Menu

2 Thessalonians 3:11 — Word Study

Depth

N1904Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

BSAWe hearakouō [have been informed, have learned] forgar sometis [certain ones, individuals] are walkingperipateō [living, walking] amongen yousu idly,ataktōs [idly, disorderly] not at allmēdeis [no thing, none] workingergazomai [working, laboring] butalla being busybodies.periergazomai [acting as, busy with, meddling, interfering]

Word
Listen & take away2 Thessalonians 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 11 is in this chapter.
Say the word Each Greek word carries its transliteration (periergazomai) — no per-word recordings of the Greek exist to link to.
Take it away
2 Thessalonians 3:11quick helps
In a sentencePaul warns the Thessalonians about some who are living undisciplined lives and meddling in others' affairs.
Who is speakingPaul, addressing the church in Thessalonica.
Where we areIn the context of instructions on work and discipline, specifically in verses 10-12.
The hard wordπεριεργαζομένους
Take awayIdleness can lead to meddling in others' lives.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbἀκούω The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the New Testament

1 of 11 occurs nowhere else in the New Testament — a word chosen on purpose.

Bars are logarithmic — , the commonest word in the Greek New Testament, stands 19,867 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — 2 Thessalonians 3:11

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Instructions on Discipline and Workgenerated

10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
11Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
12We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
13But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

2 Thessalonians 3:11 addresses the issue of some church members who are not living disciplined lives. Paul emphasizes the importance of work and warns against idleness, which can lead to unnecessary interference in others' affairs. This aligns with his earlier command in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, where he states that those unwilling to work should not eat. The context highlights the need for personal responsibility and diligence within the community.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
11 Thessalonians 4:11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
21 Timothy 5:13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
31 Peter 4:15Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Wordgenerated

The word περιεργάζομαι is a present participle meaning to be busy with trivial matters or meddling in others' affairs. It is built from the prefix περί (around) and the root εργάζομαι (to work). This indicates an excessive involvement in the business of others, often at the expense of one's own responsibilities.

In this verse, it describes those who are not only idle but also engaging in unnecessary and disruptive activities within the community. Paul uses this term to emphasize the negative consequences of such behavior.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

The Berean Standard Bible translates the verse as 'Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.' This is echoed in the KJV and ASV, which use 'disorderly' to describe the lives of those mentioned.

However, the WEB opts for 'in rebellion,' highlighting a more active defiance against the expected behavior. The BBE describes them as 'uncontrolled,' emphasizing the lack of discipline in their actions.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb is ἀκούομεν, we hear, which governs the entire clause. It is followed by a subordinate clause that describes the subject, τινας, some, and their actions, which are detailed in further clauses.

The structure reveals a clear relationship between the act of hearing and the behavior being reported, with the participles περιπατοῦντας and ἐργαζομένους describing the state of those involved.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

περιεργάζομαι does not have a direct equivalent in the Septuagint, indicating a unique context in the New Testament for this term. The closest Hebrew root is עָבַד (to work), which emphasizes the concept of labor but lacks the connotation of meddling.

This absence suggests that Paul's usage of the term may reflect a cultural issue specific to the Thessalonian church rather than a broader biblical theme.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

2 Thessalonians 3:11 warns that some people in the church are living in a way that is undisciplined and are interfering in others' lives instead of working. Paul stresses the importance of being responsible and not being idle.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean to lead an undisciplined life?

Leading an undisciplined life means not adhering to responsibilities or proper conduct, which can lead to idleness and meddling in others' affairs.

Why does Paul emphasize work in this passage?

Paul emphasizes work to encourage personal responsibility and to prevent idleness, which can lead to negative behavior within the community.

How can being a busybody affect relationships?

Being a busybody can strain relationships by causing unnecessary conflict and disrupting harmony within the community.

What should the church do about those who are undisciplined?

The church should encourage those who are undisciplined to take responsibility for their actions and to engage in productive work.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to practice more discipline?
  2. How can I support others in my community to be responsible and productive?
  3. What are some consequences of being a busybody that I have witnessed?
  4. How can I encourage those around me to focus on their own responsibilities rather than interfering in others' lives?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early church Fathers comment on this verse to address issues of discipline and community behavior, providing insights into the application of Paul's teachings.

John ChrysostomHomily on 2 Thessalonians 5 c. 347–407
"For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies." This indeed he says here; but there, in the first Epistle, he says,
Early Church Fathers on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
Cyril of AlexandriaLETTERS 83.7 c. 376–444
There are some other men going about, as they say, pretending only to devote themselves to prayer and doing no work, making piety a pretext for cowardice and a means of gaining a living, but not thinking rightly.
Early Church Fathers on 2 Thessalonians 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on 2 Thessalonians 3:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For we hear that there are some,.... This is the reason of the order or command given in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 for withdrawing from disorderly persons.

Read John Gill on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Busybodies.

Read Robert Jamieson on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For we hear: the apostle gives the reason of this discourse he fell into about disorder, and commends, yea, commands, a remedy against it. He had heard of this disorderly walking, else his discourse might have been esteemed vain and needless. Reports are to obtain credit according to the quality of the person that makes them, his end therein, and probability of truth. He took notice of reports brought to him about the divisions that were at Corinth, . That there are some among you: and the persons that he here chargeth the report upon, are not all, but some only, and he nameth none; for as to the body of the church, he had confidence they did, and would do, the things he commanded, . And he…

Read Matthew Poole on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Ver. 11. Working not at all] But making religion a mask for idleness; whose whole life is to eat, and drink, and sleep, and sport, and sit, and talk and laugh themselves fat. These are an odious sort of Christians; a kind of vagrant people that, having little to do, are set to work by the devil; for idleness is the hour of temptation. Standing pools are full of vermin. Behemoth lieth in the fens, Job 40:21. But are busybodles] Nihil agentes, sed curiose satagentes: Not working at home, but over working abroad, though to no purpose or profit.

Read John Trapp on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) For we hear.—Explaining how St. Paul came to speak upon the topic at all. Hitherto he has only been giving directions, without saying why. News had been brought back, no doubt, by the bearers of the First Epistle. Walk among you disorderly.—A verbal repetition of 2 Thessalonians 3:6. It is not quite the same as “some among you which walk disorderly,” for the words “among you” represent the vague and various directions taken by those aimless feet, going about from house to house, workshop to workshop. Working not at all, but are busybodies.—This is what the disorderliness consists in, as we should have seen from 2 Thessalonians 3:10. There is a scornful play of words here in the Greek…

Read Charles John Ellicott on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 11. For we hear that there are some] It is very likely that St. Paul kept up some sort of correspondence with the Thessalonian Church; for he had heard every thing that concerned their state, and it was from this information that he wrote his second epistle. Disorderly] ατακτως. Out of their rank-not keeping their own place. Working not at all] Either lounging at home, or becoming religious gossips; μηδενεργαζομενους, doing nothing. Busybodies.] περιεργαζομενους. Doing every thing they should not do-impertinent meddlers with other people's business; prying into other people's circumstances and domestic affairs; magnifying or minifying, mistaking or underrating, every thing…

Read AdamClarke on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly] Rather, we hear of some walking, &c. It was not simply that the Apostle heard that there were such people at Thessalonica; he knew about them,—who they were, and how they were behaving. Further news had come since he wrote the First Epistle, in which he touched briefly, in mild and general terms, upon the subject (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14). Now he is compelled to single out the offenders and to address them with pointed censure. For similar allusions to reports from a distant Church, comp. 1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 10:18.He writes, “some which walk among you disorderly” (not “some among you…

Read Cambridge on 2 Thessalonians 3 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For we hear - It is not known in what way this was made known to Paul, whether by Timothy, or by some other one.

Read Albert Barnes on 2 Thessalonians 3 →

The verse in English, compared — 16 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.

NETBNew English Translation2006

For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

RVARevised Version, American1894

For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

For we heare, that there are some which walke among you inordinately, and worke not at all, but are busie bodies.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

For we hear that [there are] some walking among you disorderly, not working at all, but busybodies.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

for we hear of certain walking among you disorderly, nothing working, but over working,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

for we hear of some walking disorderly among you, working nothing, but being busybodies,

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

For we hear that some walk idly among you. They do not work but are instead meddlers.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

For we have heard there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but curiously meddling.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

But now we hear that there are some lazy busybodies among you who don't work at all.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

For it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.

Word by word, the decisions they made

Ἀκούομενakouō We hear G191 2 different renderings
we hearASV BSB DBY FBV KJV LSV MSB NETB NWB RVA ULB WEB YLT
we have heardDRA
περιπατοῦνταςperipateō are walking G4043 3 different renderings
walkASV DRA KJV NWB RVA ULB WEB
walkingDBY LSV YLT
livingNETB
ἀτάκτως,ataktōs idly, G814 2 different renderings
disorderlyASV DBY DRA KJV LSV NWB RVA YLT
idlyULB
μηδὲνmēdeis not at all G3367 3 different renderings
not at allASV DRA GNV KJV NWB RVA
nothingBSB LSV MSB YLT
notDBY NETB ULB
ἐργαζομένουςergazomai working G2038 3 different renderings
workingDBY DRA KJV LSV NWB YLT
workASV BBE FBV RVA ULB WEB
doingNETB
περιεργαζομένους.¶periergazomai being busybodies. G4020 2 different renderings
being busybodiesBSB LSV MSB
meddlingDRA NETB

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the Nestle 1904 treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseγάρforclauseverbἀκούομενWe hearclause · objectsubjectτιναςsomeverbπεριπατοῦνταςare walkingprepositional phrase · adverbialἐνamongὑμῖνyouadverbialἀτάκτωςidlyclause · adverbialμηδὲνnot at allclauseverbἐργαζομένουςworkingἀλλὰbutclauseverbπεριεργαζομένουςbeing busybodies

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The earliest translations — Latin and Syriac

Every translation is an argument about meaning made by someone who had to commit to one. These two were made while the Greek was still a living language, and they are the oldest opinions we have about what this verse says.

Latin VulgateAD 382–405

Audivimus enim inter vos quosdam ambulare inquiete, nihil operantes, sed curiose agentes.

Jerome revised the Old Latin against the Greek from AD 382; the Latin west read this text for a thousand years.

Syriac Peshittaby AD 400

ܫܡܥܝܢܢ ܓܝܪ ܕܐܝܬ ܒܟܘܢ ܐܢܫܐ ܕܒܝܫ ܒܝܫ ܡܗܠܟܝܢ ܘܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܦܠܚܝܢ ܐܠܐ ܐܢ ܣܪܝܩܬܐ

The Bible of the Syriac-speaking church, in the language nearest to the Aramaic Jesus spoke.

Shown verse by verse rather than word by word: aligning a Greek word to its Latin or Syriac counterpart automatically would be guesswork, and a wrong alignment is worse than none.


The Greek editions compared — what the manuscripts actually say

Eight printed editions of the Greek New Testament, side by side. Where they agree the wording is settled; where a word is missing from an edition it is marked, so you can see the difference rather than take it on trust.

Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

The standard critical text of the New Testament.

Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993 · Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

The previous edition, still widely cited.

SBL Greek New Testament2010 · Michael Holmes

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

The Society of Biblical Literature edition, freely licensed.

Westcott–Hort1881 · Westcott and Hort

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

The edition that turned scholarship toward the earliest manuscripts.

Tregelles1857–1879 · Samuel Prideaux Tregelles

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

An independent critical text built from the oldest witnesses then known.

Tyndale House Greek NT2017 · Tyndale House, Cambridge

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

A recent critical edition following documentary evidence closely.

Byzantine majority text2018 · Robinson–Pierpont

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

The reading of the majority of surviving manuscripts.

Textus Receptus1550/1894 lineage

Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας περιπατοῦντας ἐν ὑμῖν ἀτάκτως, μηδὲν ἐργαζομένους ἀλλὰ περιεργαζομένους.¶

The printed tradition behind the King James Version.

Every witness on this verse all agree
Critical editions
Nestle-Aland 28th edition2012Nestle-Aland 27th edition1993SBL Greek New Testament2010Westcott–Hort1881Tregelles1857–1879Tyndale House Greek NT2017
Byzantine / Majority
Byzantine majority text2018
Received Text
Textus Receptus1550/1894

A witness that read differently would show its variant word here, marked.

Word by word, across the editions

Every edition agrees. All 8 printed editions — Nestle-Aland 28, Nestle-Aland 27, SBLGNT, Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Tyndale House 2017, Textus Receptus (KJV), Byzantine majority — carry every word of this verse, in the same order, with no difference that any translator would render differently.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Greek New Testament — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

2 Thessalonians 3:11ἀκούωWe hearWe hearἀκούωγάρforforγάρτὶςsomesomeτὶςπεριπατέωare walkingare walkingπεριπατέωἐνamongamongἐνσύyouyouσύἀτάκτωςidly,idly,ἀτάκτωςμηδείςnot at allnot at allμηδείςἐργάζομαιworkingworkingἐργάζομαιἀλλάbutbutἀλλάπεριεργάζομαιbeing busybbeing busybodieπεριεργάζομαιπερίPrep. abouPrep. about, coπερίἄτακτοςAdj disordAdj disorderly,ἄτακτοςἔργονn.n. work,n.n. work, laboἔργονεἰςPrep. intoPrep. into, in,εἰςἐκPrep. fromPrep. from out,ἐκἄλλοςAdj other,Adj other, anotἄλλοςοὖςn.n. the en.n. the earοὖςφωνήn.f. a soun.f. a sound, nφωνήὥσπερAdv just aAdv just as, asὥσπερτοιοῦτοςDem.pr. ofDem.pr. of suchτοιοῦτοςτολμάωv. I dare,v. I dare, enduτολμάωδοκέωv. I thinkv. I think, seeδοκέωκράβαττοςn.m. a bedn.m. a bed, matκράβαττοςχωλόςAdj lame, Adj lame, depriχωλόςσυναγωγήn.f. an asn.f. an assemblσυναγωγήἔρημοςAdj desertAdj deserted, dἔρημοςἀμήνHebr. veriHebr. verily, tἀμήνπαραγγέλλωv. I notifv. I notify, coπαραγγέλλω
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in 2 Thessalonians 3:11

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Greek lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. Imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, the full Liddell-Scott-Jones, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate LSJ, Robinson and Packard on the Greek, Webster and Cawdrey on the English the translators were using. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
Ἀκούομενakouō We hear G191 Verb · present · active · indicative · first person · plural
428× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
rarer in 2 Thessalonians than elsewhere in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To hear or listen, not just with our ears but also to understand and obey, as Jesus says in Mark 4:3 and Matthew 11:15. It involves paying attention to what is being said and responding accordingly.
Amplified meaning
have been informed, have learned
Tyndale gloss
to hear
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἀκούω, transliterated as akouo, means 'to hear' or 'to listen.' It covers a range of meanings from simply hearing sounds to understanding and obeying what is said. In the New Testament, it appears in various contexts, including commands to listen (e.g., Mk 4:3) and references to understanding (e.g., 1 Cor 14:2). The lexicons do not show significant disagreement.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἀκούω,

[in LXX chiefly for שׁמע;]

to hear, listen, attend, perceive by hearing, comprehend by hearing.

Intrans.: Mk 4:3 7:37, Ja 2:5, Re 2:7, al.; τ. ὠσίν, Mt 13:15(LXX); c. cogn. dat., ακοῇ ἀ. (v.s. ἀκοή), Mt 13:14, Ac 28:26(LXX); ὁ ἔχων ὦτα (οὖς) ἀκούειν, ἀκουσάτω, Mt 11:15, Mk 4:23, Re 2:7, al.

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἀκούω [on the use of the pres. in a pf. sense ef. W. 274 sq. (258); B. 203 (176)]; impf. ἤκουον ; fut. (in best Grk. usage) ἀκούσομαι, Jn. v. 25 RGL, 28 RGL; Acts iii. 22; vii. 37 RG; xvii. 32; [xxi. 22]; xxv. 22; xxviii. 28; [Ro. x. 14 Tdf.], and (a later form) ἀκούσω. Mt. xii. 19; xiii. 14, (both fr. the Sept.) ; [Jn. x. 16; xvi. 13 Tr WH mrg.; Acts xxviii. 26]; Ro. x. 14 ΓΒ 617; and T Tr WH in Jn. v. 25, 28, (ef. W.82 (79); B. 53 (46) [Veitch 5. v.]); [1 aor. ἤκουσα; Jn. iii. 32, ete.]; pf. ἀκήκοα; Pass.,[ pres. ἀκούομαι; 1 fut.axovaOncopar]; 1 aor. ἠκούσθην ; [fr. Hom. down]; tohear. I. absol. 1. tobe endowed with the faculty of hearing (not deaf): Mk. vii. 37; Lk. vii. 22; Mt.xi.5. 2. to attend to (use the faculty of hearing), consider what is or has been said. So in exhortations: ἀκούετε, Mk. iv. 3; ἀκούσατε, Jas. ii. 5; ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω, Mt. xi. 15; xiii. 9, [in both T…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ἀκούω. The verb is of course common enough, and needs little or no illustration, having few peculiarities. Its use for a judicial hearing (as Ac 2523) may be paralleled with P Tand οἷ (ii/A.p.) Kal [pé]x [pr] τούτου οὔπο ἠκούσθ[ημ]εν, and P Oxy VII. 1032 (A.p. 162), where the epistrategus endorses a petition with ἀκουσθήσεται. So in BGU IL. 511i? (= Chrest. 1. p. 26), an account written about A.D. 200 of a trial before Claudius, we have ἀκούει Κλαύδιος Καῖσα[ρ Σέβαστος ᾿Ισιδώρου] γυμνασιάρχου πόλεως ᾿Α[λεξανδρέων] κατὰ ᾿Αγρίππου βασιλέω[ς]. The last example will illustrate ἀκούειν with normal gen. of person: P Par 485 (B.C. 153) (= Witkowski*® p. 91) ἀκούσαντες . . τὰ περὶ σοῦ συνβεβηκότα will serve for accus. vez, and will also illustrate the common use with περί, since the phrase is a mixture of ἀκ. περὶ σοῦ and ἀκ. τά σοι συνβεβηκότα (Witk.).…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἀκούω (akouō) — to hear.

ἀκούω:

Epic dialect imperfect ᾰκουον[Refs 8th c.BC+]future ἀκούσομαι (active ἀκούσω first in [NT+4th c.BC+]aorist ἤκουσα, Epic dialect ᾰκουσα[Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect ἀκήκοα, Laconian dialect ἄκουκα[Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἤκουκα is a late form, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; later Ionic dialect ἀκήκουκα[Refs 3rd c.BC+]: pluperfect ἀκηκόειν[Refs 5th c.BC+]; old Attic dialect ἠκηκόη[Refs 5th c.BC+] —rare in middle, present (see. below [Refs]: Epic dialect imperfect ἀκούετο[Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist ἠκουσάμην[Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—passive, future ἀκουσθήσομαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἠκούσθην[Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἤκουσμαι[Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἀκήκουσμαι is uncertain in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: pluperfect ἤκουστο[Refs 4th c.BC+], (παρ-) [Refs 1st c.AD+]:—hear, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: properly with accusative of thing heard, genitive of person from whom it is heard, ταῦτα Καλυψοῦς ἤκουσα[Refs…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἀκούω

akouo

a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience

(of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be

reported, understand.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἀκούω

v.

I hear, listen

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἀκούω akouō 428x

some list the future active as a middle deponent, ἀκούσομαι, to hear; to hearken, listen to, Mk. 4:3; Lk. 19:48; to heed, obey, Mt. 18:15; Acts 4:19; to understand, 1 Cor. 14:2; to take in or admit to mental acceptance, Mk. 4:33; Jn. 8:43, 47

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀκούω Root ΑΚΟϜ to hear, Hom., etc. —Construct., properly, c. acc. of thing heard, gen. of pers. from whom it is heard, ταῦτα Καλυψοῦς ἤκουσα Od.; the gen. pers. may be omitted, ἀκήκοας λόγον Soph., or the acc. rei, ἄκουε τοῦ θανόντος id. Soph.:—often however c. gen. rei, to have hearing of a thing.

c. gen. objecti, to hear of, hear tell of, ἀκ. πατρός Od.; so c. acc., Od.:—so, ἀκ. περί τινος.

the pers. from whom the thing is heard takes a prep., ἀκούειν τι ἀπό, ἔκ, παρά, πρός τινος, Il., attic

to know by hearsay, εἴ που ἀκούεις Od.; so Plat., etc.

absol. to hearken, give ear, to begin a proclamation, ἀκούετε λεώι hear, O people.

to listen to, give ear to, Il.

to obey, c. gen., or more rarely c. dat., id. Il.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAI-1P — Verb · present · active · indicative · first person · plural
present active indicative — an action in progress.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAI-1P Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: Indicative Person: first Number: Plural

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
20%having heard
having heard20% · 88×hearing10% · 45×hear9% · 39×i heard7% · 31×heard6% · 28×you have heard4% · 18×he should hear4% · 16×you hear2% · 9×other renderings37% · 161×

435 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 90 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb89%adverbial11%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 428 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
ὁράωI see, look uponαὐτόςβλέπωI look, see
Article the
πᾶςall, the whole, καίand, even, also,εἰμίI am, exist
ὅς
ἀκούωI hear, listenπᾶςall, the whole, λόγοςa word, speech,
δέbut, on the other ha
Article theὅτανwhen, whensoeverὡςas, like as, how
οὖςthe ear
ἔχωI have, hold, poArticle the
ἀκούωWe hear428×
what comes after →
Article the
λόγοςa word, speech, μαθητήςa learner, disciπερί
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theοὐNegβλέπωI look, see
δέbut, on the other ha
Article theοὗτοςὅτιthat, since, bec
ὅτιthat, since, because
εἶπονI say, speakἸησοῦςJesusἔρχομαιI come, go
αὐτός
καίand, even, also,πολύςmuch, many, ofteσυζητέωI seek together,

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἀκούω · 428× in the New Testament
Acts Luke Matthew John Revelation Mark 1 John Hebrews Ephesians Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Timothy

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament23 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 515 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas The Epistle of Barnabas Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 2.16c. AD 40

ὅταν οὖν λέγῃ „ἰδεῖν τί καλέσει", ἄκουε ἴσον τῷ, διὰ τί καλέσει καὶ προσκαλέσεται καὶ ἀσπάσεται τούτων ἕκαστον ὁ νοῦς·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.184c. AD 75–95

καὶ ὁ μὲν ταῦτʼ ἀκούσας θυσίαν προσφέρει τῷ θεῷ κελευσθεὶς ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 7.3c. AD 100

ἀκούσατε, πῶς περὶ τούτου πεφανέρωκαν οἱ ἱερεῖς τοῦ ναοῦ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
6th c. AD 2nd c. AD 5th c. AD 7th c. AD 3rd c. AD
P.Lond. 7 2011Pharbaithos (Arsinoites)244 BC

r Παταικίων Ζήνωνι χαίρειν. ἀκηκόαμεν παρὰ Πύρρου τοὺς αἰπόλους ἀναχωρεῖν. τὸν μὲν οὖν Λιμναῖον ἔφη ἤδη ἀπεληλυθέναι, Δημήτριον δὲ

P.Cair. Zen. 3 59368Memphis (?)242 BC

ϛ ἔτους τινὰ δὲ ἐν τῶι Μεμφίτηι, ἃ εἶχεν Παμῆς καὶ Ἀμεννεύς, οὓς νῦν ἀκούομεν μεταγηγοχέναι εἰς τὸν Ἡρακλεοπολίτην ἄνευ ἡμῶν, Ἀμμώνιος δʼ ὁ οἰκονόμος ἀπαγήοχεν αὐτοὺς καὶ τὰ

P.Grenf. 2 36Pathyris96 BC

ἡμῖν κακὸν ἐποίησεν ἀλλʼ ἐκ τῶν ἐναντίων ἐπιμεμέληται, περὶ ὧν, ἐὰν αἱρῆτε, γράψατέ μοι. ἠκούσαμεν τὸν μῦν καταβεβρωκέναι τὸν σπόρον. καλῶς ἡμῖν ὦδε, ἢ ἐν Διοσπόλει ἐὰν αἱρῆσθε, πυρὸν

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
γάρgar for G1063 Conjunction
1,038× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Thessalonians as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
For is a word used to explain or give a reason, often introducing a justification or clarification, as seen in Matthew 4:18 and Romans 7:1. It's a conjunction that connects ideas and provides additional information.
Tyndale gloss
for
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word γάρ (gar) is a coordinating particle primarily used to introduce reasons or explanations, similar to 'for' in English. It can serve various functions, including causal, explicative, and conclusive, and is often placed after the first word in a clause. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts that clarify or justify preceding statements, aligning with its classical usage.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

γάρ,

co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα,

verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.;

explicative and epexegetic: Mt 4:18 19:12, Mk 1:16 5:42 16:4, Lk 11:30, Ro 7:1, I Co 16:5, al.

Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mt 9:5 27:23, Lk 9:25 22:27, Jo 9:30, Ac 8:31 16:37 19:35,

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

γάρ, a conjunction, which ace. to its composition, γέ and dpa (i. 4. ἄρ), is properly a particle of affirmation and conclusion, denoting truly therefore, verily as the case stands, “ the thing is first aflirmed by the particle yé, and then is referred to what precedes by the force of the particle dpa” (Klotz ad Devar. ii. 1, p. 232; οἵ. Kiihner ii. p. 724; [Jelf § 786; W. 445 (415) sq-]). Now since by a new affirmation not infrequently the reason and nature of something previously mentioned are set forth, it comes to pass that, by the use of this particle, either the reason and cause of a foregoing statement is added, whence arises the causal or argumentative force of the particle, for (Lat. nam, enim; Germ. denn) ; or some previous declaration is explained, whence γάρ takes on an ex plicative force: YP Sor, the fact is, namely (Lat. videlicet, Germ. ndmilich). Thus the force of the…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

γάρ (gar) — for.

γάρ

(γε, ἄρα), causal conjunction, used alone or with other Particles.

I. introducing the reason or cause of what precedes, for, τῷ γὰρ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θῆκε θεὰ λευκώλενος Ἥρη· κήδετο γ. Δαναῶν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but frequently in explanation of that which is implied in the preceding clause, πολλάων πολίων κατέλυσε κάρηνα.. τοῦ γὰρ κράτος ἐστὶ μέγιστον [Refs]

I. b in simple explanations, especially after a Pronoun or demonstrative adjective, ἀλλὰ τόδ᾽ αἰνὸν ἄχος κραδίην καὶ θυμὸν ἱκάνει· Ἕκτωρ γ. ποτε φήσει [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὃ δὲ δεινότατον.. ὁ Ζεὺς γ... [Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently in introducing proofs or examples, μαρτύριον δέ· Δήλου γ. καθαιρομένης.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τεκμήριον δέ· οὔτε γ. Λακεδαιμόνιοι.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; in full, τεκμήριον δὲ…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

γάρ

gar

a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument,

explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as,

because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then,

therefore, verily, what, why, yet.

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

γάρ

Cj.

for

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

γάρ gar 1x

for; it is, however, frequently used with an ellipsis of the clause to which it has reference, and its force must then be variously expressed: Mt. 15:27; 27:23, et al.; it is also sometimes epexegetic, or introductory of an intimated detail of circumstances, now, then, Mt. 1:18

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

γάρ for, Lat. enim, and like it, regularly placed after the first word of a sentence: to introduce the reason:

ARGUMENTATIVE, to introduce the reason for a statement, which usually precedes:—when it precedes the statement, it may be rendered since, as, Ἀτρείδη, πολλοὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσιν Ἀχαιοί, χρὴ πόλεμον παῦσαι Il.

the statement of which γάρ gives the reason may be omitted, οὐ γάρ τί μοι Ζεὺς ἦν ὁ κηρύξας τάδε [yes], for it was not Zeus, etc., Soph.; ἔστι γὰρ οὕτω [yes], for so it is, i. e. yes certainly, Plat.; οἵδ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ εἰσί: τοῦτο γάρ σε δήξεται [I say this], for it will sting thee, Eur.: —in Conditional Propositions, where the Condition is omitted, it may be transl. for otherwise, else, οὐ γὰρ ἄν με ἔπεμπον πάλιν, (sc. εἰ μὴ ἐπίστευον)…

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Conjunction
conjunction — it joins clauses, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

CONJ CONJunction or conjunctive particle

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for (ki (conjunction), le, from 'el (preposition), and various other words. In the New Testament also the words are various, chiefly gar, kai gar, hoti (conjunctions); anti apo eis dia (accusative), epi (dative and accusative), peri (genitive), pros (genitive and accusative), huper (genitive) (prepositions)): the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version give in many cases more literal or more accurate renderings than those in the King James Version.

In the New Testament the most important preps. from a doctrinal point of view are anti, "face to face," "over against," "instead," "on behalf of," peri, "around," "about," "concerning," huper, "over," "on behalf of." The first has been claimed as stating the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice as contrasted with huper and peri, more frequently used of it. But, although anti in the New Testament often means…

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
97%for
for97% · 1050×other renderings3% · 33×

1,083 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 11 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 1,038 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
Article the
αὐτόςἐγώσύ
οὐNeg
οὐδείςno one, none, noαὐτόςλαλέωI speak, say
εἰμίI am, exist
θάλασσαthe sea, lakeλυπέωI pain, grieve, καθεύδωI sleep, am slee
οὗτος
εἰςαὐτόςδιά
καίand, even, also, nam
εἰμίI am, existκύριοςlord, Lord, mastἐγώ
γάρfor1038×
what comes after →
Article the
πατήρfather, Father, θεόςGod, a godArticle the
εἰμίI am, exist
Article theσύἐν
σύ
ὅτιthat, since, becἐνοὐNeg
αὐτός
Article theοὗτοςλέγωI say, speak
ὅτιthat, since, because
Article theδιάἐν

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceγάρ · 1,038× in the New Testament
Romans Matthew 1 Corinthians Luke Hebrews Acts 2 Corinthians John Mark Galatians 1 Thessalonians Revelation

1 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 4c. AD 40

καὶ γὰρ λόγον καὶ ἀκοὴν ὑπερβάλλει μείζω καὶ σεμνότερα ὄντα ἢ ὡς θνητοῦ τινος ὀργάνοις ἐναρμοσθῆναι.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.2c. AD 75–95

τινὲς μὲν γὰρ ἐπιδεικνύμενοι λόγων δεινότητα καὶ τὴν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς θηρευόμενοι δόξαν ἐπὶ τοῦτο τῆς παιδείας τὸ μέρος ὁρμῶσιν, ἄλλοι δὲ χάριν ἐκείνοις φέροντες, περὶ ὧν τὴν ἀναγραφὴν εἶναι συμβέβηκε, τὸν εἰς αὐτὴν πόνον καὶ παρὰ δύναμιν ὑπέστησαν·

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.7c. AD 100

ἐγνώρισεν γὰρ ἡμῖν ὁ δεσπότης διὰ τῶν προφητῶν τὰ παρεληλυθότα καὶ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων δοὺς ἀπαρχὰς ἡμῖν γεύσεως, ὧν τὰ καθ̓ ἕκαστα βλέποντες ἐνεργούμενα, καθὼς ἐλάλησεν, ὀφείλομεν πλουσιώτερον καὶ ὑψηλότερον προσάγειν τῷ φόβῳ αὐτοῦ.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
3rd c. BC 2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 6th c. AD

ἀποκαταστῆναι , ἔτι καὶ νῦν καλῶς ποιήσεις παρακαλῶν σαυτὸν καὶ τοὺς παρʼ ἡμῶν· προσπέπτωκεν γὰρ Παῶν ἀναπλεῖν ἐν τῶι Τῦβι μηνὶ μετὰ δυνάμεων ἱκανῶν πρὸς τὸ καταστεῖλαι τοὺς ἐν

P.Grenf. 1 37Thebais109 BC

ἀλλʼ ἀποστερέσαι … ησας ἀλλά … τας κατὰ κοινόν … ἐπίσκεψιν ποιησάσθαι. … τούτων γὰρ γενομένων ἐσόμεθα βεβοηθημένοι ὑφʼ ὑμῶν. ἔρρωσθε. ἔτους θ Φαρμοῦθι κζ, ἐπιλέγματος ἀναγνωσθέντος τοῦ ὑπομνήματος

P.Bad. 2 16Pathyris89 BC

ποιήσετε συνγεινόμενοι εἰς τοῦτον τόπον ἐν ἀσφαλείαι ὑπάρχοντα συντηρηθῆναι τοῦτον τῶι κυρίωι βασιλεῖ· οὕτω γὰρ πράσσοντες καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὰ πράγματα εὔνοιαν διατηροῦντες … ε … παρὰ τῶν ἐπάνω

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
τιναςtis some G5100 Indefinite pronoun · accusative · plural · masculine
529× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Thessalonians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This pronoun refers to a person or thing in a general sense, as seen in Luke 9:49 and John 11:1. It can mean someone, anyone, or anything. This term is often used to describe an unspecified individual or object.
Amplified meaning
certain ones, individuals
Tyndale gloss
one
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

τὶς is an enclitic indefinite pronoun meaning 'someone' or 'something.' It can refer to a certain person or object and appears in both singular and plural forms, such as τινός and τινες. The New Testament uses it in various contexts, including Luke 9:49 and Acts 5:25. It is related to the interrogative pronoun τίς, indicating its flexible use in questions and statements.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

τις, neut., τι, gen., τινός,

enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε.

As subst.,

one, a certain one: Lk 9:49, Jo 11:1, Ac 5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Lk 13:1, Ac 15:1, Ro 3:8, al.

someone, anyone, something, anything: Mt 12:29, Mk 9:30, Lk 8:46, Jo 2:25, Ac 17:25, Ro…

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

τὶς, τὶ. ἘΣ what follows, εἰ καί lays less emphasis upon it; although it is evident that εἰ καί can often be substituted for καὶ ei.” Cf. Herm. Vig. p. 829 sq.; W. 444 (413); Ellic. on Phil. ii. 17; Schmalfeld, Griech. Syntax, § 41; Paley, Grk. Particles, p. 31]. 8. εἰ μή, a. in a conditional protasis, with the same sequence of moods and tenses as the simple εἰ, see 1. above, if not, unless, except, [W. 477 (444) sqq.; B. 345 (297)]: Mt. xxiv. 22; Jn. ix. 33; | xv. 22, 24; Ro. vii. 7, ete. b. it serves, with the entire. following sentence, to limit or correct what has just been said, only, save that, (Lat. nisi quod), [B. 359 (308) ]: Mk. vi. 5; 1 Co. vii. 17 (where Paul by the addition εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ κτλ. strives to prevent any one in applying what had been said a little while before, viz. οὐ δεδούλωται . . ἐν τοιούτοις to his own case, from going too far) ; in ironical answers, unless…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

τις (indef. pron.), ‘* someone, something’’: P Vat ΑἸ (B.c. 168) (= UPZi. p. 303) πᾶς τις πειρᾶται. . ., P Lond 421° (B.C. 168) (= Selections, p. 10) εἰς πᾶν τι ἐληλυθυῖα διὰ, τὴν τοῦ σίτου τιμήν, ‘having come to the last extremity because of the high price of corn,’’ P Oxy IV. 7421° (B.c. 2) ἐάν τι δύνῃ... δὸς ἐργασίαν, “if you can, give your attention to it’’ (Edd.), 2d. I. 120% (iv/a.D.) τινα ὁρῶντα αἱαυτὸν (/. ἑαυτὸν) ἐν δυστυχίᾳ, ““α man finding himself in adversity,’ 13 ἀποστῖλόν pot τινα ἢ Γοῦνθον ἢ ᾿Αμμώνιον, “send someone to me, either Gunthus or Ammonius” (Edd.). P Oxy VI. 937°" (ili/A.D.) γ]ράψον ἐκεῖ TO kat’ εἶδος ὅτι τι kal τι εἴληφας is translated by the editors ‘* write the list there, that you have received so and so.” They 3) ες remark that it is simpler to take τι καί τι as analogous to τὸ καὶ τό than ‘‘to take τί kal τί as an indirect interrogative, ὅτι being…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

τις (tis) — one.

τις,

τι, Indef. pronoun any one, any thing, enclitic through all cases (for exceptions see below):—but τί; τί; Interrog. pronoun who? what?, oxytone in the monosyllable cases, paroxytone in the others:—Dialectal forms: [Refs 5th c.AD+] σις (si se) [Refs 4th c.AD+] σις (with ?? for σ) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Thess. κις [Refs], neuter κι in διεκί, ποκκί (which see); neuter plural Doric dialect σά, Boeotian dialect τά, Aeolic dialect dative τίω, τίοισι (see. infr. B). (I.-[Refs 5th c.BC+] q[uglide]i-, cf. Latin quis, quid, etc.; for σά, τά, see at {ἄσσα}, σά μά; with τέο (see. infr. B) cf. OSlav. genitive česo)

__A Indef. pronoun τις, τι, genitive Ionic dialect τεο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; more frequently τευ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Trag. and Attic dialect του [Refs 5th c.BC+]; του is rare after [NT+4th…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

τὶς

tis

an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind

of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he

(every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, -

thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith,

whom(-soever), whose(-soever).

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

τις, τι

Indef.pr.

any one, some one

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

τις tis 534x

enclitic, indefinite pronoun, a certain one, someone, Mt. 12:47; pl. some, certain, several, Lk. 8:2; Acts 9:19; 2 Pet. 3:16; one, a person, Mt. 12:29; Lk. 14:8; Jn. 6:50; combined with the name of an individual, one, Mk. 15:21; as it were in a manner, a kind of, Heb. 10:27; Jas. 1:18; any whatever, Read the full entry →

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Indef-APM — Indefinite pronoun · accusative · plural · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

X-APM Part of Speech: indefinite pronoun Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
27%anyone
anyone27% · 144×some19% · 102×certain17% · 93×anything9% · 48×any9% · 47×one6% · 34×someone4% · 19×something3% · 18×other renderings7% · 37×

542 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 35 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
subject66%object20%adverbial9%predicate3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 530 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
εἰCond
καίand, even, also,αὐτόςὅτιthat, since, bec
δέbut, on the other ha
εἰCondεἰμίI am, existλέγωI say, speak
ἐάνCond
καίand, even, also,λέγωI say, speakἐγώ
μήNeg
ἵναin order that, sἐάνCondβλέπωI look, see
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςΦαρισαῖοςa Phariseeὁδόςa way, road, jou
τὶςsome529×
what comes after →
Article the
γραμματεύςa scribe, town-cμαθητήςa learner, disciἀπό
σύ
λέγωI say, speakπλανάωI lead astray, dἐρωτάωI ask, question,
αὐτός
ἐκὁράωI see, look uponἀπό
ἐκ
αὐτόςArticle theἐγώ
εἰμίI am, exist
ἐνπλούσιοςrichὑδρωπικόςafflicted with d

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceτὶς · 529× in the New Testament
Acts Luke John 1 Corinthians Mark 2 Corinthians Hebrews Matthew 1 Timothy Romans James Revelation

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 121 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 4c. AD 40

καὶ γὰρ λόγον καὶ ἀκοὴν ὑπερβάλλει μείζω καὶ σεμνότερα ὄντα ἢ ὡς θνητοῦ τινος ὀργάνοις ἐναρμοσθῆναι.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.argc. AD 75–95

ὅτι λιμοῦ τὴν Χαναναίαν καταλαβόντος εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἀπῆρε καὶ διατρίψας ἐν αὐτῇ τινα χρόνον ὑπέστρεψεν ὀπίσω.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 2.5c. AD 100

πλήρης εἰμὶ ὁλοκαυτωμάτων, καὶ στέαρ ἀρνῶν καὶ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων οὐ βούλομαι, οὐδ̓ ἂν ἔρχησθε ὀφθῆναί μοι, τίς γὰρ ἐξεζήτησεν ταῦτα ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν;

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. BC 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 6th c. AD

ἂν ὦσι γείτονες πάντοθεν· μὴ ἐξέστω δὲ τῷ καθόλου ἐπὶ τὴν διαθήκην ταύτην ἄλλῳ τινὶ ἐπέρχεσθαι, εἰ δὲ μὴ ἄκυρον ἔστω καὶ προσαποτεισάτω ὁ ἐπιφέρων ὕστερον … ἄλλον τῆς

P.Cair. Cat. 10364 descr.Pathyris126 BC–102 BC

προγεγραμμένου ἵππου, καὶ μὴ ἐπελεύσεσθαί σοι ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ. ἐὰν δὲ ἐπέλθωμεν ἢ ἄλλος τις ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἥ τʼ ἔφοδος ἄκυρος ἔσται καὶ προσαποτείσομέν σοι χαλκοῦ τάλαντα πέντε.

BGU 6 1260Pathyris102 BC

σημαινομένης ἀρούρης μιᾶς , καὶ μὴ ἐπελεύσασθαι Νεχθανοῦπιν καὶ τοὺς τούτου υἱοὺς μηδʼ ἄλλον τινὰ τῶν παρʼ αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὸν Πετεαρσεμθεία μηδʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον τινὰ τῶν παρʼ αὐτοῦ περὶ

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
περιπατοῦνταςperipateō are walking G4043 Verb · present · active · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
95× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Thessalonians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to walk or live in a certain way, like following Jesus. In John 1:36, it describes walking behind Jesus as a disciple. It emphasizes a way of life or behavior.
Amplified meaning
living, walking
Tyndale gloss
to walk
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

περιπατέω means to walk or to conduct oneself, often used metaphorically to describe how one lives or behaves. It is derived from the components meaning 'around' and 'to tread.' The New Testament uses it in various contexts, including physical walking (e.g., Matthew 9:5) and ethical living (e.g., Ephesians 4:1). There is a note of variation in how lexicons emphasize its metaphorical use, particularly in relation to living a certain way.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

περι-πατέω, -ῶ,

[in LXX chiefly for הלךְ pi., hith.;]

to walk: absol., Mt 9:5, Mk 5:42, Lk 5:23, Jo 1:36; c. pred., γυμνός, Re 16:15; ἐπάνω Lk 11:44; διά, c. gen., Re 21:24; ἐν, Mk 11:27 12:38, Jo 7:1 11:54, Re 2:1, al.; ἐν τ. σκοτίᾳ, fig., Jo 8:12 12:35, I Jo 1:6, 7 2:11; ἐπί, c. gen., Mt 14:26; id. c. dat., Mt 14:25, 29; μετά, Jo 6:66, Read the full entry →

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

περι-πατέω, -@; impf. 2 pers. sing. περιεπάτεις, 3 pers. περιεπάτει, plur. περιεπάτουν; fut. περιπατήσω ; 1 aor. περιἐπάτησα; plupf. 3 pers. sing. περιεπεπατήκει (Acts xiv. 8 Rec.*"), and without the augm. (cf. W. § 12,9; [B. 33 (29) ]) περιπεπατήκει (ibid. Rec." Grsb.) ; Sept. for 727; to walk; [walk about A. V. 1 Pet. ν. 8]; a. prop. (as in Arstph., Xen., Plat., Isocr., Joseph., Ael., al.) : absol., Mt. ix. 5; xi. 5; xv. 31; Mk. ii. 9 [Tdf. ὕπαγε]; v.42; viii. 24; xvi. 12; Lk. v. 23; vii. 22; xxiv. 17; Jn.i. 36; v. 8 sq. 11 sq.; xi. 9sq.; Acts iii. 6, 8sq.12; xiv. 8,10; 1 Pet. v. 8; Rev. ix. 20; i.q. to make one’s way, make progress, in fig. dise. equiv. to to make a due use of opportunities, Jn. xii. 35°. with additions: περιπ. γυμνός, Rev. xvi. 15; ἐπάνω (τινός), Lk. xi. 44; διά w. gen. of the thing, Rey. xxi. 24 [G LT Tr WH]; ἐν w. dat. of place, i.q. to frequent, stay in, a place…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

περιπατέω. On the ethical use of this verb ‘‘ conduct my life,’’ corres sponding to the Heb. 304, see Proleg. p. 11. For the literal meaning ‘‘ walk,’’ ‘“‘go about,’”’ cf. BGU III. 846° (ii/A.D.) (= Selections, p. 94) σαπρῶς παιριπατῶ (/. περιπατῶ), “1 am going about in a disgraceful state,’’ P Fay 126? (ii/ili A.D.) περ[]πατοῦντός pov σὺν τῷ πατρί, and BGU II. 380!8 (iii/A.D.) περπατῶ (Δ περιπατῶ) μετὰ οὗ ἐὰν εὕρω. In P Lond 9811} (iv/A.D.) (= III. p. 242, Ολγεςί. I. p. 7157) περιοδεύομεν Kal περιπατοῦμεν νυκτῆμαρ, the words are addressed apparently by subordinate church officials to a bishop: see Ghedini Le¢tere, p. 170f. See further, for an interesting parallel to Rev 31, Kazbel 3872! (ILI. fere saeculi)— ὃ κτώμενος δὲ πολλὰ μὴ τρυφῶν [σ]ὺν τοῖς φίλοις οὗτος τέ[θ]νηκε περιπατῶν καὶ ζῇ νεκρ[οὔ βίον. , TrEPLTFOLE@ In Menander ’Emutp. 12 δίκας λέγοντες περιπατεῖτε, the verb is almost =…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

περιπατέω (peripateō) — to walk.

περιπᾰτ-έω,

walk up and down, as in a cloister, opposed to βαδίζειν (take a walk), ἐν ταῖς στοαῖς [Refs 4th c.BC+]; walk about, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περιπατεῖται ἡ ὁδός the road is for walking on, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: with accusative, traverse, ὅλην τὴν Αἴγυπτον [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

2. walk about while teaching, discourse, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. ἐς τοὺς ἀκροωμένους dispute, argue with them, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

3. metaphorically, walk, i.e. live, [NT+1st c.BC+]

Strong's Greek Dictionary

περιπατέω

peripateo

from 4012 and 3961; to tread all around, i.e. walk at large

(especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport

oneself, follow (as a companion or votary):--go, be occupied with,

walk (about).

see GREEK for 4012

see GREEK for 3961

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

περιπατέω

v.

I walk, conduct my life

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

περιπατέω peripateō 95x

pluperfect, περι[ε]πεπατήκει (3 sg), to walk, walk about, Mt. 9:5; 11:5; 14:25, 26, 29; to rove, roam, 1 Pet. 5:8; with μετά, to accompany, follow, Jn. 6:66; Rev. 3:4; to walk, frequent a locality, Jn. 7:1; 11:54; from the Hebrew, to maintain a certain walk of life and conduct, Gal. 5:16; Eph. 2:10

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

περιπατέω fut. ήσω περίπατος to walk up and down, to walk about, Ar., Xen.: generally, to walk, Plat., etc.

metaph. to walk, i. e. live, NTest.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PAP-APM — Verb · present · active · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PAP-APM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: Active Mood: Participle Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Nave's Topical Bible

→ With God

According to his commands De 5:33; Ps 1; Jer 7:23

In his ways De 28:9; Jos 22:5

In the old paths Jer 6:16

As taught by him 1Ki 8:36; Isa 2:3; 30:21

Uprightly Pr 2:7

In his statutes and judgments Eze 37:24

In newness of life Ro 6:4

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
38%walking
walking38% · 36×walk16% · 15×do walk9% · 9×walked4% · 4×may walk3% · 3×we may walk3% · 3×do walk?3% · 3×walking?2% · 2×other renderings22% · 21×

96 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 26 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb99%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 95 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
σύἐγείρωI wake, arouse, αὐτός
αὐτός
ἐνπρόςἐκ
Article the
ἄνθρωποςa man, one of thκαίand, even, also,ποιέωI do, make
σύ
μηκέτιNegκαίand, even, also,δεῖit is necessary,
χωλόςlame, deprived of a
καίand, even, also,ἀναβλέπωI look up, recov
περιπατέωare walking95×
what comes after →
καίand, even, also, nam
τυφλόςblindἀσπασμόςa greeting, saluἵστημιI cause to stand
ἐν
Article theστολήa long robeπανουργίαcunning, craftin
Article the
ἸησοῦςJesusμαθητήςa learner, disciκλῆσιςa calling, summo
ἐπί
Article the
μήNeg
κῶμοςa feasting, reveArticle theὡςas, like as, how

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceπεριπατέω · 95× in the New Testament
John Mark Acts Ephesians Matthew 1 John 2 Corinthians Luke Revelation 1 Thessalonians Colossians Romans
Across the New Testament20 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 15 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
The Shepherd of Hermas Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Epistle of Barnabas Polycarp
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 2.16c. AD 40

τὸ „τί“ πολλάκις τίθεμεν ἀντὶ τοῦ „διὰ τί“, οἷον τί λέλουσαι, τί περιπατεῖς, τί διαλέγῃ, πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα ἀντὶ τοῦ „διὰ τί“.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 7.130c. AD 75–95

θεασάμενος γὰρ δείλης ὀψίας ἀπὸ τοῦ στέγους τῶν βασιλείων, ἐν ᾧ περιπατεῖν κατʼ ἐκεῖνο τῆς ὥρας ἦν ἔθος, γυναῖκα λουομένην ἐν τῇ αὑτῆς οἰκίᾳ ψυχρῷ ὕδατι καλλίστην τὸ εἶδος καὶ πασῶν διαφέρουσαν, ὄνομα αὐτῇ ἦν Βεεθσαβή, ἡττᾶται τοῦ κάλλους τῆς…

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 10.11c. AD 100

ὅτι ὁ δίκαιος καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τῷ κόσμῳ περιπατεῖ καὶ τὸν ἅγιον αἰῶνα ἐκδέχεται.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 6th c. AD 1st c. BC 4th c. AD
BGU 16 2558Herakleopolites13 BC

κα, ἅπερ καὶ Βάρβαρος ὁ ἡγεμων … … , ὅτι μηδενὶ ἐν φαινόλῃ περιπατεῖν ἐν τοῖς νομοῖς πλὴν στρατευομένοις ἔξεστιν. ὃς δὲ ἐὰν παρὰ ταῦτα ποιήσῃ, τοῦ ἡγεμόνος

O.Did. 400DidymoiAD 120–AD 125

Ποταμίωνι τοῖς κυρίοις πλεῖστα χαίρειν· γινώσκειν σε θέλω ὅτι τὸ κοράσιον … οὐκ εὐτόνηκε περιπατεῖν δύο βήματα. ἐγὼ περιπεπάτηκα ἑπτὰ μίλια ὡσαύτως περιπατεῖ δύο μίλια καὶ ἕστακε ὁ ὀνηλάτης

τὴν Ἀραβίαν εἰς τὸ πέρα ε βαρβάρους καὶ δύο καμήλους ὑδρευομένους παρὰ ποταμὸν καὶ περιπατοῦντας εἰς τὰ κάτω μέρη· διὸ ἔγραψε τῇ κάτω ῥίπᾳ αὐτοὺς φυλάσσειν. ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι.

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
ἐνen among G1722 Preposition
2,743× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Thessalonians as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word is a preposition that means in, on, or among something. It's used in many places, like Matthew 7:3 and Luke 7:37, to describe a location or relationship. It can also mean by, with, or during.
Tyndale gloss
in/on/among
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The most frequent preposition in the New Testament, 2,752 occurrences. In, on, at, among, within — its force comes almost entirely from the word it is attached to. What it does here is put the events inside a community rather than at a distance: they were fulfilled among us.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἐν,

prep, (the most freq. of all in NT), c. dat. (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, c. abl.).

Of place, c. dat. rei, pers., in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Lk 7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mt 7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mt 12:40; τ. ὄρει, II Pe 1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Re 3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Ro 8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν , Lk 1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Ga 3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mt 12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103)…

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἐν Χριστῷ, ἐν Χριστῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ, ἐν κυρίῳ, (οἴ. Fritzsche, Com. on Rom. vol. ii. p. 82 544.; W. 389 (364); Weiss, Bibl. Theol. des N. T. §§ 84 b., 149 c.), ingrafied as it were in Christ, in fellowship and union with Christ, with the Lord: Ro. iii. 24; vi. 11, 23; viii. 39; 1Co.i.4; 2 Co. iii. 14; Gal. ii. 4; iii. 14, 26, 28; v. 6; Eph.i. 3 [Rec. om. ἐν]; ii. 6 sq. 10,13; 1 Tim.i.14; 2 Tim.i. 1,13; ii-1; 1 Pet. iii. 16; v.10; στήκειν ἐν κυρίῳ, Phil. iv. 1; iva εὑρεθῶ ἐν αὐτῷ, that I may be found (by God and Christ) most intimately united to him, Phil. iii. 9; εἶναι ἐν Χριστῷ "Inc. 1 Co. i. 30; οἱ ἐν Xp. "Ina. Ro. viii. 1; 1 Pet. v. 14; κοιμᾶσθαι ἐν Χριστῷ, θνήσκειν ἐν κυρίῳ, to fall asleep, to die, mindful of relationship to Christ and confiding in it [W. u.s.], 1 Co. xv. 18; Rey. xiv. 13. Since such union with Christ is the basis on which actions and virtues rest, the expression is…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ἐν 210 contract—time of Augustus) ἱμάτια γυναικεῖα ἐν apyv(plov) δραχμαῖς ἑκατόν, P Oxy IV. 7247 (A.D. 155) ἐξ ὧν ἔσχες τὴν πρώτην δόσιν ἐν δραχμαῖς τεσσαράκοντα, 70. I. 565 (A.D. 211) δανειζομένη. .. ἀργύριον ἔντοκον ἐν δραχμαῖς ἑξακισχειλίαις, and P Grenf II. 778 (iii/iv a.p.) (=Selections, Pp. 120) το]ὺς μισθοὺς. . ὄντας ἐν δραχμαῖς τριακοσίαις τεσσαράκοντα. Similar are P Oxy IV. 7084 (a.p. 188) yopou . . ἐν (1vpod)(apraBats) ’B, BGU 1. 724 (a.p. 191) ἐξέκοψαν πλεῖστον τόπον ἐν ἀρούραις πέντε: with which may be compared Eph 2!° τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, “consisting in.” In P Lond 9215 (ii/iii a.p.) (ΞΞ 111. P- 134) γεγονέναι ἐν ἀμπέλῳ = ‘to be planted with vines.” A predicative use of ἐν is seen in P Hib I. 421° (B.c. 262) δώσομεν Λευκίωι ἐν ὀφειλήματι, ‘asa debt,” P Petr I. 1215 (cf. II. p. 22) ὅσα δὲ ᾿Αξιοθέα προσενήνεγκται ἐμ φερνῆι, “ἐᾷς dowry,” and P Tebt I. 120 135…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἐν (en) — in/on/among.

ἐν,

poetry ἐνί, εἰν, εἰνί [Refs 8th c.BC+], forms used by Epic dialect and Lyric Poets as the metre requires, but only as falsa lectio in Trag., εἰν [Refs 5th c.BC+] ἰν [Refs]

__PREP. WITH DAT. AND ACC. Radical sense, in, into.

__A WITH DAT.

__A.I OF PLACE,

__A.I.1 in, νήσῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; with names of cities or islands, as ἐν Ἀθήνῃς, ἐν Τροίῃ, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; where ἐν is used, it = in the district of.., ὲν Ἐλευσῖνι [Refs] in my arms, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐν αὑτῷ εἶναι to be in one's senses, be oneself, ἔτ᾽ ἐν σαυτῷ (variant -τοῦ) γενοῦ [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__A.I.1.b ἐν τοῖς ἰχθύσιν in the fish-market, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so ἐν τοῖν δυοῖν ὀβολοῖν ἐθεώρουν ἄν in the two-obol seats, [Refs 4th…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἐν

en

a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or

state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or

constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519

and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, +

almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+

all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to,

-wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly,

one, X quickly,

X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on),

through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while,

with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same

import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate

direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different)

preposition.

see GREEK for 1519

see GREEK for 1537

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἐν

Prep.

in, on, among

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἐν en 2x

followed by the dat., in, Mt. 8:6; Mk. 12:26; Rev. 6:6,; upon, Lk. 8:32; among, Mt. 11:11; before, in the presence of, Mk. 8:38; in the sight, estimation of, 1 Cor. 14:11; before, judicially, 1 Cor. 6:2; in, of state, occupation, habit, Mt. 21:22; Lk. 7:25; Rom. 4:10; in the case of, Read the full entry →

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐν

e)nprepe)ni/prep ei)nprep ei)ni/prep in, among. c. dat.

Lat. in.

PREP. WITH DAT.:

OF PLACE

in, ἐν νήσῳ, ἐν Τροίῃ, etc., Hom., etc.:—elliptic, ἐν Ἀλκινόοιο (sc. οἴκῳ) Od.; εἰν Ἀΐδαο Il.; ἐν παιδοτρίβου at the school of the training master, Ar.

in, upon, ἐν οὔρεσι Hom., etc.

in the number of, amongst, ἐν Δαναοῖς, etc., Hom.; and with Verbs of ruling, ἄρχειν, ἀνάσσειν ἐν πολλοῖς to be first or lord among many, i. e. over them, id. Hom.; cf. ὁ, τό B. III. 3.

in one's hands, within one's reach or power, Lat. penes, Hom., etc.; ἐν σοὶ γάρ ἐσμεν Soph.; ἐν τῷ θεῷ τὸ τέλος ἦν Dem.

in respect of, ἐν γήρᾳ in point of age, Soph.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
preposition — its sense depends on the case of the word it governs.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

PREP PREPosition

English usagewhat the translators’ English meant
Webster's Dictionary (1828), Webster's Unabridged (1913), Webster's Dictionary (1806)

AMONG',

AMONGST', preposition [Gr. See Mingle.]

1. In a general or primitive sense, mixed or mingled with; as tares among wheat.

2. Conjoined or associated with, or making part of the number.

Blessed art thou among women. Luke 1:1.

3. Of the number; as, there is not one among a thousand, possessing the like qualities.

{ A‐mong″ , A‐mongst″ , } prep. [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge, among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the ending -st see Amidst. See Mingle.] 1. Mixed or mingled; surrounded by.

They heard,

And from his presence hid themselves among

The thickest trees.

Milton.

2. Conjoined, or associated with, or making part of the number of; in the number or class of.

Blessed art thou among women.

Luke i. 28.

3. Expressing a relation of dispersion, distribution, etc.; also, a relation of reciprocal action.

What news among the merchants?

Shak.

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
79%in
in79% · 2226×with5% · 135×among5% · 132×by4% · 112×on3% · 72×other renderings4% · 116×other renderings1% · 40×

2,833 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 36 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial82%predicate11%object3%subject3%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 2,743 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
Article the
καίand, even, also,πᾶςall, the whole, σύ
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςσύεἰμίI am, exist
αὐτός
καίand, even, also,λέγωI say, speakδέbut, on the othe
εἰμίI am, exist
Article theκαίand, even, also,οὐNeg
ἐγώ
μετάπατήρfather, Father, εἰς
ἐνamong2743×
what comes after →
Article the
οὐρανόςthe sky, the heaἡμέραa dayκαρδίαthe heart, inner
αὐτός
καίand, even, also,Article theμένωI remain, abide
σύ
εἰμίI am, existμένωI remain, abideκαίand, even, also,
ὅς
καίand, even, also,εἰμίI am, existArticle the
πᾶςall, the whole, ever
Article theτόποςa placeσοφίαwisdom

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἐν · 2,743× in the New Testament
Luke Matthew Acts John Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Revelation Mark Ephesians Colossians 1 John

3 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
ὑμῖνsu you G4771 Personal pronoun · second person · dative · plural
2,892× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Thessalonians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This Greek word means 'you' and is used to address someone directly, like in John 1:30 and Matthew 26:64. It's a way to emphasize or contrast the person being spoken to. The KJV Bible translates it as 'thou'.
Tyndale gloss
you
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

σύ is the second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you' in Greek. It has various forms: genitive σοῦ, dative σοί, and accusative σέ. The word can be used for emphasis or contrast, particularly in the New Testament, as seen in verses like Matthew 26:64. It also appears in various dialects and has enclitic forms.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

σύ,

pron. of 2nd pers.,

thou, you, gen., σοῦ, dat., σοί, acc., σέ, pl., ὑμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς (enclitic in oblique cases sing., except after prep. (BL, §48, 3), though πρὸς σέ occurs in Mt 25:39). Nom. for emphasis or contrast: Jo 1:30, 42 4:10 5:33, 39, 44, Ac 4:7, Eph 5:32; so also perhaps σὺ εἶπας, Mt 26:64, al. (M, Pr., 86); before voc., Mt 2:6, Lk 1:76, Jo 17:5, al.; sometimes without emphasis (M, Pr., 85f.), as also

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

σύ, pron. of the second pers. (Dor. and Aeol. τύ, Boeot. Tov), gen. σοῦ, dat. σοί, ace. σέ (which oblique cases are enclitic, unless a preposition precede; yet πρός σε is written [uniformly in Ree. (exe. Mt. xxvi. 18), in Grsb. (exe. Jn. xxi. 22, 23), in Treg. (exc. Mt. xxvi. 18; Acts xxiii. 30), in Lchm. (exe. Mt. xxvi.18; Jn. xvii. 11, 13; xxi. 22, 23; Acts xxiii. 30), in Tdf. (exe. Mt. xxvi. 18; Lk. i. 19; Jn. xvii. 11, 13; Jn. xxi. 22; Acts xxiii. 18, 30; 1 Tim. iii. 14; Tit. iii. 12); also by WH in Mt. xxv. 39], see ἐγώ, 2; Lipsius, Grammat. Untersuch. p. 62 sq. [W. §6, 3; B. 31 (27)]); plur. ὑμεῖς, εἴς. : Lat. tu, ete., vos, ete.; thou, ete., ye,ete. The nominatives ov and ὑμεῖς are expressed for emphasis — before a vocative, as σὺ Βηθλεέμ, Mt. ii. 6; σὺ παιδίον (Leian. dial. deor. 2, 1), Lk. i. 76; add, Jn. xvii. 5; Acts i. 24; 1 Tim. vi. 11, etc.; ὑμεῖς of Φαρισαῖοι, Lk. xi. 39…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

σύ (su) — you.

σύ [ῠ],

thou: pronoun of the second person:—Epic dialect nominative τύνη [ῡ] [Refs 8th c.BC+] (Laconian dialect τούνη [Refs 5th c.AD+]; Aeolic dialect σύ [Refs 7th c.BC+]; Doric dialect τύ [ῠ] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Boeotian dialect τού [short syllable] [Refs 6th c.BC+] (also τούν [Refs]σύ, [Refs 8th c.BC+]—Gen. σοῦ, [Refs], elsewhere only Attic dialect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; enclitic σου, [Refs 8th c.BC+] (also in Lyric poetry, [Refs 8th c.BC+] (which also occurs in Lyric poetry, [Refs 7th c.BC+], and as enclitic σευ, [Refs 8th c.BC+], σεο (enclitic) [Refs] σευ (enclitic) [Refs]:—Doric dialect τεῦ, τευ, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; rarely τέο, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Boeotian dialect τεῦς [Refs 6th c.BC+]; Doric dialect τεοῦς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοι variant in [Refs]; enclitic τεος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; other Doric dialect forms are τίω, τίως, both [Refs 3rd c.BC+]—Dat. σοί, [Refs 8th c.BC+]…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

σύ

su

the person pronoun of the second person singular; thou:-- thou. See

also 4571, 4671, 4675; and for the plural 5209, 5210, 5213, 5216.

see GREEK for 4675

see GREEK for 4571

see GREEK for 4671

see GREEK for 5209

see GREEK for 5210

see GREEK for 5213

see GREEK for 5216

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

σύ, σοῦ, σοί, σέ

Pers.pr.

you

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

σύ sy 2x

you, gen., σοῦ, dat., σοί, acc., σέ, Mt. 1:20; 2:6

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Pron-2DP — Personal pronoun · second person · dative · plural
dative — to, for, with — the one it is done to or by.
Agrees with anything else marked plural.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

P-2DP Part of Speech: Personal pronoun Person: second Case: Dative Number: Plural

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
78%you
you78% · 2412×you yourselves7% · 221×you yourself5% · 168×your3% · 87×other renderings3% · 96×other renderings3% · 89×

3,073 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 37 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
subject28%object24%adverbial23%indirect object20%predicate5%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 2,892 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
λέγωI say, speak
ἀμήνHebrδέbut, on the otheἐγώ
καίand, even, also, nam
ἐγώοὕτωthus, so, in thiμήNeg
ἐν
Article theεἰμίI am, existγίνομαιI come into bein
πρός
ἔρχομαιI come, goἐγώπέμπωI send
δέbut, on the other ha
λέγωI say, speakπαρακαλέωI summon, entreaθέλωI will, wish, de
σύyou2892×
what comes after →
Article the
θεόςGod, a godἐνἁμαρτίαa sin
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theεἰρήνηpeace, peace of οὐNeg
ὅτιthat, since, because
Article theπᾶςall, the whole, οὐNeg
εἰμίI am, exist
Article theκαίand, even, also,ἐν
ἐν
Article theποῖοςIrgΧριστόςanointed, the Me

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceσύ · 2,892× in the New Testament
Matthew Luke John Acts Mark 2 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Romans 1 Thessalonians Revelation Hebrews Colossians

16 inflected forms — one of the commonest words in the New Testament. Full distribution →

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 450 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaAllegorical Interpretation of Genesis 1.48c. AD 40

„οὐ φυτεύσεις σεαυτῷ ἄλσος, πᾶν ξύλον παρὰ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ σου οὐ ποιήσεις σεαυτῷ“ (Deuter.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.101c. AD 75–95

παύσομαι δὲ τοῦ λοιποῦ μετὰ τοσαύτης ὀργῆς τὰς τιμωρίας ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀδικήμασιν εἰσπραττόμενος καὶ πολὺ μᾶλλον σοῦ παρακαλοῦντος.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.2c. AD 100

Μεγάλων μὲν ὄντων καὶ πλουσίων τῶν τοῦ θεοῦ δικαιωμάτων εἰς ὑμᾶς, ὑπέρ τι καὶ καθ̓ ὑπερβολὴν ὑπερευφραίνομαι ἐπὶ τοῖς μακαρίοις καὶ ἐνδόξοις ὑμῶν πνεύμασιν: οὕτως ἔμφυτον τῆς δωρεᾶς πνευματικῆς χάριν εἰλήφατε.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 6th c. AD 4th c. AD 3rd c. BC
P.Grenf. 1 35Ptolemais - Akko (Syrien)103 BC

τοῦ ἀποδοθῆι τὸν ἐπεσταλμένον ἡμῖν κατὰ μῆνα πυρὸν τοῖς παρʼ ἡμῶν. διʼ ἄλλων γεγράφαμεν ὑμῖν ὑπὲρ ὧν βουλόμεθα μηδεμιᾶς προσφωνήσεως προσπεπτωκυίας. ἑαυτῶν δὲ ἐπιμελόμενοι ἵνʼ ὑγιαίνητε, — ἔσμεν ἐν

P.Grenf. 1 32Pelusion103 BC

η Φατρήους καὶ … χαίρειν καὶ ἐρρωμένοις διευτυχεῖν. ἐρρώμεθα δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ὑμῶν τὴν ἀρίστην μνείαν ποιούμενοι παρὰ τοῖς ἐν Πηλουσίωι θεοῖς. καλῶς ποιήσεις διαλύσας Ἁρκοννῆσιν καὶ

P.Grenf. 1 41Thebais3 BC

παρὰ Πετεύριος διεθέντος μου ὑπάρξει σοι εἰς στέφανον χαλκοῦ τάλαντα δεκάπεντε, τάλαντα ιε. εὐτύχει .

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
ἀτάκτως,ataktōs idly, G814 Adverb
2× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Thessalonians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means acting idly or disorderly, describing someone who does things irregularly. It's used in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 and 3:11 to warn against being disorderly. The KJV translates it as 'disorderly'.
Amplified meaning
idly, disorderly
Tyndale gloss
idly
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἀτάκτως (i.e., *ataktōs*) is an adverb meaning 'disorderly' or 'irregularly.' It is derived from the root of ἄτακτος and is used in the New Testament, specifically in 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11, to describe behavior that is undisciplined or irresponsible. The entries indicate a range of meanings, including moral irregularity and lack of order.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

** ἀ-τάκτως,

adv.,

[in Sm.: IV Ki 9:20*;]

disorderly, irregularly: II Th 3:6, 11.†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἀτάκτως, adv., disorderly: 2 Th. 111. 6 ἀτάκτως περιπατεῖν, which is explained by the added καὶ μὴ κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ἣν παρέλαβε παρ᾽ ἡμῶν; cf. ibid. 11, where it is explained by μηδὲν ἐργαζόμενοι, ἀλλὰ περιεργαζόμενοι. (Often in Plato.)

Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἀτάκτως (ataktōs) — idly.

Included with: ἄτακτ-ος, ον,

not in battle-order, of troops, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. not at one's post, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II. undisciplined, disorderly, θόρυβος[Refs 5th c.BC+]; irregular, πυρετός[Refs 5th c.BC+]casual, [Refs]; of sensual excess, irregular, inordinate, ἡδοναί, Ἀφροδίτη, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in Music, without rhythm, μελῳδίαι[Refs 3rd c.AD+]; in Medicine texts, irregular, σφυγμός[Refs 2nd c.AD+]

II.2. uncivilized, lawless, βίος[Refs 5th c.BC+]

II.3. in Mathematics texts, ἄτακτα προβλήματα indeterminate, not admitting of a definite solution, [Refs 5th c.AD+]

__B adverb -τως in an irregular, disorderly manner, of troops, ἀ. καὶ οὐδενὶ κόσμῳ προσπίπτοντες[Refs 5th c.BC+]

__B.2 irregularly, of fevers, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἀτάκτως

ataktos

adverb from 813, irregularly (morally):--disorderly.

see GREEK for 813

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἀτάκτως

Adv

in a disorderly manner

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἀτάκτως ataktōs 2x

disorderly, irresponsible, 2 Thess. 3:6, 11*

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
adverb — it qualifies the verb, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

ADV ADVerb or adverb and particle combined

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
100%idly
idly100% · 2×

2 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
ἀδελφόςa brother
πᾶςall, the whole,
σύ
ἐν
ἀτάκτωςidly,
what comes after →
περιπατέωI walk, conduct my l
καίand, even, also,
μηδείςno one, nothing
ἐργάζομαιI word, trade, d

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἀτάκτως · 2× in the New Testament
2 Thessalonians
Across the New Testament1 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Clement of Rome Philo of Alexandria
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Sacrifices of Abel and Cain 45c. AD 40

τότε καὶ γίνεται ποιμὴν προβάτων, τῶν κατὰ ψυχὴν ἀλόγων δυνάμεων ἡνίοχός τε καὶ κυβερνήτης, οὐκ ἐῶν αὐτὰς ἀτάκτως φέρεσθαι καὶ πλημμελῶς δίχα ἐπιστάτου καὶ ἡγεμόνος, ἵνα μὴ καθάπερ τινὰ ἀπροστασίαστον καὶ ἀνεπιτρόπευτον ὀρφανίαν ὑποστάντες ἐρημίᾳ…

JosephusAgainst Apion 2.151c. AD 75–95

Μικρὸν οὖν ἀναλαβὼν τὸν λόγον τοῦτʼ ἂν εἴποιμι πρῶτον, ὅτι τῶν ἀνόμως καὶ ἀτάκτως βιούντων οἱ τάξεως καὶ νόμου κοινωνίας ἐπιθυμηταὶ γενόμενοι καὶ πρῶτοι κατάρξαντες εἰκότως ἂν ἡμερότητι καὶ φύσεως ἀρετῇ διενεγκεῖν μαρτυρηθεῖεν.

Clement of RomeFirst Clement 40.2c. AD 96

τάς τε προσφορὰς καὶ λειτουργίας ἐπιτελεῖσθαι, καὶ οὐκ εἰκῆ ἢ ἀτάκτως ἐκέλευσεν γίνεσθαι, ἀλλ̓ ὡρισμένοις καιροῖς καὶ ὥραις.

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
μηδὲνmēdeis not at all G3367 Adjective · accusative · singular · neuter
90× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Thessalonians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
Means nothing or no one, used in the Bible to emphasize the absence of something, like in Matthew 16:20 where Jesus tells his disciples to tell no one about him.
Amplified meaning
no thing, none
Tyndale gloss
nothing
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

μηδείς is built from μή (not) and εἷς (one), meaning no one or nothing. It appears frequently in the New Testament, often to emphasize absence or negation, as seen in verses like Matthew 8:4 and Acts 4:17. The lexicons do not present significant disagreement on its usage.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

μηδείς, -δεμία, -δέν

(and -θέν, Ac 27:33, a Hellenistic form; v. Bl., § 6, 7; Thackeray, Gr., 58),

related to οὐδείς as μή to οὐ,

no, none, no one; neut., nothing: Mt 16:20, Mk 5:43 6:8, Lk 3:14, Ac 8:24, Ro 13:8, al.; c. gen., Ac 4:17 24:23; neut. acc., μηδέν, adverbially, in no respect, Ac 10:20 11:12; as acc. obj. after verb, βλάπτειν, Lk 4:35; ὠφελεῖσθαι,

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

μηδείς, μηδεμία, μηδέν (and μηθέν, Acts xxvii. 33 LT Tr WH, —a form not infreq. fr. Aristot. on [found as early as B.C. 378, ef. Meisterhans, Gr. d. Att. Inschr. p. 73]; cf. Lob. ad Phryn. p. 181sq.; W. § 5, 1d. 11; [B. 28 (25)]; Kiihner § 187, 1 vol. i. 487 sq.), (fr. μηδέ and εἷς), [fr. Hom. down]; it is used either in connection with a noun, no, none, or absolutely, no one, not one, no man, neut. nothing, and in the same constructions as μή; accordingly a. with an imperative: μηδείς being the person to whom something is forbidden, 1 Co. iii. 18, 21; x. 24; Gal. vi.17; Eph. v. 6; Col. ii. 18; 1 Tim. iv.12; Tit. ii.15; Jas.i.13; 1Jn.iii.7; neut. μηδέν, 50. ἔστω [A. V. have thou nothing to do with etc.], Mt. xxvii. 19; μηδείς in the dat. or the acc. depending on the impv., Ro. xiii. 8; 1 Tim. v. 22; μηδέν (accusative), Lk. iii. 13; ix.3; μ. φοβοῦ, Rev. ii. 10 [here L Tr WH txt. μή]. b.…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

μηδείς. According to Thumb ( 7ε]16᾽1. p. 14) the forms μηθείς and οὐθείς appear in the whole Greek world from iv/B.c., and are in wide use at the beginning of the Christian Era, after which they gradually disappear, without leaving any trace in | B Lond’ 42%* (gic: MGr. Weare prepared, therefore, to find that the forms in θ are more frequent in the LXX than in the NT, where there are only a few examples of οὐθείς (principally in the Lucan writings), and only one of μηθείς, namely Ac 2733 according to NBA. A few exx. of μηθείς from the papyri will suffice—P Petr II. 11(1)® (mid. iii/B.c.) (= Selections, p- 7) εἰ δυνατόν ἐστιν kal μηθέν σε τῶν ἔργων κωλύει, ΚΕ it is possible and none of your work hinders you,’’ Part V.

Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

μηδείς (mēdeis) — nothing.

μηδείς, μηδεμίᾰ, μηδέν

(i.e. μηδὲ εἷς, μηδὲ μία, μηδὲ ἕν): feminine μηδὲ ἴα or μηδεΐα (or -έϊα) [Refs]:— not one, not even one, nobody (in neuter nothing), once in [Refs 8th c.BC+]

2. μηδὲ εἷς (so written) is found in Attic dialect Inscrr., as [Refs]not even one, μηδὲ ἕν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: frequently with an intervening Particle or preposition, μηδ᾽ ἂν ἕνα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μηδ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ἑνός, μηδ᾽ ὑπὸ μιᾶς, [Refs]

II. nobody, naught, good for naught, κἄμ᾽ ἴσον τῷ μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μηδέν or τὸ μηδέν as substantive, naught, nothing, κεἰ τὸ μ. ἐξερῶ [Refs]; μ. λέγειν to say what is naught, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of persons, τὸ μ. a good-for-nothing, τὸ μ. εἶναι, of a eunuch, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἧττον αὐτοῖς ἔνι ἢ τὸ μ., i.e. it is a mere…

Read the full entry →
Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

μηδείς, μηδεμία, μηδέν

Adj

no one, nothing

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

μηδείς mēdeis 90x

not one, none, no one, Mt. 8:4

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

μηδείς i. e. μηδὲ εἷς, μηδὲ μία, μηδὲ ἕν and not one, related to οὐδείς as μή to οὐ, Il., etc.; —rare in Pl., Xen.

μηδὲ εἷς, which (so written) is never elided even in attic, retained the first emphatic sense not even one, and often had a Particle between, as μηδ᾽ ἂν εἷς, or a prep., μηδ᾽ ἐξ ἑνός, μηδὲ περὶ ἑνός etc., Plat.

nobody, naught, good for naught, ὁ μηδείς Soph.; pl., οὐ γὰρ ἠξίου τοὺς μηδένας id. Soph.:— so, μηδέν or τὸ μηδέν often as Subst., naught, nothing, id. Soph.; μηδὲν λέγειν to say what is naught, Xen.; τοῦ μηδενὸς ἄξιος Hdt.; ἐς τὸ μηδὲν ἥκειν Eur.;—and of persons, τὸ μηδέν a good for naught, τὸ μηδὲν εἶναι of an eunuch, Hdt.; τὸ μ. ὄντας Soph.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj-ASN-N — Adjective · accusative · singular · neuter
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked singular neuter.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

A-ASN-N Part of Speech: Adjective Case: Accusative Number: Singular Gender: Neuter Negative

Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ol: Used in various combinations, and with different meanings.

(1) All along, "Weeping all along as he went" (Jer 41:6), i.e. throughout the whole way he went, feigning equal concern with the men from Shiloh, etc., for the destruction of the Temple, so as to put them off their guard.

(2) All in all, "That God may be all in all" (1Co 15:28, Greek: panta en pasin, "all things in all (persons and) things"). "The universe, with all it comprises, will wholly answer to God's will and reflect His mind" (Dummelow).

(3) All one, "It is all one" (Job 9:22), "it makes no difference whether I live or die."

(4) At all, "If thy father miss me at all" (1Sa 20:6), "in any way," "in the least."

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
40%nothing
nothing40% · 37×no one39% · 36×no5% · 5×not one5% · 5×not4% · 4×none2% · 2×other renderings3% · 3×

92 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 9 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
object44%subject24%indirect object18%adverbial11%predicate2%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 90 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
αὐτός
πρόςπαραγγέλλωI notify, commanλέγωI say, speak
ἵναin order that, so th
αὐτόςμαθητήςa learner, disciπολύςmuch, many, ofte
καίand, even, also, nam
πᾶςall, the whole, ὑπόδημαa sandalἸησοῦςJesus
ἐν
ὑστερέωI am lacking, faμηδείςno one, nothingἵναin order that, s
ὁράωI see, look upon, ex
ἸησοῦςJesusλέγωI say, speakαὐτός
μηδείςnot at all90×
what comes after →
λέγωI say, speak
ἀλλάbut, exceptArticle theὅτιthat, since, bec
σύ
καίand, even, also,ἀπατάωI deceive, lead παραλογίζομαιI deceive, begui
διακρίνωI distinguish, disce
ὅτιthat, since, becἔρχομαιI come, goArticle the
ἔχωI have, hold, posses
καίand, even, also,λέγωI say, speakἔτιstill, yet, even
γινώσκωI come to know, lear
οὗτος

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceμηδείς · 90× in the New Testament
Acts Luke Mark 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 1 Timothy Matthew Titus James Philippians Romans 1 Thessalonians
Across the New Testament22 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 21 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Josephus Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch Clement of Rome
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 21c. AD 40

οὗ χάριν τῆς ἀρίστης αὑτοῦ φύσεως οὐκ ἐφθόνησεν οὐσίᾳ μηδὲν ἐξ αὑτῆς ἐχούσῃ καλόν, δυναμένῃ δὲ πάντα γίνεσθαι.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.11c. AD 75–95

ὁ δὲ τῶν παρʼ ἡμῖν ἀρχιερέων οὐδενὸς ἀρετῇ δεύτερος Ἐλεάζαρος τῷ προειρημένῳ βασιλεῖ ταύτης ἀπολαῦσαι τῆς ὠφελείας οὐκ ἐφθόνησε πάντως ἀντειπὼν ἄν, εἰ μὴ πάτριον ἦν ἡμῖν τὸ μηδὲν ἔχειν τῶν καλῶν ἀπόρρητον.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 21.8c. AD 100

ἕως ἔτι τὸ καλὸν σκεῦός ἐστιν μεθ̓ ὑμῶν, μὴ ἐλλείπητε μηδενὶ ἑαυτῶν, ἀλλὰ συνεχῶς ἐκζητεῖτε ταῦτα καὶ ἀναπληροῦτε πᾶσαν ἐντολήν: ἔστιν γὰρ ἄξια.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 1st c. AD 2nd c. BC
BGU 6 1260Pathyris102 BC

ἐπελθὼν ἐπίτιμον παραχρῆμα χαλκοῦ τάλαντα ἓξ καὶ ἱερὰς βασιλεῦσι ἀργυρίου ἐπισήμου δραχμὰς ρκ καὶ μηθὲν ἧσσον κύριον εἶναι τὰ προγεγραμμένα. Ἑρμίας ὁ παρὰ Πανίσκου κεχρημάτικα

P.Grenf. 2 33Pathyris101 BC

τρισχιλίων τριακοσίων · καὶ μὴ ἐπελεύσεσθαι μήτʼ αὐτὸν Ψενενοῦπιν ἐπὶ τὸν Ἁρσιῆσιν μήτʼ ἄλλον μηδένα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ περὶ τοῦ διασαφουμένου μέρους γῆς τρόπῳ μηδενί. εἰ δὲ μή, ἀποτεισάτω Ἁρσιήσει

