Brief Overview of κατεργάζομαι (Strong’s G2716: katergazomai)

Introduction

Understanding Greek words in Biblical studies is crucial for interpreting the New Testament accurately and gaining insights into ancient Greek culture. The Greek word κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai), meaning “to work out,” “to accomplish,” or “to produce,” is particularly significant. It appears in various New Testament passages, often used to express the idea of achieving, performing, or bringing something to fruition. This word is key to understanding concepts of spiritual growth, ethical behavior, and divine workings within the early Christian community.

Key Information

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The Greek word is κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai), pronounced [ka-ter-GA-zo-my].

The etymology of κατεργάζομαι comes from two root words: κατά (kata), meaning “down,” “against,” or “intensively,” and ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai), which derives from ἔργον (ergon), meaning “work” or “deed.” Together, they form a verb that implies working out something thoroughly, bringing it to completion or achieving a particular outcome.

κατεργάζομαι is a verb. It follows the standard Greek conjugation patterns for verbs, which includes different forms for tense, voice, mood, person, and number. This verb is often found in the middle voice in the New Testament, emphasizing the subject’s active involvement in the action for their own purpose or benefit.

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Primary Meanings

To Work Out: The primary meaning of κατεργάζομαι is “to work out” or “to bring about.” It often refers to the process of achieving something through effort, such as working out one’s salvation or producing spiritual fruit.

To Accomplish: Another meaning is “to accomplish” or “to perform,” indicating the successful completion of a task or goal. It suggests a sense of purpose and intent in bringing something to fruition.

To Produce or Effect: In some contexts, κατεργάζομαι means “to produce” or “to effect,” highlighting the result or outcome of one’s actions or efforts, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Similar Words

ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai) [er-GA-zo-my]: This word means “to work” or “to labor” and is more general in scope compared to κατεργάζομαι, which implies working something out to its conclusion or accomplishing a specific purpose.

ποιέω (poieō) [poi-EH-o]: Meaning “to do” or “to make,” ποιέω is more general and can refer to any action or creation. κατεργάζομαι is more focused on the process and completion of a task.

τελέω (teleō) [te-LEH-o]: This word means “to complete” or “to fulfill,” and while it overlaps with κατεργάζομαι in terms of accomplishing a task, τελέω is more focused on the endpoint or fulfillment.

Morphological Features

Tense, Voice, Mood: κατεργάζομαι appears in various tenses, primarily the present and aorist, in the middle voice and indicative mood. The present tense denotes continuous or repeated action, while the aorist tense denotes a simple, undefined action. The middle voice indicates the subject is both performing and affected by the action.

Person and Number: The verb can be conjugated in different persons (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and numbers (singular, plural) to agree with the subject.

Aspect: The verb’s aspect can be imperfective (present), suggesting an ongoing action, or perfective (aorist), suggesting a completed action. Understanding these aspects is crucial for interpreting the nuance of passages where the word is used.

Conjugation Table for Present Indicative Middle of κατεργάζομαι:

For a more detailed explanation of Greek grammar and conjugations, Click here for a beginners guide to reading Greek.

Lexicon Insights

κατεργάζομαι is a dynamic verb used in New Testament Greek to describe the process of working out, accomplishing, or producing. It is frequently used in contexts that emphasize spiritual growth, ethical living, and the active involvement of believers in their spiritual journey. For example, in Philippians 2:12, believers are encouraged to “work out [κατεργάζομαι] their salvation with fear and trembling,” highlighting the ongoing process of living out one’s faith. In classical Greek literature, κατεργάζομαι also carries connotations of achieving through effort, reflecting a cultural emphasis on productivity and purpose.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Related Scripture References

Romans 7:8: “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced [κατειργάσατο] in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.”

Philippians 2:12: “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out [κατεργάζεσθε] your salvation with fear and trembling.”

James 1:3: “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces [κατεργάζεται] endurance.”

Classical Usage

Summary of κατεργάζομαι (G2716)

κατεργάζομαι (katergazomai) is a Greek verb meaning “to work out,” “to accomplish,” or “to produce.” It appears in the New Testament to describe spiritual processes, ethical behaviors, and divine workings. Understanding this word is essential for interpreting passages that focus on the transformative process of faith and spiritual maturity in both biblical and classical contexts. Its usage emphasizes the active role of believers in their spiritual journey and the importance of effort and perseverance in achieving spiritual goals.

Did You Know?

The word κατεργάζομαι is often used to emphasize the believer’s active role in spiritual growth, contrasting with more passive understandings of faith.

In Greek philosophy, κατεργάζομαι was used to describe the process of moral and intellectual development, aligning with the idea of working to achieve virtue.

The Septuagint uses κατεργάζομαι in Genesis 3:23 to describe Adam’s task of working the ground after being expelled from Eden, indicating the effort required in a post-Edenic world.