Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "worker" encompasses a broad range of activities and roles, reflecting the diverse nature of labor and service in both the Old and New Testaments. The concept of work is deeply rooted in the creation narrative, where God Himself is depicted as a worker.
Genesis 2:2-3 states, "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done."
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, work is often seen as a divine mandate. After the fall, work becomes more toilsome, as seen in
Genesis 3:17-19 , where God tells Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground."
Despite the curse, work is also portrayed as a means of stewardship and service. The Israelites were commanded to work the land and care for it, as seen in
Leviticus 25:3-4 : "For six years you may sow your fields and prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land—a Sabbath to the LORD."
The wisdom literature, particularly Proverbs, frequently addresses the virtues of hard work and diligence.
Proverbs 14:23 states, "There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty." This underscores the value placed on industriousness and the tangible benefits it brings.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of work is expanded to include spiritual labor and service within the Christian community. Jesus Himself is portrayed as a worker, both in His earthly trade as a carpenter and in His ministry. In
John 5:17 , Jesus says, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working."
The Apostle Paul frequently addresses the theme of work in his epistles, emphasizing both physical labor and spiritual service. In
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 , Paul advises, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we instructed you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one."
Paul also highlights the importance of working for the Lord, as seen in
Colossians 3:23-24 : "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Spiritual ImplicationsThe Bible presents work as an integral part of human life, ordained by God and imbued with spiritual significance. Believers are called to view their work as a form of worship and service to God, reflecting His character and fulfilling His purposes. The diligent worker is commended, and laziness is often condemned, as seen in
Proverbs 18:9 : "Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys."
Ultimately, the biblical view of work encourages believers to pursue their vocations with integrity, diligence, and a heart of service, recognizing that their labor is not in vain when done for the glory of God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) One who, or that which, works; a laborer; a performer; as, a worker in brass.
2. (n.) One of the neuter, or sterile, individuals of the social ants, bees, and white ants. The workers are generally females having the sexual organs imperfectly developed. See Ant, and White ant, under White.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WORKER; WORKFELLOW; WORKMANwur'-der, wurk'-fel-o, wurk'-man (charash, pa`al; ergates, sunergos): "Worker" (artificer) is the translation of charash, "to cut in" (1 Kings 7:14, "a worker in brass"), and of charash, "artificer," etc. (1 Chronicles 22:15); "workers of stone," rendered "workman," "workmen" (Isaiah 40:20;Isaiah 44:11Jeremiah 10:3, 9, "artificer";Hosea 8:6); `asah, "to work," is translated "workers" of iniquity (Psalm 37:1, "them that work unrighteousness"); `asah mela'khah, "to do work" (2 Kings 12:14, 15, "workmen," "them that did the work";1 Chronicles 22:152 Chronicles 24:13, etc.;Ezra 3:9);'aneshe mela'khah, "men of work" (1 Chronicles 25:1, "workmen," "them that did the work"); `amel, "working," "toiling" (Judges 5:26, "put.... her right hand to the workmen's hammer"); pa`al, "to act," "do," when translated "workers," is joined with "iniquity," "workers of iniquity" (Job 31:3;Job 34:8, 22Psalm 5:5;Psalm 6:8;Psalm 14:4, etc.;Proverbs 10:29;Proverbs 21:15); ergates, "worker," is translated "workman" (Matthew 10:10, "laborer";2 Timothy 2:15Acts 19:25), "workers" (of iniquity) (Luke 13:27), "deceitful workers" (2 Corinthians 11:13), "evil workers" (Philippians 3:2); dunamis, "power," is translated "(workers of) miracles" (1 Corinthians 12:29 margin, the Revised Version (British and American) "powers"); sunergeo, "to work with" (2 Corinthians 6:1, "working together with him").
Workfellow is the translation of sunergos, "joint or fellow-worker" (Romans 16:21Colossians 4:11).
Workmaster occurs in Ecclesiasticus 38:27, as the translation of architekton.
