verb
energamō
Strong’sG1754
I work, accomplish, am operative
stem energ-21 times in the New Testamentin 12 of 27 books14 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
To be at work, active, or in operation 1234 — used especially of divine or supernatural power operating in someone or something 13. In this sense it is often intransitive, said of a force or power that is at work "in" a person, contrasted with being idle or inactive 13.
To work, produce, or bring about something 124 — used transitively with an object naming the thing effected, such as producing a result or an effect 1. In the passive, the word describes a person or thing being acted upon or set in motion by some power or principle at work in them 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἐνεργέω, -ῶ
[in LXX: Nu 8:24 B (עֲבֹדָה צְבׄא צָבָא ), Is 41:4, Pr 21:6 (פָּעַל), Pr 31:12 (גָּמַל), I Es 2:20, Wi 15:11 16:17 *;] (for full lexical treatment, v. AR, Eph., 243 ff.);
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G1754 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saiden-erg-eh'-o
to be active, efficient
Fromfrom G1756;
King Jamesdo, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
to be in action or activity, operate, Refs 4th c.BC+; especially of divine or supernatural action, frequently in NT., τινί, ἔν τινι, NT:—middle, NT
2 to be efficacious, of drugs, Refs 1st c.AD+; to be effective, of troops, ταῖς σαρίσαις Refs 2nd c.AD+:—passive, to be the object of action, Refs 4th c.BC+; also, to be actualized, Refs 3rd c.AD+
II transitive, effect, execute, πάντα κατὰ δύναμιν Refs 2nd c.BC+:—passive, to be actively carried on, ὁ πόλεμος ἐνηργεῖτο Refs 2nd c.BC+things executed, Refs 2nd c.BC+
III in Medicine texts, of sexual intercourse, τὴν τοιαύτην πρᾶξιν -οῦσι μετρίως Refs in opere esse, Refs 3rd c.BC+
IV operate, in surgery, Refs 4th c.AD+; ὁ ἐνεργῶν, ὁ ἐνεργούμενος, the surgeon, the patient, Refs 2nd c.AD+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| energatōἐνεργεῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | works | 1× |
| energalōἐνεργοῦσιν | happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural | at work | 2× |
| energotōἐνεργεῖται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | at work | 3× |
| energoteἐνηργεῖτο | was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | at work | 1× |
| energataἐνήργησεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | at work | 1× |
| energatēἐνήργηκεν | has happened · he/she/itperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | he exerted | 1× |
| energarōἐνεργεῖν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | work | 1× |
| energarōntosἐνεργῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | works | 3× |
| energarōntouἐνεργοῦντος | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular masculine | works | 1× |
| energarōnteuἐνεργοῦντος | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular neuter | at work | 1× |
| energorōntasἐνεργουμένη | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular feminine | working | 2× |
| energorōntanἐνεργουμένην | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular feminine | works | 2× |
| energorōntauἐνεργουμένης | happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive singular feminine | produces | 1× |
| energarantosἐνεργήσας | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | at work | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 140, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 9 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | energamō | energame | energami | energama | energamē | energamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | energasō | energase | energasi | energasa | energasē | energaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energatō1×ἐνεργεῖ | energate | energati | energata1×ἐνήργησεν | energatē1×ἐνήργηκεν | energatelē |
| we 1st person plural | energanō | energane | energani | energana | energanē | energanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | energavō | energave | energavi | energava | energavē | energavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | energalō2×ἐνεργοῦσιν | energale | energali | energala | energalē | energalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | energomō | energome | energomē | energomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | energosō | energose | energosē | energoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energotō3×ἐνεργεῖται | energote1×ἐνηργεῖτο | energotē | energotelē |
| we 1st person plural | energonō | energone | energonē | energonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | energovō | energove | energovē | energovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | energolō | energole | energolē | energolelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | energameiō | energameia | energameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | energaseiō | energaseia | energaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energateiō | energateia | energateiē |
| we 1st person plural | energaneiō | energaneia | energaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | energaveiō | energaveia | energaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | energaleiō | energaleia | energaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | energomeiō | energomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | energoseiō | energoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energoteiō | energoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | energoneiō | energoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | energoveiō | energoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | energoleiō | energoleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | energasōr | energasar | energasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energatōr | energatar | energatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | energavōr | energavar | energavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | energalōr | energalar | energalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | energosōr | energosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energotōr | energotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | energovōr | energovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | energolōr | energolēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | energamoiō | energamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | energasoiō | energasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energatoiō | energatoia |
