ἔργον (G2041) — Greek Lexicon

← G2040 G2042 →

ἔργον

érgon

G2041 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A tangible action, deed, or work; concrete activity performed by an individual or group, either in the realm of physical labor, action, or accomplishment, as distinguished from intent or thought. In various contexts, it refers to a wide range of acts, including occupational work, moral actions (either good or bad), undertakings, accomplishments, or anything produced by effort. The sense includes both manual labor and any result of purposeful effort, and can carry neutral, positive, or negative connotations depending on context.

Semantic Range

deed, action, work (labor), undertaking, accomplishment, activity, product, practical effort, result of effort, occupation

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ἐργ-, related to the verb ἔργω (to work, to do), ultimately of Indo-European origin (compare Latin 'orgo, origo' and English 'work'). The root is well-established in classical and Koine Greek as denoting the concept of action or deed.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἔργον is a common noun from Homeric Greek onwards, denoting a wide range of concrete and abstract 'works' or deeds: agricultural labor, handiwork, artistic production, moral behavior, or divine acts. In the Septuagint, it translates several Hebrew terms (notably מַעֲשֶׂה and פָּעַל), referring to both God's creative acts and human endeavors. In the New Testament, ἔργον is frequently contrasted with λόγος (word, speech) and πίστις (trust, faith), such as in Pauline literature, where 'works' may refer to deeds performed in accordance with Torah or moral expectation. Common English translations such as 'work', 'deed', or 'act' capture much of its usage, but in Greek, the term could cover meanings from daily labor to extraordinary accomplishment to moral action, depending on context.

Translation Consistency

primary "work" 136 occurrences

"Work" is the most natural, flexible English headword for ἔργον: it covers manual labor, actions/deeds, undertakings, and results of effort. It matches the dominant English renderings ("works/ work") in the data, can be used countably or uncountably as needed, and avoids the narrower moral/legal tone of "deed."

Alternatives (32 occurrences):

"deeds" (29x) "deed" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a primary (but obsolete) (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:--deed, doing, labour, work.

Root Family

ἔργον (ergon) — work, deed, action, accomplishment

Root ἐργ- to work, to act, to accomplish

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2041-04`	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	works	a deed	work	79
`G2041-01`	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works	58
`G2041-03`	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	deeds	13
`G2041-02`	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	deed	by work	by work	10
`G2041-05`	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	work	of work	of work	8

