Quick Definition
ἐνεργέω v. I work, accomplish, am operative
Strong's Definition
from 1756; to be active, efficient
KJV Usage: do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | ἐργάζομαι
42.3 · Perform, Do · Function
to function, to work, to be at work, practice to be engaged in some activity or function, with possible focus upon the energy or force involved
MAT 14:2 · MRK 6:14 · ROM 7:5 · 2CO 1:6 · 2CO 4:12 · GAL 5:6 · EPH 1:11 · EPH 2:2 · EPH 3:20 · PHP 2:13 · COL 1:29 · 1TH 2:13 · 2TH 2:7 · JAS 5:16
42.4 · Perform, Do · Function
to cause to function, to grant the ability to do to cause or make possible a particular function In many instances it is important to specify the references of πάντα and πᾶσιν in 1CO 12:6, so that one may translate ‘the same God gives the ability to everyone for his or her particular service.’
1 Any meaning involving ‘to cause to be’ implies some change in state, and therefore one could classify these meanings under Subdomain B Change of State in Domain 13 Be, Become, Exist, Happen. However, the focus seems to be primarily upon the changed state rather than upon the process of moving from one state to another. The fact that a change of state has taken place seems to be semantically incidental.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐνεργέω, τῶ; 1 aor. ἐνήργησα; pt. ἐνήργηκα (Eph. i. 20 LT WH txt. Trmrg.); (ἐνεργός [see evepyqs]) ; a intrans. to be operative, be at work, put forth power: foll. by ἐν with dat. of pers., Mt. xiv. 2; Mk. vi. 14; Eph. ii. 2; foll. by the dat. of advantage (dat. com.; [ef. Bp. Lghtft. on Gal. as below]), to work for one, aid one, εἴς τι, unto (the accomplishing of) something [W. 397 (371)]: εἰς ἀποστολήν; unto the assumption [or discharge] of the apostolic office; εἰς τὰ ἔθνη. i. 4: εἰς ἀποστολὴν [ef. W. § 66, 2d.; Β. 8 147, 8] τῶν ἐθνῶν, Gal. ii. 8. 2. trans. to effect: τί, 1 Co. xii. 11; [Eph. 1. 11]; ἐνεργεῖν ἐνέργειαν, Eph. i. 19 sq.; ri ἔν τινι, dat. of pers., 1 Co. xii. 6 [B. 124 (109)]; Gal. iii. 5; Phil. ii 13. 8. Mid., pres. ἐνεργοῦμαι ; [impf. ἐνηργούμην] ; (not found in the O. T. or in prof. auth., and in the N. T. used only by Paul and James [cf. Bp. Lghtft. on Gal. as below]); it is used only of things (cf. W. § 38,6 fin.; [B. 193 (167)]), to display one’s activity, show one’s self operative: [2 Th. ii. 7 (see μυστήριον, 2 fin.)]; foll. by ἐν with dat. of the thing, where, Ro. vii. 5; ἐν with dat. of the condition, 2 Co. i. 6; ἐν with dat. of pers. in whose mind a thing shows itself active, 2 Co. iv.12; Eph. iii. 20; Col.i. 29; 1 Th. ii. 13; foll. by διά with gen. of thing, Gal. ν. 6. In Jas. ν. 16 ἐνεργουμένη does not have the force of an adj., but gives the reason why the δέησις of a righteous man has outward success, viz. as due to the fact that it exhibits its activity [“works”] (inwardly), i. e. is solemn and earnest. (The act. [and pass.] in Grk. writ. fr. Aristot. down.) [Onthis word ef. (besides Bp. Lghtft. on Gal. ii. 8; v.6) Fritzsche and Vaughan on Ro. vii. 5; Ellic. on Gal. ii. 8.]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐνεργέω energeō 21x
to effect, 1 Cor. 12:6, 11; Gal. 3:5; Eph. 1:11; Phil. 2:13; to put into operation, Eph. 1:20; absol. to be active, Mt. 14:2; Mk. 6:14; Eph. 2:2; in NT to communicate energy and efficiency, Gal. 2:8; pass. or mid. to come into activity, be actively developed; to be active, be in operation, towards a result, 2 Cor. 4:12; 2 Thess. 2:7; to be an active power or principle, Rom. 7:5; 1 Thess. 2:12; instinct with activity; in action, operative, 2 Cor. 1:6; Gal. 5:6; Eph. 3:20; Col. 1:29; earnest, Jas. 5:16
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐνεργέω, -ῶ
[in LXX: Nu 8:24 B (עֲבֹדָה צְבׄא צָבָא ), Is 41:4, Pr 21:6 (פָּעַל), Pr 31:12 (גָּמַל), I Es 2:20, Wi 15:11 16:17 * ;] (for full lexical treatment, v. AR, Eph., 243 ff.);
intrans., to be at work or in action, to operate (opp. to ἀργέω): seq. ἐν, c. dat. pers., Mt 14:2, Mk 6:14, Eph 2:2; c. dat. pers., seq. εἰς (Lft., in l), Ga 2:8.