| we 1st person plural | energanoiō | energanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | energavoiō | energavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | energaloiō | energaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | energomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | energosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | energotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | energonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | energovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | energoloiō |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | energarō1×ἐνεργεῖν | energari | energara | energarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | energorō | energorē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 11 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | energarōntos5×ἐνεργῶν | energarintos | energarantos1×ἐνεργήσας | energarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | energorōntos5× | energorēntos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
energ is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Other words sharing the exact same stem — not merely related in meaning.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
21 occurrences, every one of them listed
energatō“works”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 12:11“works”panteim de houteim energatō tem henem kai tem autem pneumem, …All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions …
energalō“at work”happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural2×
Matthew 14:2… nekroiu, kai dia houtem tais dunamiais energalō en auto.… That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
Mark 6:14… egerotē ek nekroiu, kai dia houtem energalō tais dunamiais en auto;… That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
energotō“at work”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular3×
2 Corinthians 4:12hōste tos thanatos en ni energotō, tas de zōas en vi.So then, death is at work in us, but life is at …
1 Thessalonians 2:13… alēthōs atō logon theou, hos kai energotō en vi toi pisteuarōntoi.… of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.
2 Thessalonians 2:7tem gar mustēriem ēdē energotō tau anomiau; monem tos katecharōntos arti …… the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains …
energote“at work”was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 7:5… taiu hamartaiu teim dia tou nomou energote en tei melei nu eis tem …… passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for …
energata“at work”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Galatians 2:8… energarantos Petro eis apostolan tau peritomau energata kai mi eis teim ethneim,… apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
energatē“he exerted”has happened · he/she/itperfect active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Ephesians 1:20han energatē en to Christo egerarantos auton ek …which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him …
energarō“work”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive1×
Philippians 2:13“work”… vi kai tem thelarō kai tem energarō huper tau eudokiau.… works in you to will and to act …
energarōntos“works”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine3×
1 Corinthians 12:6… alō, tos de autos theos, tos energarōntos teim panteim en pantoi.… of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
Galatians 3:5“works”… oun epichorēgarōntos vi tem pneumem kai energarōntos dunamiain en vi ek ergeiu nomou …… lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because …
Philippians 2:13theos gar atō tos energarōntos en vi kai tem thelarō kai …For it is God who works in you to will and to …
energarōntou“works”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular masculine1×
Ephesians 1:11… proorizirantois kata prothesian tou teim panteim energarōntou kata tan boulan teu thelēmeu autou,… to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of …
energarōnteu“at work”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive singular neuter1×
Ephesians 2:2… tou aerou, teu pneumeu teu nun energarōnteu en toi huioi tau apeitheiau;… air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
energorōntas“working”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular feminine2×
Galatians 5:6“working”… oute akrobustias, alla pistias dia agapau energorōntas.… neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
James 5:16“effective”… hopōs iiveia. pollem ischuatō deēsias dikaiou energorōntas.… each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has …
energorōntan“works”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative singular feminine2×
Ephesians 3:20… ē noanō kata tan dunamian tan energorōntan en ni,… according to His power that is at work within us,
Colossians 1:29“works”… agōnizorōntos kata tan energeian autou tan energorōntan en mi en dunamia.… also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
energorōntau“produces”happening now · of, belonging topresent middle or passive participle genitive singular feminine1×
2 Corinthians 1:6“produces”… parakalonō, huper tau vu paraklēsiau tau energorōntau en hupomona teiu auteiu pathēmeiu heiu …… we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience.
energarantos“at work”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Galatians 2:8tos gar energarantos Petro eis apostolan tau peritomau energata …For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised …