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ἀργέω

argéō

G691 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be idle, inactive, or to loiter; to delay or hesitate to act in a situation, often implying a lack of urgency or a passive state; in figurative contexts, to linger or tarry, sometimes with the connotation of postponing or unnecessarily postponing action.

Semantic Range

to be idle, to be inactive, to be lazy, to delay, to hesitate, to loiter, to linger, to wait without acting, to tarry

Root / Etymology

From ἀργός (argos, 'idle, inactive, not working'), formed as a denominative verb meaning 'to be idle' or 'to be inactive.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb ἀργέω appears rarely in extant Greek literature, with primary attestation in the Koine period, especially in the Septuagint (LXX) and the New Testament (e.g., 2 Peter 2:3). In classical Greek, its parent noun ἀργός more commonly described inactivity or uselessness, but the verb form was less frequent. In biblical Greek, it often conveys a sense of deliberate delay or failure to act when action is possible or expected. The English translation 'linger' (see KJV) captures only one dimension; the underlying sense is broader and concerns inaction or unnecessary hesitation. The verb may be contrasted with words meaning 'to hasten' (σπεύδω) or 'to act promptly' (ποιέω with urgency). In the LXX, ἀργέω is used to translate Hebrew roots relating to delay or hesitation (e.g., אָחַר, אַחַר), and may reflect a range of emotional or moral valence, from mere passivity to culpable neglect. Standard translations sometimes narrow the sense to 'linger' or 'delay,' but the semantic range includes inaction and passivity, not merely conscious postponement. ἀργέω does not by default carry a theological or moral judgment, though context may sometimes imply one.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀργός; to be idle, i.e. (figuratively) to delay:--linger.

Root Family

ἀργέω (argeō) — to be idle, to be inactive, to delay

Root ἀργ- to be idle, to be inactive, to delay

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G691-01 ἀργεῖ argei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG lingers he is being idle is idle 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G691-01 2 Peter 2:3 ἀργεῖ argei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG lingers he is being idle is idle
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