P.Adl. 14Pathyris101 BC

ἐνλιπὸν μοι ἄπρατον γῆς ἀρουρῶν γ, καὶ μὴ ἐπελεύσεσθαι μήτʼ αὐτὸν Κολλούθην μήδʼ ἄλλον μηδένα ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν Ὧρον μήδʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλον μηδένα τῶν παρʼ αὐτοῦ περὶ τῶν

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
ἐργαζομένουςergazomai working G2038 Verb · present · no voice stated · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
41× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Thessalonians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
This word means to work or labor, often implying physical or mental effort. In the Bible, it is used to describe various tasks, such as working for pay or trading. Jesus used it to teach about working for spiritual rewards.
Amplified meaning
working, laboring
Tyndale gloss
to work
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἐργάζομαι (i.e., *ergazomai*) means 'to work' or 'to labor.' It encompasses a range of activities, including manual labor, trade, and performing tasks for pay or reward. The New Testament uses it in various contexts, such as working in a vineyard (Mt 21:28) and doing good works (Col 3:23). The lexicons do not present any significant disagreement regarding its meanings.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἐργάζομαι

(< ἔργον),

[in LXX for עָבַד, פָּעַל, עָשָׂה, etc. ;]

intrans.,

to work, labour: Mt 21:28, Lk 13:14, Jo 5:17 9:4b, Ac 18:3, I Co 9:6, II Th 3:10-12; τ. χερσίν, I Co 4:12, I Th 4:11; νυκτὸς κ. ἡαέρας, I Th 2:9, II Th 3:8; of working for pay, Mt 21:28; for reward, Ro 4:4, 5;

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἐργάζομαι; depon. mid.; impf. εἰργαζόμην (ἠργαζόμην, Acts xviii. 3 LT Tr WH; [so elsewh. at times; this var. in augm. is found in the aor. also]; cf. W. § 12, 8; B. 33 (29 sq.); Steph. Thesaur. iii. 1970 e.; [Curtius, Das Verbum, i. 124; Cramer, Anecd. 4,412; Veitch s. v.]); 1 aor. εἰργασάμην (npyac. Mt. xxv. 16; [xxvi. 10]; Mk. Arey: ἑπτά, xiv. 6, in T WH, [add, 2 Jn. 8 WH and Hebr. xi. 33 T Tr WH; cf. reff. as above]); pf. εἴργασμαι, in a pass. sense [cf. W. § 38, 7e.], Jn. iii. 21, as often in Grk. writ. [ef. Veitch 5. v.]; (ἔργον) ; Sept. for oy3, ἽΞ»» sometimes for TW} ; 1. absol. a. to work, labor, do work: it is opp. to inactivity or idleness, Lk. xiii. 14; Jn. v.17; ix.4; 2 Th. iii. 10; with addition of ταῖς χερσί, 1 Co. iv. 12; 1 Th. iv. 11; with acc. of time: νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν, 2 Th. iii. 8 [but Ltxt.T Tr WH the gen., as in 1 Th. ii. 9 (see ἡμέρα, 1 a.); cf. W. § 30, 11 and…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ἐργάζομαι. P Petr II. 4(8)8 (B.c. 255-4) οὐδενὶ τρόπωι ἐργάζονται, P Tebt IE, 3844 (contract of apprenticeship—a.D. 10) παρε[ξόμεθά σοι τὸν] ἀδελφὸν. . .. ἐργαζόμενον κατὰ τὴν] γερδίιακὴν τέχνην, “we will produce our brother to work at the weaver’s trade” (Edd.), P Ryl II. 233? (ii/a.p.) ἡ ἔξοδος τῶν ἐργαζομένων πάντων, ‘the exit for all the | work-folk” (Edd.), P Lond 117779 (A.D. 113) (=TIII. p. 183) τῶν διὰ νυκτὸς ἐργασαμένων, P Meyer 207" (ist half iii/A.D.) ἐργαζέσθω Λουκιᾶς καὶ ζώτω ἐκ Tod μισθάρον (4—(ov) αὐτῆς (cf. 2 Th 315. Ἐἴργασται, ‘“‘ work has been done,” is very common in certificates granted for work done on embankments, as P Ryl II. 210% (A.D. 131) εἴργίασται) ὑπὲρ χωματικῶν ἔργων, so 70. 211°, 212° (both ii/A.p.), and P Fay 79° (A.D. 197). With the use of the verb = “‘perform” sacred rites, as in 1 Cor 93%, cf. the related ὀργιάζω = ‘‘celebrate mysteries” : see Boisacq…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἐργάζομαι (ergazomai) — to work.

ἐργάζομαι,

[Refs 8th c.BC+], etc., Cretan dialect ϝεργάδδομαι [Refs]: future -άσομαι [Refs 6th c.BC+], etc., Doric dialect [LXX+3rd c.BC+]: aorist εἰργασάμην, Ionic dialect [Refs 6th c.BC+]: perfect εἴργασμαι, Ionic dialect[Refs 5th c.BC+] —These tenses are used both in middle and passive significations: for other passive tenses, see below[Refs 4th c.BC+]; but this rule is often broken in later Papyrus, Inscrr., and codices:—work, labour, especially of husbandry, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of quarrymen, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις in the mines, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of birds working to get food, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of bees, [Refs]; of Hephaestus' self-acting bellows, [Refs 8th c.BC+] the matter works, i.e. goes on, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ ἀὴρ ἐργάζεται produces an effect [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; οὐχ ὁμοίως ἐργάσεται τὸ θερμόν…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἐργάζομαι

ergazomai

middle voice from 2041; to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by

implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.:--commit, do, labor

for, minister about, trade (by), work.

see GREEK for 2041

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἐργάζομαι

v.

I word, trade, do

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἐργάζομαι ergazomai 41x

intrans. to work, labor, Mt. 21:28; Lk. 13:14; to trade, traffic, do business, Mt. 25:16; Rev. 18:17; to act, exert one’s power, be active, Jn. 5:17; trans. to do, perform, commit, Mt. 26:10; Jn. 6:28; to be engaged in, occupied upon, 1 Cor. 9:13; Rev. 18:17; to acquire, gain by one’s labor, Jn. 6:27

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐργάζομαι ἔργον to work, labour, properly of husbandry, Hes., Thuc., etc.; but also of all manual labour, Od., Hdt.:—also of things, as Vulcan's bellows, Il.

trans. to work at, make, build, Od., attic

to do, perform, accomplish, Hom., attic:—c. dupl. acc. to do something to another, Hdt., etc.; κακὰ ἐργάζεσθαί τινα Soph., Thuc.

to work a material, χρυσὸν εἰργάζετο Od.; ἐργ. γῆν to work the land, Hdt.

to earn by working, χρήματα id. Hdt., attic

to work at, practise, Lat. exercere, τέχνην Plat.

absol. to work at a trade or business, to traffic, trade, Dem.

the perf. pass. εἴργασμαι is used in act. sense, as Hdt., Soph.; but also in pass. sense,

to be made or built, ἔργαστο τὸ τεῖχος Hdt.; ἐκ πέτρας εἰργασμένος Aesch., etc.

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PNP-APM — Verb · present · no voice stated · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PNP-APM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: middle or passive depoNent Mood: Participle Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
29%working
working29% · 12×work10% · 4×do work7% · 3×am working5% · 2×she did5% · 2×he was working2% · 1×doing2% · 1×does do2% · 1×other renderings37% · 15×

41 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 23 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
verb93%object5%subject2%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 41 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
καίand, even, also, nam
αὐτόςἴδιοςone’s own, priva
Article the
ἐγώπᾶςall, the whole,
ἔργονwork, labor, action,
καλόςbeautiful, good,ὅτιthat, since, bec
δεῖit is necessary, ine
ὅςἐγώ
μήNeg
δέbut, on the otheἐξουσίαpower, authority
ἐργάζομαιworking41×
what comes after →
Article the
ἔργονwork, labor, actἀγαθόςgoodἴδιοςone’s own, priva
ἐν
αὐτόςArticle theἐγώ
εἰς
ἐγώArticle the
δικαιοσύνηjustice, justness, r
δεκτόςacceptable, acceἐπιτυγχάνωI attain, obtain
ὡςas, like as, how, wh
κἀγώArticle the

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἐργάζομαι · 41× in the New Testament
John 1 Corinthians 2 Thessalonians Matthew Romans Acts 1 Thessalonians James 2 Corinthians 2 John 3 John Colossians
Across the New Testament18 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
The Hebrew behind itwhat the Septuagint translators were rendering

Counted over the 73 Old Testament verses where this Greek word stands: which Hebrew word keeps standing there too. A correspondence of verses rather than a word-by-word alignment, so read the percentage as strength of evidence, not as a claim about any single verse.

Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria The Shepherd of Hermas Josephus The Epistle of Barnabas
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 113c. AD 40

καὶ πελαγῶν ἐργάζονται τροπὰς ἐξαναχωρούντων ἢ παλιρροίαις χρωμένων·

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 5.129c. AD 75–95

καὶ οὕτως παυσάμενοι πάντες οἱ μὲν τοῦ κτείνειν οἱ δὲ κινδυνεύειν, ἐργάζεσθαι τὴν γῆν εὐσχόλουν.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 19.10c. AD 100

μνησθήσῃ ἡμέραν κρίσεως νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας, καὶ ἐκζητήσεις καθ̓ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν τὰ πρόσωπα τῶν ἁγίων, ἢ διὰ λόγου κοπιῶν καὶ πορευόμενος εἰς τὸ παρακαλέσαι καὶ μελετῶν εἰς τὸ σῶσαι ψυχὴν τῷ λόγῳ, ἢ διὰ τῶν χειρῶν σου ἐργάσῃ εἰς λύτρωσιν ἁμαρτιῶν σου.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
3rd c. BC 2nd c. AD 1st c. AD 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD

ἐρίων μνᾶς τρεισήμισυ , καθαρὸν δὲ ὅσον ἄν ποτε ἀποβῆι. τοῦτο ἀνοίσουσίν σοι οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι. ἀπέσταλκα δέ σοι καὶ τὸ καταλειφθὲν στρούθειον ἔρρωσο. ἔτους δ, Τῦβι ιδ.

P.Lond. 7 2063257 BC–229 BC

Πᾶις … ἀπέστειλάς μοι ἵνα ἐργ … ἀπολλύμενοί εἰσιν ἐργαζόμενοι … ων πᾶσαν χρείαν τοῖς ναυπηγοῖς … ἡμῖν Σπονδάτης ἀλλʼ ἢ … χρείαν οὐθέν

P.Athen.. 35Theadelphia (Arsinoites)AD 154

καὶ πωλεῖν καὶ Πετεσοῦχον ὡσαύτως δὲ παραστήσειν σὺν τοῖς προγεγραμμένοις τοὺς λοιποὺς ἁλιεῖς τοὺς ἐργαζομένους ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ δρυμῷ· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ οὕτω ἐργασώμεθα σὺν τοῖς λοιποῖς ἁλιεῦσιν, ἀποδώσομεν

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
ἀλλὰalla but G235 Conjunction
638× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
about as common in 2 Thessalonians as anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
But is a strong opposing word, used in Matthew 5:15 and John 7:16. It shows contrast or surprise, like in the phrase 'but God' in Romans 3:31.
Tyndale gloss
but
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word ἀλλά (alla) is an adversative particle, meaning 'but' or 'otherwise.' It is derived from the neuter plural of ἄλλος and is used to introduce opposition or contrast in sentences. In the New Testament, it often appears in contexts that involve negation or exceptions, such as in Matthew 5:15 and John 16:2. The lexicons note its stronger adversative force compared to δέ.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

ἀλλά (ἀλλ’ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146),

adversative particle,

stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Ro 3:31);

opposing a previous negation, but: οὐ (μὴ) . . . ἀ., Mt 5:15, 17 Mk 5:39, Jo 7:16, al.; rhetorically subordinating but not entirely negativing what precedes, οὐ . . . ἀ., not so much . . . as, Mk 9:37, Mt 10:20, Jo 12:44, al.; with ellipse of the negation, Mt 11:7-9

Read the full entry →
Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

ἀλλά, an adversative particle, derived from ἄλλα, neut. of the adj. ἄλλος, which was originally pronounced ἀλλός (cf. Klotz ad Dévar. ii. p. 1 sq.), hence properly, other things se. than those just mentioned. It differs from δέ, as the Lat. at and sed from autem, [ef. W. 441 sq. (411)]. 1. But. So related to the preceding words that it serves to introduce 1. an opposition to concessions; nevertheless, notwithstanding: Mt. xxiv. 6; Mk. xiii. 20; xiv. 28; Jn. xvi. 7, 20; Acts iv. 17; vii. 48; Ro. v. 14 sq.; x. 16; 1 Co. iv. 4; 2 Co. vii. 6; Phil. ii. 27 (ἀλλ᾽ ὁ θεός etc.), ete. 2. an objection: Jn. vii. 27; Ro. x. 18 sq.; 1 Co. xv. 35; Jas. ii. 18. 3. an exception: Lk. xxii. 53; Ro. iv. 2; 1 Co. viii. 7; xe 29: 4. a restriction: Jn. xi. 42; Gal. iv. 8; Mk. xiv. 36. 5. an ascensive transition or gradation, nay rather, yea moreover: Jn. xvi. 2; 2 Co. i. 9; esp. with καί added, Lk. xii. 7…

Read the full entry →
Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

ἀλλά. The closeness οἱ ἀλλά to πλήν appears in more uses than one. Armitage Robinson, Zp/estans, p. 205, has a note on a quasi-resumpltive use of ἀλλά in Eph 524 which is closely paralleled by that of πλήν in ver. 33. Then there are instances of ἀλλά = ‘‘except.” ‘This is clear where we have ἀλλ᾽ ἤ (as in 2 Cor 13%): thus P Petr 11. 9 (3)® (B.c. 24139) ὥστε μηθένα εἶναι ἐνταῦθα ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἡμᾶς, ‘ There is no one left here except ourselves” (Ed.), 2d. 46 (α)" (B.C. 209) καὶ μὴ ὑποκεῖσθαι πρὸς ἄλλο μηδὲν add’ ἢ τὴν mpoyeypap[μέν]ην ἐγγύην, “has not been pledged for any other purpose than the aforesaid security” (1α.), P Lond 89738 (a.p. 84) (=TIII. p. 207) ὃ μέντοιγε οὐ θέλων. ἀλλὰ ἢ ἀνάγκηι. In P Tebt I. το 419 (B.c. 92) μὴ ἐξέστω Φιλίσκωι γυναῖκα ἄλλην. μ γυ…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

ἀλλά (alla) — but.

