noun · neuter
ergem
Strong’sG2041
work, labor, action, deed
stem erg-169 times in the New Testamentin 26 of 27 books6 of 6 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
Work, labor, task, or occupation — the effort, employment, or business someone engages in 1234. This can refer to a specific job or undertaking, such as a task assigned to someone or an enterprise being carried out 13.
A deed or action, often contrasted with mere words — what a person actually does rather than merely says 13. In this sense it covers acts both good and bad, including morally weighted "deeds" such as good works or evil works, and acts attributed to God or to Christ 1. Strong's likewise notes that the word can denote an act by implication, alongside its basic sense of toil or effort 2.
That which is made or produced, a work — the finished product or result of labor, such as something built or crafted 13.
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
ἔργον, -ου, τό (originally Ϝέργον, work), [very freq. in LXX, chiefly for מַעֲשֶׂה, מְלָאכָה, also for עֲבֹדָה, פֹּעַל, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2041 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saider'-gon
toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act
Fromfrom a primary (but obsolete) ἔργω (to work);
King Jamesdeed, doing, labour, work.
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
Doric dialect ϝέργον Refs 6th c.BC+, Elean ϝάργον Refs 6th c.BC+ weorc (neuter) 'work', Avest. var[schwa]za-):— work, Refs 8th c.BC+; especially in plural, Refs 8th c.BC+; τὰ σ᾽ αὐτῆς ἔργα κόμιζε see to thine own tasks, Refs 8th c.BC+
1 in Refs 8th c.BC+works or deeds of war, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐν τῷ ἔ. during the action, Refs 6th c.BC+; ἔργου ἔχεσθαι to engage in battle, Refs
2 of peaceful contests, Refs 5th c.BC+; also ἔργα θῆκε κάλλιστ᾽ ἀμφὶ κόμαις placed [the reward of] noble deeds about his hair, Refs
3 of works of industry,
3.a of tillage, tilled lands, Refs 8th c.BC+; οὔτε βοῶν οὔτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν φαίνετο ἔργα Refs —the title of Hesiod's work; πατρώϊα ἔ. their father's lands, Refs 8th c.BC+ will neither go to our farms, Refs the tilled lands of Ithaca, Refs inhabited lands, Refs 8th c.BC+: generally, property, wealth, possessions, Refs 8th c.BC+
3.b of women's work, weaving, Refs 8th c.BC+.
3.c of other occupations, θαλάσσια ἔ. fishing, Refs 8th c.BC+ works of feasting, Refs 8th c.BC+: absolutely, Refs 6th c.BC+; φίλα ἔργα μελίσσαις, of flowers, Refs 3rd c.BC+; of mines, etc., Refs 6th c.BC+
4 deed, action, Refs 8th c.BC+; καρτερά, ἀεικέα ἔ., Refs 8th c.BC+ deed, not word (see. Refs 8th c.BC+; opposed to ῥήματα, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ μὲν ἐνθύμημα χαρίεν.., τὸ δὲ ἔ. ἀδύνατον its execution, Refs 5th c.BC+ ready for action, Refs 5th c.BC+.
II thing, matter, πᾶν ἔ...ὑπείξομαι in every point, Refs 8th c.BC+; in bad sense, mischief, trouble, of disease, Refs 2nd c.AD+; μέγα ἔ. a serious matter, Refs 8th c.BC+
II.2 μέγα ἔ., like{μέγα χρῆμα}, χερμάδιον λάβε χειρὶ Τυδεΐδης, μέγα ἔ. a monstrous thing, Refs 8th c.BC+ a mighty call to arms, Refs
III passive, that which is wrought or made, work, οἷ᾽ ἐπιεικὲς ἔργ᾽ ἔμεν ἀθανάτων, of the arms of Achilles, Refs 8th c.BC+ metal-work, Refs 8th c.BC+; of a wall, Refs 5th c.BC+; of a statue, Refs 5th c.BC+, of siege-works, Refs 2nd c.BC+; of a machine, Refs 2nd c.BC+, +others; of public buildings, Refs; of an author's works, Refs 1st c.BC+
III.2 result of work, profit or interest, ἔργον [χρημάτων] interest or profit on money, Refs 4th c.BC+
IV special phrases:
IV.1 ἔργον ἐστί,
IV.1.a with genitive person, it is his business, his proper work, Refs 6th c.BC+; of things, φραδέος νόου ἔργα τέτυκται it is a matter (which calls) for a wary mind, Refs 8th c.BC+; function, Refs 6th c.BC+; τοῦτο ἑκάστου ἔ. ὃ ἂν ἢ μόνον τι ἢ κάλλιστα τῶν ἄλλων ἀπεργάζηται Refs 2nd c.AD+: with dative person, Refs 6th c.BC+ with infinitive, Refs 6th c.BC+: with Article, Refs 5th c.BC+.
IV.1.b with genitive of things, there is need of.., Refs 6th c.BC+: especially with negative, Refs 6th c.BC+: with Article, Refs 5th c.BC+: with a participle added, Refs 1st c.AD+: also with infinitive, οὐδὲν ἔ. ἑστάναι there is no use in standing still, Refs 5th c.BC+
IV.1.c with infinitive, it is hard work, difficult to do, Refs 6th c.BC+ (Lyric poetry): also in genitive, Refs 6th c.BC+: rarely with a participle, Refs 3rd c.BC+; ἔ. [ἐστί] with accusative et infinitive, it can scarcely happen that.., Refs 4th c.BC+.
IV.2 ἔργον παρασχεῖν τινί give one trouble, Refs 5th c.BC+ take trouble, with participle, Refs 5th c.BC+; with infinitive, Refs
IV.3 ἔ. γίγνεσθαι τῆς νόσου to be its victim, Refs 1st c.AD+.
IV.4 ἔ. ποιεῖσθαί τι to make a matter one's business, attend to it, Refs 5th c.BC+.
V ={ἐργασία} III, Refs
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.
3 rarer renderings are not shown; every occurrence below carries the English it was given there.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject or object direct | ergem7×ἔργον | ergeim15×ἔργα |
| of, belonging to genitive | ergeu8×ἔργου | ergeiu42×ἔργων |
| to, for dative | erge10×ἔργῳ | ergei13×ἔργοις |
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
erge 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
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
169 occurrences, 100 of them printed here — the rest are in the reader
ergem“work”subject or objectdirect singular7×
John 6:29… kai legata autoi; Houtem atō tem ergem tou theou hina pisteuaveiō eis hon …Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe …
Acts 5:38“work”… anthrōpoiu tas boulas houtas ē tem ergem houtem, kataluiti,… their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.
1 Corinthians 3:13“work”hekastou tem ergem fanerem geneti, tas gar hēmeras dēlati; …… will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will …
1 Corinthians 3:14“work”ei tinou tem ergem menati hem epoikodomata, misthon labeti;If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15“work”ei tinou tem ergem katakaiiti, zēmiiti, autos de sōziti, houtōs …… it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.
1 Corinthians 9:1“work”… ton kurion nu horamē? ouk tem ergem mu vis avō en kurio?… I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?
Revelation 22:12“work”… meta mu, apodōara hekasto hōs tem ergem atō autou.… reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he …
ergeu“work”of, belonging togenitive singular8×
John 10:33apokrinila auto tois Ioudaiois; Peri kaleu ergeu ouk lithazanō sin alla peri blasfēmiau, …… not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy …
Romans 2:7toi men kata hupomonan ergeu agatheu doxan kai timan kai aftharsian …To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality …
Philippians 1:22… zōarō en sarka, houtem mi karpos ergeu kai tinem hairemi ouk gnōrizamō;… the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I …
1 Thessalonians 1:3mnēmoneuarōntois vu teu ergeu tau pistiau kai tou kopou tau …… before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love …
1 Timothy 3:1“work”… logos; ei tinos episkopau oregotō, kaleu ergeu epithumatō.… a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 Timothy 4:18“deed”rueti min tos kurios apo panteu ergeu ponēreu kai sōzati eis tan basileian …And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever …
Hebrews 6:10… gar adikos tos theos epilathera teu ergeu vu kai tau agapau hau endeikeva …… unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown …
James 1:25“acts”… ouk akroatos epilēsmonau generantos alla poiētos ergeu, houtos makarios en ta poiēsia autou …… do so — not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer — he will be blessed in what he does.
