἐργάζεσθαι present middle infinitive infinitive 2 Thessalonians 3:10 ἐργάζεσθαι present middle infinitive infinitive 2 Thessalonians 3:11 ἐργαζομένους present middle participle participle 2 Thessalonians 3:12 ἐργαζόμενοι present middle participle participle 2 Thessalonians 3:8 ἐργαζόμενοι present middle participle participle Hebrews 11:33 εἰργάσαντο aorist middle indicative completed James 1:20 ἐργάζεται present middle indicative ongoing James 2:9 ἐργάζεσθε present middle indicative ongoing 2 John 1:8 εἰργασάμεθα aorist middle indicative completed 3 John 1:5 ἐργάσῃ aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Revelation 18:17 ἐργάζονται present middle indicative ongoing

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 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.

Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor Galatians 2 — Justified by Faith: Gospel Unity, Apostolic Confrontation, and Life in Christ Galatians 3 — Faith, Promise, and the Curse-Bearing Christ Galatians 5 — Stand Firm in Freedom: Faith Working Through Love and Life by the Spirit Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 5 — The Son Who Gives Life, Judges, and Is Witnessed by the Father John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Matthew 11 — The Messiah Question, the Rejected Generation, and Rest for the Weary Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 3 — All Under Sin and the Righteousness of God Revealed Through Faith in Christ Romans 4 — Abraham Justified by Faith and the Promise Secured by Grace Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

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

Sources