Word study
Work
18 Hebrew and 9 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: work, works, worked, working. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “work” or one of its forms.
Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side
Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)
- מַעֲשֶׂה maăsehdeed, worktranslated this way 118 times of its 223 uses · Strong’s H4639Noun · Translated: work 71, works 38, deeds 8, made 7Full study and all 211 verses →
Exodus 5:4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”
Deuteronomy 2:7 Indeed, the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these forty years, and you have lacked nothing.
- מְלָאכָה melâkâhoccupation, worktranslated this way 99 times of its 142 uses · Strong’s H4399Noun · Translated: work 86, regular work 10, craft 3, service 3Full study and all 131 verses →
Genesis 2:2 And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.
Exodus 12:16 On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals — that is all you may do.
- עָשָׂה âsâhdo, maketranslated this way 29 times of its 2,478 uses · Strong’s H6213Verb · Translated: done 292, made 265, make 143, did 112Full study and all 2,206 verses →
- עֲבֹדָה ăbôdâhlabour, servicetranslated this way 27 times of its 127 uses · Strong’s H5656Noun · Translated: service 56, work 25, labor 8, task 5Full study and all 112 verses →
Genesis 29:27 Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
Exodus 1:14 and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.
- פֹּעַל pôaldoing, deed, worktranslated this way 19 times of its 37 uses · Strong’s H6467Noun · Translated: work 16, deeds 3, exploits 2, wages 2Full study and all 37 verses →
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
Ruth 2:12 May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
- עָבַד âbadwork, servetranslated this way 16 times of its 286 uses · Strong’s H5647Verb · Translated: serve 110, served 44, worship 32, work 9Full study and all 259 verses →
Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
Exodus 1:13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly
- יְגִיעַ yegîatoil, producttranslated this way 4 times of its 16 uses · Strong’s H3018Noun · Translated: labor 4, toil 2, products 2, worked 2Full study and all 16 verses →
Job 10:3 Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?
Jeremiah 3:24 From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for— their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters.
- פָּלָא pâlâbe surpassing, extraordinarytranslated this way 4 times of its 70 uses · Strong’s H6381Verb · Translated: wonders 31, difficult 5, wonderful 3, fulfill 2Full study and all 68 verses →
Psalm 26:7 to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works.
Psalm 75:1 For the choirmaster: To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A song. We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your Name is near. The people declare Your wondrous works.
- עִם imwithtranslated this way 3 times of its 940 uses · Strong’s H5973Preposition · Translated: with 246, with you 84, with him 61, against 39Full study and all 838 verses →
- פְּעֻלָּה peullâhwork, recompencetranslated this way 3 times of its 14 uses · Strong’s H6468Noun · Translated: reward 3, recompense 3, work 2, deeds 2Full study and all 14 verses →
2 Chronicles 15:7 But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
Psalm 28:5 Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD or what His hands have done, He will tear them down and never rebuild them.
- עָמַל âmallabour, toiltranslated this way 3 times of its 11 uses · Strong’s H5998Pronoun · Translated: toils 2, worked 2Full study and all 11 verses →
Proverbs 16:26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
Ecclesiastes 2:19 And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.
- מַעֲלָל maălâldeed, practicetranslated this way 3 times of its 40 uses · Strong’s H4611Noun · Translated: deeds 25, works 3, actions 2Full study and all 40 verses →
Psalm 28:4 Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.
Psalm 77:11 I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.
- מִפְעָל miphâlwork, thing madetranslated this way 3 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s H4659Noun · Translated: works 3Full study and all 3 verses →
Psalm 46:8 Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth.
Proverbs 8:22 The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
- עֲבִידָה ăbîdâhwork, servicetranslated this way 2 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s H5673Noun · Translated: work 2, construction 1, service 1, manage 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Ezra 5:8 Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.
Ezra 6:7 Leave this work on the house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its original site.
- עָמָל âmâltrouble, labour, toiltranslated this way 2 times of its 55 uses · Strong’s H5999Noun · Translated: labor 15, trouble 14, toil 4, misery 4Full study and all 54 verses →
Ecclesiastes 2:10 Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Ecclesiastes 2:24 Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
- רִקְמָה riqmâhvariegated stufftranslated this way 2 times of its 11 uses · Strong’s H7553Noun · Translated: embroidered 4, embroidered cloth 2, embroidered work 2, stones of various colors 1Full study and all 11 verses →
Ezekiel 27:16 Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.
Ezekiel 27:24 In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.
- בָּנָה bânâhbuildtranslated this way 2 times of its 368 uses · Strong’s H1129Verb · Translated: built 132, build 98, rebuilt 34, rebuild 19Full study and all 342 verses →
2 Chronicles 27:3 Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he worked extensively on the wall at the hill of Ophel.
- עֲלִילָה ălîlâhwantonness, deedtranslated this way 2 times of its 24 uses · Strong’s H5949Noun · Translated: deeds 12, actions 3, shameful conduct 2, acts 2Full study and all 24 verses →
Psalm 141:4 Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.
Isaiah 12:4 and on that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.
Greek words (New Testament)
- ἔργον érgonwork, labor, action, deedtranslated this way 83 times of its 163 uses · Strong’s G2041Noun · Translated: works 51, deeds 44, work 32, actions 6Full study and all 153 verses →
Matthew 11:2 Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples
John 4:34 Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- ἐργάζομαι ergázomaiI word, trade, dotranslated this way 18 times of its 39 uses · Strong’s G2038Verb · Translated: work 10, doing 4, worked 4, done 2Full study and all 37 verses →
Matthew 21:28 But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
Luke 13:14 But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”
- ἐνεργέω energéōI work, accomplish, am operativetranslated this way 16 times of its 21 uses · Strong’s G1754Verb · Translated: work 12, works 3Full study and all 19 verses →
Matthew 14:2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
- κοπιάω kopiáōI grow weary, toiltranslated this way 12 times of its 23 uses · Strong’s G2872Verb · Translated: labor 5, worked 4, weary 2, worked hard 2Full study and all 21 verses →
Luke 5:5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”
John 4:38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the hard work, and now you have taken up their labor.”
- ἐνέργεια enérgeiaworking, activitytranslated this way 4 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s G1753Noun · Translated: working 3, power 2, work 1, energy 1Full study and all 8 verses →
Ephesians 1:19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,
- συνεργέω synergéōI work togethertranslated this way 3 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s G4903Verb · Translated: worked 1, works all things together 1, fellow worker 1, fellow workers 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- ποιέω poiéōI do, maketranslated this way 2 times of its 544 uses · Strong’s G4160Verb · Translated: do 50, done 44, doing 40, made 34Full study and all 494 verses →
Matthew 20:12 ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’
- ζυμόω zymóōI leaven, fermenttranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s G2220Verb · Translated: leavened 2, works 2Full study and all 4 verses →
1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.
- ἐνέργημα enérgēmaa working, an effecttranslated this way 2 times of its 2 uses · Strong’s G1755Noun · Translated: working 2Full study and all 2 verses →
1 Corinthians 12:6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.
1 Corinthians 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
What the Bible says about work: passages by topic →
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Full entry: Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906, public domain), in the digital edition Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced by unfoldingWord (Joel Ruark, J. de Joode), based on data by Eliran Wong and Stephen Ku; its additions are used under CC BY 4.0. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew-to-English verse numbering: original work of the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible available at https://github.com/openscriptures/morphhb, CC BY 4.0. We reformatted the data, linked the references to this site’s Bible text and left out words in other scripts that the source holds only as images. These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.