erge“deed”to, fordative singular10×
Luke 24:19“deed”… hos geneta andros profētos dunatos en erge kai logo enantion tou theou kai …… answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the …
Romans 13:3… archontois ouk alō fobos te agathe erge alla te kakose. thelasō de mē …… are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want …
Romans 15:18… mu eis hupakoan ethneiu, logo kai erge,… Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
1 Corinthians 15:58… hedraiois genovōr, ametakinētois, perisseuarōntois en te erge tou kuriou pantote, oidarēntois hoti tos …… and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know …
2 Corinthians 10:11… epistolaiu apeiarōntois, toioutois kai pareiarōntois te erge.… absent, we will be in our actions when present.
Colossians 1:10… kuriou eis pantan areskeian en pante erge agathe karpoforarōntois kai auxanorōntois ta epignōsia …… way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 3:17… ean poiaveiō en logo ē en erge, panteim en onome kuriou Iēsu, eucharistarōntois …… whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name …
2 Thessalonians 2:17“work”… tain kardiain kai stērizatoia en pante erge kai logo agatho.encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
1 Timothy 5:10… niptata, ei thliborōntoi eparkata, ei pante erge agathe epakolouthata.… and devoting herself to every good work.
1 John 3:18“deed”… logo mēde ta glōssa alla en erge kai alētheia.… not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
ergeim“works”subject or objectdirect plural15×
John 3:19… fōtem, ate gar autoiu ponēreim teim ergeim.… rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20… tem fōtem, hina mē elenchiteia teim ergeim autou;… the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
John 3:21“deeds”… tem fōtem, hina faneriteia autou teim ergeim hoti en theo atō ergazorēnteim.… comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”
John 5:36… marturian megotereim tou Iōannou, teim gar ergeim heim dōatē mi tos patros hina …… than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me …
John 5:36… patros hina teleiameia auteim, auteim teim ergeim heim poiamō, marturatō peri mu hoti …… given Me to accomplish — the very works I am doing — testify about Me …
John 7:7… mis marturamō peri autou hoti teim ergeim autou ponēreim atō.… Me, because I testify that its works are evil.
John 9:3… gonevois autou, alla hina faneriteia teim ergeim tou theou en auto.… but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in …
John 10:25… Legama vi kai ouk pisteuavō; teim ergeim heim mis poiamō en te onome …… but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name …
Galatians 5:19“works”fanereim de atō teim ergeim tau sarkau, hotineim atō porneias, akatharsias, …The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
1 Timothy 5:25“works”hōsautōs kai teim ergeim teim kaleim prodēleim, kai teim allōs …… same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous …
Hebrews 1:10… archain, kurior, tan gēan themeliasa, kai ergeim taiu cheiraiu su alō tois ouranois;… earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
2 Peter 3:10… kai gēas kai teim en auta ergeim heuriskiti.… fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
1 John 3:12… charin tineu sfazata auton? hoti teim ergeim autou ponēreim ate, teim de tou …… Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his …
Revelation 14:13… ek toiu kopoiu autoiu, teim gar ergeim autoiu akolouthatō meta autoiu.… rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”
Revelation 15:3… arnieu legarōntois; Megeim kai thaumasteim teim ergeim su, kurior, tos theor, tos pantokratoror; …… Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and …
ergeiu“works”of, belonging togenitive plural42×, 16 shown
Matthew 11:19“deeds”… kai dikaiita tas sofias apo teiu ergeiu autau.… sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
Acts 9:36… diermēneuorōntas legotō Dorkadas; houtas ate plēras ergeiu agatheiu kai eleēmosunaiu haiu poiate.… Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.
