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ἐργάζομαι

ergázomai

G2038 verb

SILEX Entry

Root εργ- to work, to labor, to perform

Definition

To work, to be engaged in activity or effort (with focus on process or result); to carry out, perform, accomplish a task. The verb broadly denotes active involvement in any kind of work—physical, mental, or occupational. In specific contexts, can mean 'to produce' (as in yielding fruit or results), 'to conduct business,' or 'to carry out deeds' (good or evil). The middle voice often emphasizes the subject's participation or investment in the action, the work being done either for oneself or with personal involvement.

Semantic Range

to labor, to work (in general), to perform a task, to conduct business, to produce (results or fruit), to accomplish, to do, to be engaged in (an occupation or undertaking), to commit (deeds), to achieve

Root / Etymology

From the root ἔργον ('work, deed, labor') with the verbal ending -άζω and middle/passive verbal morphology. The formation reflects a verb of agency derived from the noun ἔργον.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐργάζομαι is attested from at least the 5th century BCE, generally meaning 'to work' or 'be at work,' in literal (physical labor, craft) and transferred (accomplish, perform) senses. The middle voice highlights personal engagement, often where the subject is both the agent and benefactor of the action. In the Septuagint (LXX), ἐργάζομαι translates a variety of Hebrew verbs for working, making, or doing, including עָבַד ('to serve, to work') and עָשָׂה ('to do, to make'), and is used both for secular and religious/liturgical activities (e.g., work done in the temple). In the New Testament, it refers widely to manual labor, professional occupation, and metaphorical 'working' (e.g., working good or evil, producing fruits or results). While English translations render it as 'work,' 'do,' 'perform,' or 'produce,' such renderings may obscure the nuance of the subject’s active, invested involvement. Related terms include ποιέω ('to make, to do'), though ἐργάζομαι typically emphasizes labor or process rather than just result. In some New Testament contexts, especially in contrast with ἀργέω ('to be idle'), it can denote the moral or practical value of being occupied as opposed to inactivity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from ἔργον; to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.:--commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work.

Root Family

ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai) — to work, to labor, to perform, to accomplish

Word Forms

18 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2038-07 ἐργάζεσθαι ergazesthai V PRS MID INF to work to engage in work 6
G2038-12 ἐργαζόμενοι ergazomenoi V PRS MID PTCP VOC M PL working you working for yourselves 6
G2038-09 ἐργάζεται ergazetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG works is working for himself 5
G2038-08 ἐργάζεσθε ergazesthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL work be working for yourselves 3
G2038-11 ἐργαζομένῳ ergazomeno V PRS MID PTCP DAT M SG to the one laboring 3
G2038-04 ἠργάσατο ergasato V AOR MID IND 3P SG she has done worked for oneself 3
G2038-10 ἐργάζομαι ergazomai V PRS MID IND 1P SG am working I am working for myself 2
G2038-15 ἐργαζώμεθα ergazometha V PRS MID SUBJ 1P PL let us do let us be working 2
G2038-13 ἐργαζόμενος ergazomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG does working for himself 2
G2038-18 ἐργάζου ergazou V PRS MID IMP 2P SG be working for yourself 1

Occurrences in Scripture

41 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2038-12 Matthew 7:23 ἐργαζόμενοι ergazomenoi V PRS MID PTCP VOC M PL you working for yourselves
G2038-18 Matthew 21:28 ἐργάζου ergazou V PRS MID IMP 2P SG be working for yourself
G2038-04 Matthew 25:16 ἠργάσατο ergasato V AOR MID IND 3P SG worked for oneself
G2038-04 Matthew 26:10 ἠργάσατο ergasato V AOR MID IND 3P SG worked for oneself
G2038-04 Mark 14:6 ἠργάσατο ergasato V AOR MID IND 3P SG she has done worked for oneself
G2038-07 Luke 13:14 ἐργάζεσθαι ergazesthai V PRS MID INF to work to engage in work
G2038-03 John 3:21 εἰργασμένα eirgasmena V PRF PASS PTCP NOM N PL done having been accomplished
G2038-09 John 5:17 ἐργάζεται ergazetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG is working is working for himself
G2038-10 John 5:17 ἐργάζομαι ergazomai V PRS MID IND 1P SG am working I am working for myself
G2038-08 John 6:27 ἐργάζεσθε ergazesthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL work be working for yourselves
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