Trans., to work, effect, do: c. acc rei, I Co 12:11, Eph 1:11; id, seq. ἐν, c. dat. pers., I Co 12:6, Ga 3:5, Phl 2:13; ἐ. ἐνέργειαν, Eph 1:19, 20 Pass. (taken as mid. by Lft., Ga., 204 f.; but v. AR, Eph., l.c.; Milligan, Th., 28 f.; Mayor, Ja., 177 ff.), in NT, "always used of some principle or power at work" (Meyer), to be actuated, set in operation: II Th 2:7; seq. ἐν, Ro 7:5, II Co 1:6 4:12, Eph 3:20, Col 1:29, I Th 2:13; seq. διά, c. gen. rei, Ga 5:6; ἐνεργουμένη (M, Pr., 156), Ja 5:16 (Cremer, 262).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐνεργέω seems always to have the idea of effective working: see s.v. ἐνέργεια, and cf. Robinson 21. p. 241 ff. The verb has begun in later Greek to be followed by a direct obj. in the acc. (cf. Proleg. p. 65), as in P Oxy XII. 1567 (iv/A.D.) according to the editors’ alternative reading—et Oaels εὗρεν τοῦτο τὸ τετράποδων (1 ---δον), ἐνεργήτω (/.—eltw) τοῦτό μοι ἔξω. For the intrans. use see P Giss I. 784 (ii/a.p.) καλῶς δὲ ποιήσεις Kai περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐνεργήσασα, Vett. Val. p. 2267 ἐνεργήσει πρὸς τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον : cf. Gal 2, where, however, the trans. οἵ Πέτρῳ is uncertain, either “for Peter ’’ (RV), or perhaps better ‘‘by Peter” (Hort Christian Ecclesia, p. 85). On the possibility that in 1 Th 215 ἐνεργεῖται is pass. = ‘‘is set in operation,’ see Milligan Thess. ad /., and for a similar usage of ἐνεργουμένη in Jas 515 see Proleg. p. 156, ExpT xxvi. p. 381 ff. From the inscrr. we may cite Sy// 540!4 (B.c. 175-1) ἐνεργῶν τεχνίταις ἱκανοῖς κατὰ τὴν τέχνην, and 108 ποιῶν ὀρθὰ πάντα πρὸς κανόνα διηνεκῆ μὴ ἐλάττω τοῦ ἐνεργουμένου λίθου.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐνεργέω (energeō) — be active. ἐνεργ-έω, to be in action or activity, operate, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially of divine or supernatural action, frequently in NT., τινί, ἔν τινι, [NT]:—middle, [NT]
2. to be efficacious, of drugs, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be effective, of troops, ταῖς σαρίσαις [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, to be the object of action, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; also, to be actualized, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
II. transitive, effect, execute, πάντα κατὰ δύναμιν [Refs 2nd c.BC+]:—passive, to be actively carried on, ὁ πόλεμος ἐνηργεῖτο [Refs 2nd c.BC+]things executed, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
III. in Medicine texts, of sexual intercourse, τὴν τοιαύτην πρᾶξιν -οῦσι μετρίως [Refs] in opere esse, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
IV. operate, in surgery, [Refs 4th c.AD+]; ὁ ἐνεργῶν, ὁ ἐνεργούμενος, the surgeon, the patient, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]