For "of ("with") cunning work" (Exodus 26:1, 31;Exodus 28:6, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3, 8), the American Standard Revised Version has "the work of the skillful workman," the English Revised Version "of the cunning workman"; instead of "I was by him as one brought up (with him)" (Proverbs 8:30), the Revised Version (British and American) has "I was by him as a master workman.
W. L. Walker
Greek
4904. sunergos -- a fellowworker... a fellow
worker. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: sunergos Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-er-gos') Short Definition: a fellow
worker Definition: a fellow
...5471. chalkeus -- aworker in metal
... aworker in metal. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: chalkeus Phonetic
Spelling: (khalk-yooce') Short Definition: aworker in brass or copper...
1092. georgos -- a husbandman, vinedresser
... a husbandman, vinedresser. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: georgos
Phonetic Spelling: (gheh-ore-gos') Short Definition: aworker of the soil...
2040. ergates -- a workman
... See 2041 (). Word Origin from ergazomai Definition a workman NASB Word Usage laborer
(2), laborers (6),worker (1), workers (4), workman (1), workmen (1)....
3407. misthios -- a hired servant
... a hired servant. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: misthios Phonetic Spelling:
(mis'-thee-os) Short Definition: a paidworker Definition: a paidworker...
695. argurokopos -- a beater of silver, ie a silversmith
... silversmith. From arguros and kopto; a beater (ieWorker) of silver -- silversmith.
see GREEK arguros. see GREEK kopto. (argurokopos) -- 1 Occurrence. 694, 695...
2418. hierourgeo -- to perform sacred rites
... minister. From a compound of hieron and the base of ergon; to be a temple-worker,
ie Officiate as a priest (figuratively) -- minister. see GREEK hieron....
3414. mna -- a mina (Gr. monetary unit)
... See also 1220 ("denarius") and 1406 ("drachma"). One was equivalent to 100
denarii (= one hundred days' wages for the commonworker)....
2557. kakourgos -- a criminal
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kakourgos Phonetic Spelling: (kak-oor'-gos)
Short Definition: a criminal Definition: (lit: an evil-worker), a criminal....
2815. Klemes -- Clement, a Christian at Philippi
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Klemes Phonetic Spelling:
(klay'-mace) Short Definition: Clement Definition: Clement, a fellow-worker of Paul...
Strong's Hebrew
6001a. amel -- a laborer, sufferer... Word Origin from amal Definition a laborer, sufferer NASB Word Usage who suffers
(2),
worker's (1), workmen's (1). 6001, 6001a. amel. 6001b .
...2359. Churi -- a Gadite
... Word Origin from chavar Definition a Gadite NASB Word Usage Huri (1). Huri. Probably
from chuwr; linen-worker; Churi, an Israelite -- Huri. see HEBREW chuwr....
2790a. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... devises (2), do (1), engraved (1), farmer plow (1), implements (1), plotting (1),
plow (5), plowed (4), plowers plowed (1), plowing (2), plowman (1),worker (1...
5654. Obed Edom -- "servant of Edom," an Israelite name
... Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites. From the active participle of abad and
'Edom;worker of Edom; Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites: see HEBREW abad....
2796. charash -- engraver, artificer
... From charash; a fabricator or any material -- artificer, (+) carpenter, craftsman,
engraver, maker, + mason, skilful, (+) smith,worker, workman, such as...
6213a. asah -- do, make
... deal (1), treat (3), tried (1), trim (1), trimmed (1), truly practice (1), use
(1), used (4), wage (2), waged (2), work (12), worked (7),worker (2), working (...
2790. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... leave off speaking, hold peace, plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly,
keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue,worker....
6466. paal -- do, make
... 7), working (1), works (2), wrought (1). commit, evil doer, maker, ordain,
worker. A primitive root; to do or make (systematically...