Occurrences in Scripture

168 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2041-01`	Matthew 5:16	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Matthew 11:2	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Matthew 23:3	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Matthew 23:5	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Matthew 26:10	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	Mark 13:34	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	Mark 14:6	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-03`	Luke 11:48	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	deeds	to deeds	of the deeds
`G2041-02`	Luke 24:19	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	deed	by work	deed
`G2041-01`	John 3:19	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	deeds	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 3:20	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 3:21	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	John 4:34	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-01`	John 5:20	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 5:36	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 5:36	ἔργα	erga-2	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 6:28	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	John 6:29	ἔργον	ergon	`N NOM N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-01`	John 7:3	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 7:7	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	John 7:21	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-01`	John 8:39	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 8:41	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 9:3	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 9:4	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 10:25	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 10:32	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	John 10:32	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-05`	John 10:33	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	work	of work	work
`G2041-01`	John 10:37	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-03`	John 10:38	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	to works
`G2041-01`	John 14:10	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 14:11	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 14:12	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	John 15:24	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	John 17:4	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	Acts 5:38	ἔργον	ergon	`N NOM N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-03`	Acts 7:22	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	deeds	to deeds	deeds
`G2041-03`	Acts 7:41	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	deeds
`G2041-04`	Acts 9:36	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	of works	a deed	of works
`G2041-04`	Acts 13:2	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	Acts 13:41	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	a work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	Acts 13:41	ἔργον	ergon-2	`N ACC N SG`	a work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	Acts 14:26	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	Acts 15:38	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-01`	Acts 26:20	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Romans 2:6	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-05`	Romans 2:7	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	doing	of work	of work
`G2041-04`	Romans 2:15	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	Romans 3:20	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Romans 3:27	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Romans 3:28	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Romans 4:2	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Romans 4:6	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Romans 9:12	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Romans 9:32	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Romans 11:6	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-02`	Romans 13:3	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	work	by work	by work
`G2041-01`	Romans 13:12	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Romans 14:20	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-02`	Romans 15:18	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	deed	by work	by work
`G2041-04`	1 Corinthians 3:13	ἔργον	ergon	`N NOM N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	1 Corinthians 3:13	ἔργον	ergon-2	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	1 Corinthians 3:14	ἔργον	ergon	`N NOM N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	1 Corinthians 3:15	ἔργον	ergon	`N NOM N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	1 Corinthians 5:2	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	deed	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	1 Corinthians 9:1	ἔργον	ergon	`N NOM N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-02`	1 Corinthians 15:58	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	work	by work	by work
`G2041-04`	1 Corinthians 16:10	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	2 Corinthians 9:8	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-02`	2 Corinthians 10:11	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	deed	by work	by work
`G2041-01`	2 Corinthians 11:15	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Galatians 2:16	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Galatians 2:16	ἔργων	ergon-2	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Galatians 2:16	ἔργων	ergon-3	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Galatians 3:2	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Galatians 3:5	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Galatians 3:10	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-01`	Galatians 5:19	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Galatians 6:4	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	Ephesians 2:9	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-03`	Ephesians 2:10	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	deeds
`G2041-04`	Ephesians 4:12	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-03`	Ephesians 5:11	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	deeds	to deeds	deeds
`G2041-04`	Philippians 1:6	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-05`	Philippians 1:22	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	of work	of work	of work
`G2041-04`	Philippians 2:30	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-02`	Colossians 1:10	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	work	by work	by work
`G2041-03`	Colossians 1:21	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	works
`G2041-02`	Colossians 3:17	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	deed	by work	deed
`G2041-05`	1 Thessalonians 1:3	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	work	of work	work
`G2041-04`	1 Thessalonians 5:13	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	2 Thessalonians 1:11	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-02`	2 Thessalonians 2:17	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	work	by work	by work
`G2041-04`	1 Timothy 2:10	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-05`	1 Timothy 3:1	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	work	of work	of work
`G2041-03`	1 Timothy 5:10	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	deeds
`G2041-02`	1 Timothy 5:10	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	work	by work	by work
`G2041-01`	1 Timothy 5:25	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-03`	1 Timothy 6:18	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	deeds
`G2041-01`	2 Timothy 1:9	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	2 Timothy 2:21	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-04`	2 Timothy 3:17	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	2 Timothy 4:5	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	work
`G2041-01`	2 Timothy 4:14	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	deeds	works	works
`G2041-05`	2 Timothy 4:18	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	work	of work	work
`G2041-03`	Titus 1:16	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	to works
`G2041-04`	Titus 1:16	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	Titus 2:7	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Titus 2:14	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Titus 3:1	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	Titus 3:5	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Titus 3:8	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Titus 3:14	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-01`	Hebrews 1:10	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Hebrews 3:9	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Hebrews 4:3	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Hebrews 4:4	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Hebrews 4:10	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	Hebrews 6:1	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-05`	Hebrews 6:10	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	work	of work	of work
`G2041-04`	Hebrews 9:14	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	Hebrews 10:24	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	James 1:4	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-05`	James 1:25	ἔργου	ergou	`N GEN N SG`	of work	of work	of work
`G2041-01`	James 2:14	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	James 2:17	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	James 2:18	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	James 2:18	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	James 2:18	ἔργων	ergon-2	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	James 2:20	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	James 2:21	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-03`	James 2:22	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	with the deeds
`G2041-04`	James 2:22	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	James 2:24	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-04`	James 2:25	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-04`	James 2:26	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	deeds
`G2041-01`	James 3:13	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	1 Peter 1:17	ἔργον	ergon	`N ACC N SG`	work	a deed	a work
`G2041-04`	1 Peter 2:12	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-03`	2 Peter 2:8	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	deeds	to deeds	to works
`G2041-01`	2 Peter 3:10	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	1 John 3:8	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	1 John 3:12	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-02`	1 John 3:18	ἔργῳ	ergo	`N DAT N SG`	deed	by work	deed
`G2041-03`	2 John 1:11	ἔργοις	ergois	`N DAT N PL`	works	to deeds	deeds
`G2041-01`	3 John 1:10	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	deeds	works	works
`G2041-04`	Jude 1:15	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	deeds	a deed	deeds
`G2041-01`	Revelation 2:2	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 2:5	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 2:6	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 2:19	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 2:19	ἔργα	erga-2	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Revelation 2:22	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	deeds	a deed	deeds
`G2041-01`	Revelation 2:23	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 2:26	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 3:1	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 3:2	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 3:8	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 3:15	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Revelation 9:20	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 14:13	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	deeds	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 15:3	ἔργα	erga	`N NOM N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Revelation 16:11	ἔργων	ergon	`N GEN N PL`	works	a deed	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 18:6	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	deeds	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 20:12	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-01`	Revelation 20:13	ἔργα	erga	`N ACC N PL`	works	works	works
`G2041-04`	Revelation 22:12	ἔργον	ergon	`N NOM N SG`	work	a deed	a work

← G2040 Greek Lexicon G2042 →