Lexical Summary
ergon: Work, deed, action, task, labor
Original Word: ἔργον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: ergon
Pronunciation: ER-gon
Phonetic Spelling: (er'-gon)
KJV: deed, doing, labour, work
NASB: works, deeds, work, deed, action, behavior, doing
Word Origin: [from a primary (but obsolete) ergo "to work"]
1. toil (as an effort or occupation)
2. (by implication) an act
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
deed, doing, labor, work.
From a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act -- deed, doing, labour, work.
HELPS Word-studies
2041 érgon (from ergō, "to work, accomplish") – a work or worker who accomplishes something. 2041 /érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom a prim. verb erdó (to do)
Definitionwork
NASB Translationaction (1), behavior (1), deed (13), deeds (52), doing (1), effectual (1), labor (1), result (1), task (1), what...done (1), work (34), works (62).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2041: ἔργονἔργον,
ἔργου,
τό, anciently
Φεργον (German
Werk, (English
work; cf.
Vanicek, p. 922)); the
Sept. for
פֹּעַל,
עֲבֹדָה and countless times for
מְלָאכָה and
מַעֲשֶׂה;
work, i. e.
1. business, employment, that with which anyone is occupied: Mark 13:34 (διδόναι τίνι τό ἔργον αὐτοῦ); Acts 14:26 (πληροῦν); 1 Timothy 3:1; thus of the work of salvation committed by God to Christ: διδόναι and τελειουν, John 17:4; of the work to be done by the apostles and other Christian teachers, as well as by the presiding officers of the religious assemblies, Acts 13:2; Acts 15:38; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; Philippians 1:22; τό ἔργον τίνος, genitive of the subjunctive, the work which one does, service which one either performs or ought to perform, 1 Thessalonians 5:13; ἔργον ποιεῖν τίνος to do the work of one (i. e. incumbent upon him), εὐαγγελιστοῦ, 2 Timothy 4:5; τό ἔργον τίνος i. e. assigned by one and to be done for his sake: τό ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ τελειουν, used of Christ, John 4:34; (τοῦ) Χριστοῦ (WH text Tr marginal reading κυρίου), Philippians 2:30; τοῦ κυρίου, 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Corinthians 16:10; with genitive of thing, εἰς ἔργον διακονίας, Ephesians 4:12, which means either to the work in which the ministry consists, the work performed in undertaking the ministry, or to the execution of the ministry. of that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking: Acts 5:38 (Deuteronomy 15:10; Wis. 2:12).
2. any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, mind (equivalent to ποίημα, κτίσμα): 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; with the addition of τῶν χειρῶν, things formed by the hand of man, Acts 7:41; of the works of God visible in the created world, Hebrews 1:10, and often in the Sept.; τά ἐν τῇ γῆ ἔργα, the works of nature and of art (Bengel), 2 Peter 3:10; of the arrangements of God for men's salvation: Acts 15:18 Rec.; τό ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ, what God works in man, i. e. a life dedicated to God and Christ, Romans 14:20; to the same effect, substantially, ἔργον ἀγαθόν, Philippians 1:6 (see ἀγαθός, 2); τά ἔργα τοῦ διαβόλου, sins and all the misery that springs from them, 1 John 3:8.
3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opposed to that which is less than work, James 1:25; Titus 1:16; τό ἔργον is distinguished from ὁ λόγος: Luke 24:19; Romans 15:18; 2 Corinthians 10:11; Colossians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 1 John 3:18 (Sir. 3:8); plural ἐν λόγοις καί ἐν ἔργοις, Acts 7:22 (4 Macc. 5:38 (37); for the same or similar contrasts, common in Greek writings, see Fritzsche on Romans, iii., p. 268f; Bergler on Alciphron, p. 54; Bornemann and Kühner, on Xenophon, mem. 2, 3, 6; Passow, under the word, p. 1159; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, I. 4; Lob. Paralip., pp. 64f, 525f)). ἔργα is used of the acts of God — both as creator, Hebrews 4:10; and as governor, John 9:3; Acts 13:41; Revelation 15:3; of sundry signal acts of Christ, to rouse men to believe in him and to accomplish their salvation: Matthew 11:2 (cf. ἔργα τῆς σοφίας Matthew 11:19 T WH Tr text), and especially in the Gospel of John, as John 5:20, 36; John 7:3; John 10:38; John 14:11; John 15:24, (cf. Grimm, Instit. theol. dogmat., p. 63, edition 2); they are called τά ἔργα τοῦ πατρός, i. e. done at the bidding and by the aid of the Father, John 10:37; John 9:3f, cf. John 10:25, 32; John 14:10; καλά, as beneficent, John 10:32f; and connected with the verbs δεικνύναι, ποιεῖν, ἐργάζεσθαι, τελειουν. ἔργα is applied to the conduct of men, measured by the standard of religion and righteousness — whether bad, Matthew 23:3; Luke 11:48; John 3:20; Revelation 2:6; Revelation 16:11, etc.; or good, John 3:21; James 2:14, 17f, 20-22, 24-26; James 3:13; Revelation 2:5, 9 (Rec.),
d. Br. an d. Gal., p. 194ff): Romans 3:20, 28; Romans 9:32 Rec.; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:2, 5, 10; and simply ἔργα: Romans 4:2, 6; Romans 9:12 (11); Romans 9:32 G L T Tr WH; Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:9; 2 Timothy 1:9 (see δικαιόω, 3 b.). τά ἔργα τίνος ποιεῖν, to do works the same as or like to those of another, to follow in action another's example: Abraham's, John 8:39; that of the devil, John 8:41.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of Biblical Usage Appearing one hundred seventy-four times across the New Testament, the term denotes every kind of human or divine activity: visible actions, moral conduct, artistic labor, miracles, vocational service, and final deeds that follow believers into eternity. Context determines whether the word is praised (“good works”) or condemned (“works of darkness,” “dead works”).
Foundations in the Old Testament
New Testament writers inherit a Hebrew view in which deeds reveal character and covenant loyalty (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 28:4). The Septuagint regularly renders Hebrew maʿăśê with this Greek word, preparing readers to hear Jesus and the apostles speak of “works” as outward manifestations of the heart.
Works in the Life and Teaching of Jesus
• Kingdom ethics: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
• Messianic credentials: John structures his Gospel around Jesus’ “works” (John 5:36; 10:25; 14:11), presenting signs that reveal the Father.
• Compassionate service: the anointing at Bethany is commended as “a beautiful work for Me” (Mark 14:6); ministry to “the least of these” is treated as service rendered to the King Himself (implicit in Matthew 25).
• Warning against ostentation: “They do all their works to be seen by men” (Matthew 23:5).
Apostolic Emphasis in Acts
Early preaching links repentance with deeds: “prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20). Dorcas is “abounding with good deeds and acts of charity” (Acts 9:36), illustrating tangible mercy ministry.
Paul: Works, Law, and Grace
• No ground for boasting: “A man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Romans 3:28).
• Salvation’s fruit, not its cause: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10)
• Contrast between “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19) and Spirit-born fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).
• Ministry labor: Paul calls evangelistic toil “the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58), urging believers to abound in it.
James: Works as Evidence of Living Faith
James refuses to separate genuine trust from obedient action: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). Abraham’s offering of Isaac and Rahab’s sheltering of the spies show faith “perfected by works” (James 2:22).
Petrine and Johannine Perspectives
Peter exhorts scattered believers to keep conduct excellent so that Gentiles “may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Peter 2:12). John denounces evil activity: “The one who practices sin is of the devil” (1 John 3:8), yet affirms brotherly love “in action and truth” (1 John 3:18).
Hebrews: From Dead Works to Living Service
The epistle contrasts “dead works” abandoned in repentance (Hebrews 6:1) with purified consciences “to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). Believers are urged to “consider how to spur one another on to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
Eschatological Judgment of Works
Final assessment is deed-oriented: “The dead were judged according to their deeds” (Revelation 20:12). Each of the seven churches hears, “I know your works” (Revelation 2–3), culminating in the promise, “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to give to each one according to what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12)
Good Works Prepared by God
Divinely-appointed opportunities for service appear in vocational callings (Acts 13:2), missionary partnerships (Philippians 1:6), charitable care (Titus 3:14), and every sphere where believers operate “in word or deed” (Colossians 3:17).
Works in Corporate Ministry
Church leaders are to be tested by their deeds (1 Timothy 3:1; 5:25). The body is equipped “for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). Financial support of gospel labor is commended as partnership in the work (Philippians 4:15-17).
Contrasting Works of Darkness
Believers must “have no fellowship with the fruitless works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11), renouncing idolatry (Acts 7:41), hypocrisy (Matthew 23:3), and culture-shaping wickedness (2 Peter 2:8).
Historical Impact on Christian Practice
Conviction that faith must act produced hospitals, schools, orphanages, and abolition movements. The Reformation clarified that justifying righteousness is imputed, yet the revived churches overflowed in social and missionary deeds. Evangelical awakenings likewise married proclamation with practical charity.
Pastoral Application
1. Proclaim grace boldly, denying any merit in human works for justification.
2. Disciple believers toward Spirit-empowered obedience, reminding them that “your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
3. Evaluate ministries by gospel fidelity and tangible love, not by mere sentiment.
4. Cultivate eternal perspective: works follow the saints (Revelation 14:13).
Key Passages for Study
Matthew 5:16; John 5:36; Romans 3:20-28; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 2:12; Revelation 2–3; 22:12.
Forms and Transliterations
εργα εργά έργα έργά ἔργα εργοις έργοις ἔργοις εργον έργον ἔργον εργου εργού έργου ἔργου εργω έργω ἔργῳ εργων έργων ἔργων erga érga ergo ergō érgoi érgōi ergois érgois ergon ergōn érgon érgōn ergou érgou
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