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ἐργάτης

ergátēs

G2040 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A person who works; one engaged in labor, especially manual labor. In wider usage, one who accomplishes or performs a task. In Koine contexts, refers concretely to a field laborer, artisan, or worker, and metaphorically to one who is active or diligently engaged in a particular endeavor (such as teaching, preaching, or performing a function within a group). The primary sense is someone undertaking work, whether menial, skilled, or moral.

Semantic Range

worker, laborer (especially in agriculture), artisan, employee, craftsman, hired servant, one engaged in a task (literal); person engaged in moral, intellectual, or spiritual work (figurative); one who serves or works for a cause, teacher or preacher (figurative)

Root / Etymology

From ἔργον (work, deed) with the agentive suffix -της, forming a noun meaning 'one who works' or 'worker.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested throughout Greek literature from the classical period onward, ἐργάτης denotes a laborer, often in agricultural or manual contexts (e.g., field hand, vineyard worker). In the Septuagint, it typically renders Hebrew terms for laborers or hired workers. In the New Testament, it retains this literal sense (e.g., agricultural workers, Matthew 9:37-38; 20:1) but also takes on a figurative meaning for those engaged in work for a cause, such as those active in spreading teachings (often with the implication of diligence and necessity of reward, e.g., Luke 10:7, 1 Timothy 5:18). English translations frequently render it as 'laborer,' 'worker,' or, in figurative contexts, 'one who works (for)' or 'worker (in a field or cause),' which generally captures the range but sometimes misses the association with obligation and reward in Greco-Roman thought.

Translation Consistency

primary "worker" 16 occurrences

'Worker' is the most natural, broad, and commonly used English equivalent for ἐργάτης, covering manual laborers, artisans, employees, and the figurative sense of one engaged in a task or service. It matches the predominant P2 renderings and keeps translations consistent and idiomatic across singular/plural and literal/figurative contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἔργον; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher:--labourer, worker(-men).

Root Family

ἐργ- (ergátēs) — to work, to perform, to accomplish

Root ἐργ- to work, to perform, to accomplish
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2041 ἔργον works
G2716 κατεργάζομαι accomplished for himself
G4020 περιεργάζομαι those busying themselves about

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2040-02 ἐργάτας ergatas N ACC M PL laborers workers workers 6
G2040-01 ἐργάται ergatai N NOM M PL workers workers workers 4
G2040-04 ἐργάτης ergates N NOM M SG laborer worker worker 3
G2040-05 ἐργατῶν ergaton N GEN M PL laborers of workers workers 2
G2040-03 ἐργάτην ergaten N ACC M SG a workman a worker a worker 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2040-01 Matthew 9:37 ἐργάται ergatai N NOM M PL workers workers workers
G2040-02 Matthew 9:38 ἐργάτας ergatas N ACC M PL laborers workers workers
G2040-04 Matthew 10:10 ἐργάτης ergates N NOM M SG workman worker worker
G2040-02 Matthew 20:1 ἐργάτας ergatas N ACC M PL laborers workers workers
G2040-05 Matthew 20:2 ἐργατῶν ergaton N GEN M PL laborers of workers workers
G2040-02 Matthew 20:8 ἐργάτας ergatas N ACC M PL workers workers workers
G2040-01 Luke 10:2 ἐργάται ergatai N NOM M PL laborers workers workers
G2040-02 Luke 10:2 ἐργάτας ergatas N ACC M PL laborers workers workers
G2040-04 Luke 10:7 ἐργάτης ergates N NOM M SG laborer worker worker
G2040-01 Luke 13:27 ἐργάται ergatai N VOC M PL workers workers workers
G2040-02 Acts 19:25 ἐργάτας ergatas N ACC M PL workmen workers workers
G2040-01 2 Corinthians 11:13 ἐργάται ergatai N NOM M PL workers workers workers
G2040-02 Philippians 3:2 ἐργάτας ergatas N ACC M PL workers workers workers
G2040-04 1 Timothy 5:18 ἐργάτης ergates N NOM M SG laborer worker worker
G2040-03 2 Timothy 2:15 ἐργάτην ergaten N ACC M SG a workman a worker a worker
G2040-05 James 5:4 ἐργατῶν ergaton N GEN M PL laborers of workers workers
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