ἀλλά,

conjunction, originally neuter plural of ἄλλος, otheruise: used adversatively to limit or oppose words, sentences, or clauses, stronger than δέ:

I. in simple oppositions, but,

I.1. after negative clauses, οὐ κακός, ἀλλ᾽ ἀγαθός[Refs 8th c.BC+]

I.1. b after a simple negative, ἦ παραφρονεῖ; οὔκ, ἀλλ᾽ ὕπνος μ᾽ ἔχει[Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.1. c frequently after οὐ μόνον, μὴ μόνον, with or without καί, οὐ μόνον ἅπαξ, ἀ. πολλάκις[Refs 5th c.BC+], either, not only.. but.., μὴ ὅτι ἰδιώτην τινά, ἀλλὰ τὸν μέγαν βασιλέα[Refs 5th c.BC+]; or, not only not.. but.., οὐχ ὅπως κωλυταὶ.. γενήσεσθε, ἀλλὰ καὶ.. περιόψεσθε[Refs 5th c.BC+]; the negative form is ἀλλ᾽ οὐδέ, μὴ ὅτι ὑπὲρ ἄλλου, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ δίκην εἴρηκα[Refs 4th…

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

ἀλλά

alla

neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially)

contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed,

nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.

see GREEK for 243

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

ἀλλά

Cj.

but, except

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

ἀλλά alla 638x

but; however; but still more; ἀλλάγε, at all events; ἀλλή, unless, except. Ἀλλά also serves to introduce a sentence with keenness and emphasis, Jn. 16:2; Rom. 6:5; 7:7; Phil. 3:8

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἀλλά Conjunct., properly neut. pl. of ἄλλος (with changed accent) otherwise, but, stronger than δέ:

to oppose single clauses, but, Lat. autem, the preceding clause being negat., οὐ μόνον ἅπαξ, ἀλλὰ πολλάκις Plat.; so, οὐχ (or μὴ) ὅτι, οὐχ (or μὴ) ὅπως, are followed by ἀλλά or ἀλλά καὶ . . . , not only . . . , but . . .

after a negative ἀλλά sometimes = ἀλλ᾽ ἤ, except, but, ἔπαισεν οὔτις ἀλλ᾽ ἐγώ Soph.

to oppose whole sentences, but, yet, Lat. at:— used by Hom., with imperat. or subj., to remonstrate, encourage, persuade, like Lat. tandem, ἀλλ᾽ ἴθι, ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε, ἀλλὰ ἴωμεν, Hom.

joined with other Particles, ἀλλ᾽ ἄρα, or, ἀλλ᾽ οὖν, but then, however, Hdt., etc.

ἀλλὰ γάρ, Lat. enimvero, but really, certainly, attic

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj — Conjunction
conjunction — it joins clauses, and never changes form.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

CONJ CONJunction or conjunctive particle

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
92%but
but92% · 591×instead2% · 15×other renderings4% · 25×other renderings2% · 12×

643 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 15 different ways. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

What it does in the sentencefrom the Nestle 1904 treebank
adverbial10%object6%predicate3%subject2%

Parsing tells you the form; the treebank tells you the job. Counted over all 638 occurrences — a word inside a phrase counts towards whatever that phrase is doing.

The phrases it lives inwhat stands either side of it, across the New Testament
← what comes before
αὐτός
οἶδαI know, rememberκατεργάζομαιI work out, prodἐπιγινώσκωI come to know,
σύ
λέγωI say, speakγράφωI writeἐν
ἐγώ
ἀπόκρατέωI lay hold of, oθέλημαwill, wish, desi
εἰμίI am, exist
οὐNegοὐδείςno one, none, noΜωϋσῆςMoses
θεόςGod, a god
Article theἄνομοςlawless, sinful,
ἀλλάbut638×
what comes after →
Article the
Article theπέμπωI sendθεόςGod, a god
καίand, even, also, nam
Article theπᾶςall, the whole, ἐν
οὐNeg
πᾶςall, the whole, ἐνδύναμαιI am powerful, a
ἐν
πᾶςall, the whole, Article theδύναμιςmight, power, ma
ἵναin order that, so th
φανερόωI make clear, viπληρόωI fill, fulfill,σῴζωI save, heal

branches are dictionary forms, so endings do not split one phrase into five; the number on a branch is how many times the New Testament takes that path

Concordanceἀλλά · 638× in the New Testament
John 1 Corinthians Romans 2 Corinthians Mark Matthew Luke Acts Galatians 1 Peter Hebrews Philippians

Every reference is on the Strong's page.

Across the New Testament27 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Outside the New Testamentthe same word in the Greek of its own century
Philo of Alexandria Josephus The Shepherd of Hermas Clement of Rome Ignatius of Antioch
Philo of AlexandriaOn the Creation of the World 5c. AD 40

οὐ μὴν διὰ τοῦθ’ ἡσυχαστέον, ἀλλ’ ἕνεκα τοῦ θεοφιλοῦς καὶ ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἐπιτολμητέον λέγειν, οἴκοθεν μὲν οὐδέν, ὀλίγα δ’ ἀντὶ πολλῶν, ἐφ’ ἃ τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην διάνοιαν φθάνειν εἰκὸς ἔρωτι καὶ πόθῳ σοφίας κατεσχημένην.

JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 1.1c. AD 75–95

Τοῖς τὰς ἱστορίας συγγράφειν βουλομένοις οὐ μίαν οὐδὲ τὴν αὐτὴν ὁρῶ τῆς σπουδῆς γινομένην αἰτίαν, ἀλλὰ πολλὰς καὶ πλεῖστον ἀλλήλων διαφερούσας.

The Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Barnabas 1.8c. AD 100

ἐγὼ δὲ οὐχ ὡς διδάσκαλος, ἀλλ̓ ὧς εἰς ἐξ ὑμῶν ὑποδείξω ὀλίγα, δἰ ὧν ἐν τοῖς παροῦσιν εὐφρανθήσεσθε.

In the everyday Greek (the secular world, not the church)letters, leases, receipts — nobody writing one is trying to sound biblical
2nd c. AD 3rd c. AD 4th c. AD 3rd c. BC 6th c. AD
P. Grenf. 1 21Pathyris127 BC

ἐπὶ Διονυσίου ἀγορανόμου ἐν τῶι ϛ ἔτους ἐπὶ τοῦ Φιλομήτορος, ἣ διασαφεῖ τά τε ἄλλα καὶ ἐπίτροπον Ἑρμ … φιλον ὄντα συγγενῆ κατέστησεν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκετικῶν σωμάτων δ

P.Grenf. 1 44Pathyris127 BC

ἐπὶ Διονυσίου ἀγορανόμου ἐν τῶι ϛ ἔτει ἐπὶ τοῦ Φιλομήτορος ἣ διασαφεῖ τά τε ἄλλα καὶ ἐπίτροπον Ἑρμ … φιλον ὄντα συγγενῆ κατέστησεν καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν οἰκετικῶν σωμάτων δ

P.Grenf. 1 37Thebais109 BC

νῦν οὐδενός … ς ἀξιοῦμεν … ἀνθρώπου ἀλόγως … ὀφείλει ἡμῖν διάφορα … θαι ἀλλʼ ἀποστερέσαι … ησας ἀλλά … τας κατὰ κοινόν … ἐπίσκεψιν ποιησάσθαι. … τούτων γὰρ

We hear for some are walking among you idly, not at all working but being busybodies.
περιεργαζομένους.¶periergazomai being busybodies. G4020 Verb · present · no voice stated · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
1× in the NT scale is logarithmic — ὁ, the commonest word, appears 19,867×
commoner in 2 Thessalonians than anywhere else in the New Testament
In plain English
Meaning
To be a busybody, meddling in other people's business, as warned against in 2 Thessalonians 3:11. This word means to bustle about or waste labor.
Amplified meaning
acting as, busy with, meddling, interfering
Tyndale gloss
be a busybody
Greek lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Greek word περιεργάζομαι (*periergazomai*) is built from the prefix περί (*peri*) meaning 'around' and the root εργάζομαι (*ergazomai*) meaning 'to work'. It generally refers to being a busybody or meddling in others' affairs, often implying excessive effort on trivial matters. The New Testament uses it in 2 Thessalonians 3:11, where it describes those who are overly involved in others' business.

Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon of the NT

** περι-εργάζομαι,

[in LXX: Wi 8:5 א1, Si 3:23*;]

to waste one's labour about a thing.

to be a busybody: II Th 3:11 (cf. Plat., Apol., 19 B).†

Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from a scan

περι-εργάζομαι ; (see περί, III. 2); to bustle about uselessly, to busy one’s self about trifling, needless, useless matters, (Sir. iii. 23; Hdt. 3, 46; Plat. apol. p. 19 b.; al.): used apparently of a person officiously inquisitive about others’ affairs [A. V. to be a busybody], 2 Th. iii. 11, as in Dem. p. 150, 24 [ef. p. 80, 4 etc. ].

Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary of the Greek Testament from a scan

περιεργάζομαι, ‘fam ἃ busybody”’ (2 Thess 311: cf. Sir 3224) : cf. PSI V. 4947 (B.C. 258-7) περὶ δὲ τῶν... . ᾿Αρχίου περιειργασάμην εἴς σε ἀπο. . wt Sais ἢ γράψηις, ‘the letter of the Emperor Claudius to the Alexandrines P Lond 19129 (A.D. 41) Kal ᾿Ιουδέοις δὲ ἄντικρυς κελεύωι μηδὲν πλήωι dv πρότερον ἔσχον περιεργάζεσϑαι, ‘and, on the other side, I bid the Jews not to busy themselves about anything beyond what they have held hitherto” (Bell), and P Giss I. 57° (vi/vii A.D.) καταξιώσῃ οὖν περιεργάσασθαι καὶ ποιῆσαι ἀποδοθῆναι τὰ γράμματα. Very noteworthy from the inscrr. is Sy// 633 (= 51042)15 (ii/iii A.D.) ὃς ἂν δὲ πολυπραγμονήσῃ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ περιεργάσηται, ἁμαρτίαν ὀφιλέτω Μηνὶ Τυράννωι. See also the magical citation s.v. περίεργος. As illustrating the meaning of the verb it is customary to quote Plato “120. 19 B, where it is said of Socrates in an Part VI. , TEPlLEeX@ accusatory…

Read the full entry →
Liddell-Scott-Jones, full edition

περιεργάζομαι (periergazomai) — be a busybody.

περιεργ-άζομαι,

future -εργάσομαι, περίεργος) take more pains than enough about a thing, waste one's labour on it, with participle, περιεργάζοντο δοκέοντες πρῶτοι ἀνθρώπων γεγονέναι [Refs 5th c.BC+] that they had overdone it with their 'sack' (i.e. need not have used the word), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τοῖς σημείοις overact one's part, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; π. τῷ οἰκιδίῳ go to a needless expense with his house, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; οὐδὲ περιείργασται ἐν αὐτοῖς nor has he lavished useless pains upon.., [Refs 2nd c.AD+] (but perfect in passive sense, πλέον οὐδὲν περιείρλασται τῷ Θέωνι [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

Read the full entry →
Strong's Greek Dictionary

περιεργάζομαι

periergazomai

from 4012 and 2038; to work all around, i.e. bustle about

(meddle):--be a busybody.

see GREEK for 4012

see GREEK for 2038

Dodson Greek-English Lexicon

περιεργάζομαι

v.

I overdo, am a busybody

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary

περιεργάζομαι periergazomai 1x

to do a thing with excessive or superfluous care; to be a busybody, 2 Thess. 3:11*

Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones

περιεργάζομαι fut. -εργάσομαι perf. -είργασμαι Dep.:

to take more pains than enough about a thing, to waste one's labour on it, with a part., Σωκράτης περιεργάζεται ζητῶν Plat.; περιείργασμαι περὶ τούτων εἰπών Dem.:—c. dat. modi, τῷ θυλάκῳ περιειργάσθαι that they had overdone it with their "sack" (i. e. need not have used the word), Hdt.:—perf. in pass. sense, οὐδὲ περιείργασται nor is there any superfluity, Luc.

to be a busybody, meddle with other folk's affairs, Dem.

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Verb-PNP-APM — Verb · present · no voice stated · participle · accusative · plural · masculine
accusative — the one it is done to — the object.
Agrees with anything else marked plural masculine.
Robinson's Morphological Analysis Codes

V-PNP-APM Part of Speech: Verb Tense: Present Voice: middle or passive depoNent Mood: Participle Case: Accusative Number: Plural Gender: Masculine

Into Englishhow translators actually render it
100%being busybodies
being busybodies100% · 1×

1 occurrences in the New Testament, rendered 1 different way. The commonest English word for it is not its meaning — it is one translator's decision, repeated.

Concordanceπεριεργάζομαι · 1× in the New Testament
2 Thessalonians
Across the New Testament1 of 27 books
MtMkLkJnAcRo1Co2CoGaEphPhpCol1Th2Th1Ti2TiTitPhmHebJas1Pe2Pe1Jn2Jn3JnJudRev
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate