ἐργάζεσθε
ergázomai
you commit
To work, to be engaged in activity or effort (with focus on process or result); to carry out, perform, accomplish a task. The verb broadly denotes active involvement in any kind of work—physical, mental, or occupational. In specific contexts, can mean 'to produce' (as in yielding fruit or results), 'to conduct business,' or 'to carry out deeds' (good or evil). The middle voice often emphasizes the subject's participation or investment in the action, the work being done either for oneself or with personal involvement.
James 2:9 · Word #5
Lexicon G2038
| Lemma | ἐργάζομαι |
| Transliteration | ergázomai |
| Strong's | G2038 |
| Definition | To work, to be engaged in activity or effort (with focus on process or result); to carry out, perform, accomplish a task. The verb broadly denotes active involvement in any kind of work—physical, mental, or occupational. In specific contexts, can mean 'to produce' (as in yielding fruit or results), 'to conduct business,' or 'to carry out deeds' (good or evil). The middle voice often emphasizes the subject's participation or investment in the action, the work being done either for oneself or with personal involvement. |
Morphology V PRS MID IND 2P PL
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state of being |
| Tense | PRS — Present — Ongoing or repeated action |
| Voice | MID — Middle — The subject acts on itself or in its own interest |
| Mood | IND — Indicative — States a fact or reality |
| Person | 2P — 2nd person — The one spoken to ("you") |
| Number | PL — Plural — More than one |
Common Translation
| Phrase | you commit |
| Literal | work-2pl |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | ἐργάζομαι |
| Strong's | G2038 |
SIBI-P1 Translation G2038-08
be working for yourselves
| Morphological Notes | Verb; present tense (ongoing action), middle voice (self-involved), imperative mood (command), 2nd person plural (you all). |
| Rendering Rationale | The present imperative calls for ongoing action, rendered as "be working." The middle voice highlights personal involvement or self-investment in the action, expressed as "for yourselves." |
View full lexicon entry for G2038 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
you commit
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | In this context, ἐργάζεσθε refers to performing or committing sin (not general work), so 'you commit' is the accurate rendering. |