Romans 3:20dioti ek ergeiu nomou ouk dikaiiti pantas sarkas enōpion …… be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law …
Romans 3:27… kauchēsias? ekkleiita. dia poiou nomou? teiu ergeiu? ouchi, alla dia nomou pistiau.… On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.
Romans 3:28logizonō gar dikaiorō pistia anthrōpon chōris ergeiu nomou.… is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 4:2ei gar Abraam ek ergeiu dikaiita, echatō kauchēmem; alla ouk pros …If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about …
Romans 4:6… ho tos theos logizotō dikaiosunan chōris ergeiu;… whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Romans 9:12ouk ek ergeiu alla ek tou kalarōntou, legita auta …not by works but by Him who calls, she …
Romans 9:32… ouk ek pistiau alla hōs ek ergeiu; proskoptala to litho teu proskommeu,… but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Romans 11:6ei de charita, ouketi ek ergeiu, epei tas charitas ouketi genotō charitas.… then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be …
Galatians 2:16… de hoti ouk dikaiotō anthrōpos ek ergeiu nomou ean mē dia pistiau Iēsu …… a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith …
Galatians 2:16… ek pistiau Christou kai ouk ek ergeiu nomou, hoti ek ergeiu nomou ouk …… faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works …
Galatians 2:16… ouk ek ergeiu nomou, hoti ek ergeiu nomou ouk dikaiiti pantas sarkas.… works of the law, because by works of the law no one will …
Galatians 3:2… monem thelamō mathara apo vu, ek ergeiu nomou tem pneumem labava ē ek …… Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing …
Galatians 3:5“works”… kai energarōntos dunamiain en vi ek ergeiu nomou ē ek akoau pistiau?… on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you …
Galatians 3:10Hosois gar ek ergeiu nomou alō hupo kataran alō, grafotē …All who rely on works of the law are under a …
ergei“works”to, fordative plural13×
Luke 11:48ara marturois avō kai suneudokavō tei ergei toiu patroiu vu, hoti autois men …… you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the …
John 10:38… poiamō, kan mi mē pisteuaveiō tei ergei pisteuavōr, hina gnōskaveia kai gnōskaveiō hoti …… do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know …
Acts 7:22“deeds”… ate de dunatos en logoi kai ergei autou.… Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
Acts 7:41… te eidōle, kai eufranole en tei ergei taiu cheiraiu autoiu.… to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands.
Ephesians 2:10… poiēmem, ktizirantois en Christo Iēso epi ergei agathei hei proetoimazata tos theos hina …… in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as …
Ephesians 5:11“works”kai mē sunkoinōnavōr tei ergei tei akarpei teu skoteu, mallon de …Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose …
Colossians 1:21… kai echthroin ta dianoia en tei ergei tei ponērei… in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
1 Timothy 5:10“works”en ergei kalei marturorōntas, ei teknotrofata, ei xenodochata, …and well known for good deeds such …
1 Timothy 6:18agathoergarō, ploutarō en ergei kalei, eumetadotoin arō, koinōnikoin,… good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready …
Titus 1:16“works”theon homologalō oidarē, tei de ergei arnolō, bdeluktois arōntois kai apeithois kai …They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for …
James 2:22“works”blepasō hoti tas pistias sunergate tei ergei autou kai ek teiu ergeiu tas …You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he …
2 Peter 2:8… hēmeran ek hēmerau psuchan dikaian anomei ergei basanizate… his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard )—
2 John 1:11… legarōntos gar auto chairarō koinōnatō tei ergei autou tei ponērei.… a person shares in his evil deeds.
ergeim16×
Matthew 5:16“works”… anthrōpoiu, hopōs horaleia vu teim kaleim ergeim kai doxazaleia ton patron vu ton …… shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 11:2“what … wasdoing”… Iōannos akouarantos en te desmōtērie teim ergeim tou christou pemparantos dia toiu mathētoiu …Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples
Matthew 23:3… poiavar kai tēravōr, kata de teim ergeim autoiu mē poiavōr, legalō gar kai …… they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do …
Matthew 23:5panteim de teim ergeim autoiu poialō pros tem theasira toi …All their deeds are done for men to see …
John 5:20… poiatō, kai megotereim houteiu deikati auto ergeim, hina vis thaumazaveiō.… He will show Him even greater works than these.
John 6:28… auton; Tinem poianeiō hina ergazoneiō teim ergeim tou theou?… must we do to perform the works of God?”
John 7:3… tois mathētois su theōrali su teim ergeim heim poiasō;… Your disciples there may see the works You are doing.
John 8:39“did”… Ei tekneim tou Abraam avō, teim ergeim tou Abraam poiave;… they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
John 8:41“deeds”vis poiavō teim ergeim tou patrou vu. legala auto; Nis …You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not …
John 9:4nin datō ergazorō teim ergeim tou pemparantou min heōs hēmeras atō; …… is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night …
John 10:32apokrinita autoi tos Iēsus; Polleim ergeim kaleim deikama vi ek tou patrou; …… I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of …
John 10:37ei ouk poiamō teim ergeim tou patrou mu, mē pisteuavōr mi;If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not …
John 14:10… patros en mi menarōntos poiatō teim ergeim autou.… Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.
John 14:11… mi; ei de mē, dia teim ergeim auteim pisteuavōr.… least believe on account of the works themselves.
John 14:12… vi, tos pisteuarōntos eis min teim ergeim heim mis poiamō kakeinos poiati, kai …… in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will …
John 15:24ei teim ergeim mē poiama en autoi heim oudenos …… had not done among them the works that no one else did, they …
ergem15×
Matthew 26:10“thing”… autoi; Tinem kopoin parechavō ta gunaika? ergem gar kalem ergazeta eis min;… Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
Mark 13:34“work”… douloi autou tan exousian, hekasto tem ergem autou, kai to thurōro enteleta hina …… house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
Mark 14:6“thing”… autan; tinem auta kopoin parechavō? kalem ergem ergazeta en mi;… said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
John 4:34… pemparantou min kai teleiameia autou tem ergem.… sent Me and to finish His work.
John 7:21“work”apokrinita Iēsus kai legata autoi; Henem ergem poiama kai pantois thaumazavō.Jesus answered them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed.
John 10:32“works”… ek tou patrou; dia poiem auteiu ergem min lithazavō?… good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
John 17:4… sin doxazama epi tau gēau, tem ergem teleiarantos hem dōasē mi hina poiameia;… You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
Acts 13:2… ton Barnabon kai Saulon eis tem ergem hem proskalomē autoin.… Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:41… katafronētoir, kai thaumazavar kai afanizivar, hoti ergem ergazomō mis en tai hēmerai vu, …… perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would …
Acts 13:41“work”… ergazomō mis en tai hēmerai vu, ergem hem ouk mē pisteuaveia ean tinos …… perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”
Acts 14:26… ta charita tou theou eis tem ergem hem plērala.… the grace of God for the work they had just completed.
Acts 15:38… kai mē sunercharanton autoi eis tem ergem, mē sumparalabarō houton.… had not accompanied them in the work.
Romans 2:15hotinois endeikolō tem ergem tou nomou graptem en tai kardiai …So they show that the work of the law is written on …
Romans 14:20mē heneken brōmeu kataluasōr tem ergem tou theou. panteim men kathareim, alla …Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of …
1 Corinthians 3:13… en pure apokaluptotō, kai hekastou tem ergem hopoiem atō tem purem autem dokimazati.… prove the quality of each man’s work.