Library
OneWorker Preparing for Another
... OneWorker Preparing for Another. A Sermon (No.2261). Intended for Reading
on Lord's-Day, June 19th, 1892,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,....
I Want to be aWorker. PM
... 413 I Want to Be aWorker. PM. Delight in God's Work. I want to be aworker
for the Lord, I want to love and trust his holy word; I...
Of Gregory Thaumaturgus (The Wonder-Worker).
... Book IV. Chapter XXVII."Of Gregory Thaumaturgus (the Wonder-Worker). But
since from the likeness of the name, and the title of...
Since Our Brother and Fellow-Worker, John, Bishop of the Island of...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon XXXIX. Since our brother and
fellow-worker, John, bishop of the island of Cyprus? Since our...
The Work Awaiting theWorker
... CHAPTER V THE WORK AWAITING THEWORKER. Paragraphs 68-78. 68-70. Eight years of
Comparative Inactivity at Tarsus. Gentiles admitted to Christian Church. 71, 72....
That aWorker in this Work Should not Deem nor Think of Another...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND SEVENTIETH CHAPTER That aworker in this work should
not deem nor think of anotherworker as he feeleth in himself....
Conversion of a High Priest into a ChristianWorker
Conversion of a High Priest into a ChristianWorker. <.... Title Page. CONVERSION
OF A HIGH PRIEST INTO A CHRISTIANWORKER Edited and Presented by. REV....
Conversion of a High Priest into a ChristianWorker
Conversion of a High Priest into a ChristianWorker. <. Conversion
of a High Priest into a ChristianWorker Meletios Golden....
How a PerfectWorker Shall Pray, and what Prayer is in Itself; and...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE NINE AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER How a perfectworker shall pray, and
what prayer is in itself; and if a man shall pray in words, which words...
Now we Declare that virginity is Man's "Fellow-Worker" and Helper...
... II."Ascetic and Moral. Chapter V. Now we declare that Virginity is man's
"fellow-worker" and helper in achieving the aim of?...
Thesaurus
Silver-worker (2 Occurrences)Silver-
worker. Silver-smith, Silver-
worker. Simalcue . Multi-Version
Concordance Silver-
worker (2 Occurrences). Acts
...Worker (36 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) One who, or that which, works; a laborer; a
performer; as, aworker in brass....WORKER; WORKFELLOW; WORKMAN....
Brother-worker (1 Occurrence)
Brother-worker. Brother-servant, Brother-worker. Brother-workers .
Multi-Version Concordance Brother-worker (1 Occurrence)....
Wonder-worker (9 Occurrences)
Wonder-worker. Wonders, Wonder-worker. Wonder-workers . Noah Webster's
Dictionary... Multi-Version Concordance Wonder-worker (9 Occurrences)....
Gold-worker (6 Occurrences)
Gold-worker. Goldsmith's, Gold-worker. Gold-workers . Multi-Version
Concordance Gold-worker (6 Occurrences). Nehemiah...
Iron-worker (4 Occurrences)
Iron-worker. Iron-smith, Iron-worker. Irpeel . Multi-Version
Concordance Iron-worker (4 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 13:19...
Fellow-worker (5 Occurrences)
Fellow-worker. Fellow-travellers, Fellow-worker. Fellowworkers .
Multi-Version Concordance Fellow-worker (5 Occurrences)....
Metal-worker (3 Occurrences)
Metal-worker. Metalworker, Metal-worker. Metal-workers . Multi-Version
Concordance Metal-worker (3 Occurrences). 2 Timothy...
Leather-worker (3 Occurrences)
Leather-worker. Leathern, Leather-worker. Leave . Multi-Version
Concordance Leather-worker (3 Occurrences). Acts 9:43...
Copper-worker (1 Occurrence)
Copper-worker. Copper-smith, Copper-worker. Coptic . Multi-Version
Concordance Copper-worker (1 Occurrence). 2 Timothy...
Resources
What does the Bible say about stalking? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about work? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Titus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWorker: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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