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Greek

To labor

κοπιάωStrong’s G2872

kopiaō

Appears in 21 verses of the New Testament

In short

Kopiaō is the Greek word usually translated “toiling”, “do they labor” and “straining”. It appears in 21 verses of the New Testament.

“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”
1 Timothy 4:10 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “toiling”, “do they labor” and “straining”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • toiling 3
  • do they labor 2
  • straining 2
  • toiled 2
  • we toil 2
  • having toiled 1
  • already wearying 1
  • have toiled for 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • 1 Corinthians 3
  • Matthew 2
  • Luke 2
  • John 2
  • Romans 2
  • 1 Timothy 2

14 books in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
All 21 verses, by book
Matthew 2
6:2811:28
Luke 2
5:512:27
John 2
4:64:38
Acts 1
20:35
Romans 2
16:616:12
1 Corinthians 3
4:1215:1016:16
Galatians 1
4:11
Ephesians 1
4:28
Philippians 1
2:16
Colossians 1
1:29
1 Thessalonians 1
5:12
1 Timothy 2
4:105:17
2 Timothy 1
2:6
Revelation 1
2:3
Greek dictionary

κοπιάω kopiaō · to labor

κοπιάω, -ῶ (κόπος), [in LXX chiefly for יָגַע ;] 1. (as in cl.) to grow weary: Mat.11:28, Jhn.4:6, Rev.2:3 (cf. Isa.40:31). 2. Hence, in LXX and NT, to work with effort, to toil: absol., Mat.6:23, Luk.5:5 12:27, Jhn.4:38, Act.20:35, 1Co.4:12, Eph.4:28, 2Ti.2:5; with accusative of thing(s), Jhn.4:38; frequently in Paul. Epp., of ministerial labour: 1Co.15:10 16:16; before ἐν, Rom.16:12, 1Th.5:12 (see M, Th., in l), 1Ti.5:17; εἰς, Rom.16:6, Gal.4:11, Php.2:16, Col.1:29, 1Ti.4:10.† (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “labor” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

LA'BOR, noun

[Latin labor from labo, to fail.]

  1. Exertion of muscular strength, or bodily exertion which occasions weariness; particularly, the exertion of the limbs in occupations by which subsistence is obtained, as in agriculture and manufactures, in distinction from exertions of strength in play or amusements, which are denominated exercise, rather than labor Toilsome work; pains; travail; any bodily exertion which is attended with fatigue.
  2. Intellectual exertion; application of the mind which occasions weariness; as the labor of compiling and writing a history.
  3. Exertion of mental powers, united with bodily employment; as the labors of the apostles in propagating christianity.
  4. Work done, or to be done; that which requires wearisome exertion.
All definitions and other forms of “labor”
  1. Heroic achievement; as the labors of Hercules.
  2. Travail; the pangs and efforts of childbirth.
  3. The evils of life; trials; persecution, etc.“They rest from their labors -” Revelation 14:13

LA'BOR, verb intransitive

[Latin laboro.]

  1. To exert muscular strength; to act or move with painful effort, particularly in servile occupations; to work; to toil.“Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work -” Exodus 20:9
  2. To exert one's powers of body or mind, or both, in the prosecution of any design; to strive; to take pains.“Labor not for the meat which perisheth” John 6:27
  3. To toil; to be burdened.“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28
  4. To move with difficulty.
  5. To move irregularly with little progress; to pitch and roll heavily; as a ship in a turbulent sea.
  6. To be in distress; to be pressed.
  7. To be in travail; to suffer the pangs of childbirth.
  8. To journey or march.“Make not all the people to labor thither” Joshua 7:3
  9. To perform the duties of the pastoral office.
  10. To perform christian offices.

LA'BOR, verb transitive

  1. To work at; to till; to cultivate.
  2. To prosecute with effort; to urge; as, to labor a point or argument.
  3. To form or fabricate with exertion; as, to labor arms for Troy.
  4. To beat; to belabor. [The latter word is generally used.]
  5. To form with toil and care; as a labored composition.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.