ἐργᾰτ-ης G2040
worker, laborer — one who performs work, whether in a field, a trade, or the ministry of the gospel
Ergates designates a person who works — a laborer, craftsman, or practitioner. Jesus uses it in his urgent appeal for harvest workers: 'the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few' (Matt 9:37-38; Luke 10:2), and affirms that 'the worker deserves his wages' (Luke 10:7; 1 Tim 5:18). Paul exhorts Timothy to be 'a worker who has no need to be ashamed' (2 Tim 2:15) and warns against 'deceitful workers' who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ (2 Cor 11:13; Phil 3:2). The term can also appear negatively: 'workers of iniquity' (Luke 13:27). Spanish 'obrero,' French 'ouvrier,' and German equivalents all reflect the core sense of one who labors, whether honorably or not.
Senses
1. worker, laborer — A person who performs labor, used across the NT for agricultural workers in harvest imagery (Matt 9:37-38; 20:1-8; Luke 10:2), gospel ministers and missionaries (2 Cor 11:13; 2 Tim 2:15; Phil 3:2), and generic practitioners of either good or evil deeds (Luke 13:27 'workers of iniquity'; Acts 19:25 craftsmen). Jesus' declaration that 'the worker is worthy of his wages' (Matt 10:10; Luke 10:7) became a foundational principle for supporting those who serve the church, quoted by Paul in 1 Timothy 5:18. 16×
AR["العامِلُ", "العُمّالِ", "الفَعَلَةَ", "الفَعَلَةِ", "الْعُمَّالِ", "عامِلاً", "عامِلَ", "عُمّالًا", "عُمّالٌ", "عُمّالُ", "فاعِلُ", "فَعَلَةً", "فَعَلَةُ", "يَا-فَاعِلِي"]·ben["কর্মী", "কর্মীদের", "কর্মীরা", "শ্রমিক", "শ্রমিকদের"]·DE["ἐργάται", "ἐργάτας", "ἐργάτην", "ἐργάτης", "ἐργατῶν"]·EN["worker", "workers", "workman"]·FR["ouvrier"]·heb["הַפּוֹעֲלִים", "פֹּעֲלִים", "פֹּעֵל", "פּוֹעֲלִים", "פּוֹעֲלֵי", "פּוֹעֲלֵי-מִרְמָה", "פּוֹעֵל", "רָע;"]·HI["कअरयकरतअ", "करनेवलोन;", "कर्मी", "काम-करने-वाला", "काम-करने-वाले", "काम-करने-वालो", "काम-करने-वालों-को", "कामगारों-को", "मजदूरों-की", "मजदोओरोन", "मजदोओरोन-को", "मज़दूर", "मज़दूरों-को", "मज़दोओर"]·ID["pekerja", "pekerja-pekerja"]·IT["ergatas", "ergatēn", "ergatēs", "ergatōn", "operaio"]·jav["buruh", "juru-damel", "juru-panen", "pakarya", "pandamel", "tiyang-nyambut-damel", "tukang"]·KO["일꾼들", "일꾼들-을", "일꾼들-의", "일꾼들을", "일꾼들을;", "일꾼들이다", "일꾼으로", "일꾼은", "일꾼이", "일꿔들", "일꿔들-을", "행하는-자들아"]·PT["obreiro", "obreiros", "trabalhador", "trabalhadores", "trabalhadores,"]·RU["делателей", "делателем", "делатели", "работник", "работниками", "работники", "работников", "работников,"]·ES["obrero", "obreros"]·SW["mfanyakazi", "mtenda-kazi", "na", "wabaya", "wafanyakazi", "watenda", "watenda-kazi", "watendaji"]·TR["hileci-işçiler", "iscilere", "işçi", "işçiler", "işçileri", "işçilerin"]·urd["مزدور", "مزدوروں", "مزدوروں-کو", "کارکن", "کارگرو", "کاریگروں-کو", "کام-کرنے-والا", "کام-کرنے-والوں-سے"]
Matt 9:37, Matt 9:38, Matt 10:10, Matt 20:1, Matt 20:2, Matt 20:8, Luke 10:2, Luke 10:2, Luke 10:7, Luke 13:27, Acts 19:25, 2 Cor 11:13 (+4 more)
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐργᾰτ-ης, ου, ὁ, workman, Hermes NT, etc.; especially one who works the soil, husbandman, Refs 5th c.BC+: absolutely, Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.: also with substantive, Refs 4th c.BC+ the country-folk, Refs 5th c.BC+; of animals, βοῦς ἐ. a working ox, Refs 7th c.BC+; also ἐ. θαλάττης, of a fisher, Refs 4th c.AD+ a stone-mason, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __b in the religious sense, NT __2 adjective hard-working,…