λειτουργ-ία G3009
Public service or ministry performed for God or the faith community; liturgical duty, priestly function, or apostolic service.
Rooted in the classical Greek concept of public service rendered at one's own expense, leitourgia takes on deep sacred significance in the New Testament. It covers the formal liturgical duties of the Levitical priesthood (Luke 1:23, where Zechariah completes his temple service) as well as the generous ministry of believers toward one another (2 Corinthians 9:12, where financial aid becomes a sacred act). Paul even frames his own apostolic labor as a priestly offering (Philippians 2:17), showing how the word bridges Old Covenant ritual and New Covenant self-giving service.
Senses
1. service / ministry / liturgical duty — Religious or priestly service rendered to God or the believing community. In Luke 1:23, Zechariah finishes his temple leitourgia, reflecting the Levitical priestly rotation. Paul extends the term to apostolic and congregational ministry: in 2 Corinthians 9:12 the Corinthians' financial gift is called a leitourgia that supplies the needs of the saints, while in Philippians 2:17 Paul pictures his own work as a drink offering poured over the sacrifice of faith. Spanish renders it variously as 'liturgia,' 'ministerio,' and 'servicio,' capturing the range from formal worship to broader service. Hebrews 8:6 crowns the usage by declaring Christ's ministry superior, linking sacrificial priesthood with mediatorial excellence. 6×
AR["الخِدمَةِ-هٰذِهِ", "الخِدْمَةِ", "خِدْمَةً", "خِدْمَةِ", "خِدْمَتِ", "خِدْمَتِهِ"]·ben["পরিচর্যার", "সেবাকার্য", "সেবায়", "সেবার"]·DE["Dienst", "λειτουργίας"]·EN["ministry", "of-ministry", "service"]·FR["service"]·heb["בְּשֵׁרוּת", "הַ-עֲבוֹדָה", "הָעֲבוֹדָה", "עֲבוֹדַת", "עֲבוֹדָה.", "שֵׁרוּת"]·HI["सेव", "सेव.", "सेवकाई,", "सेवा", "सेवा-की"]·ID["dari", "pelayanan", "tugas"]·IT["leitourgia", "leitourgias", "servizio"]·jav["ayahan", "ibadah", "pangibadah", "pangladosan"]·KO["섬김", "섬김-의", "섬김의.", "예배의", "직무를"]·PT["ministério", "serviço"]·RU["службы", "служение", "служения"]·ES["liturgia", "ministerio", "servicio"]·SW["huduma", "ibada"]·TR["bir-hizmeti", "hizmetin", "hizmetinde", "hizmetinin", "hizmetinizin", "işin"]·urd["خدمت", "خدمت-پر", "خدمت-کے", "عبادت"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
λειτουργ-ία, ἡ, earlier Attic dialect λητ- Refs 5th c.BC+, public service performed by private citizens at their own expense, Refs 5th c.BC+; λ. ἐγκύκλιοι ordinary, i.e. annual, liturgies, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II any public service or work, Refs 3rd c.BC+; ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν λειτουργιῶν τεταγμένος, in an army, the officer who superintended the workmen, carpenters, etc., Refs 2nd c.BC+: generally, military…