Lexical Summary kopos: Labor, toil, trouble, weariness Original Word: κόπος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance labour, trouble, weariness. From kopto; a cut, i.e. (by analogy) toil (as reducing the strength), literally or figuratively; by implication, pains -- labour, + trouble, weariness. see GREEK kopto HELPS Word-studies 2873 kópos (from 2875 /kóptō, "to hit, strike") – properly, a strike (blow) that is so hard, it seriously weakens or debilitates; (figuratively) deep fatigue, extreme weariness (wearisome toil). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom koptó Definition laborious toil NASB Translation bother* (3), bothers* (1), labor (7), labors (4), toil (2), trouble (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2873: κόποςκόπος, κόπου, ὁ (κόπτω); 1. equivalent to τό κόπτειν, a beating. 2. equivalent to κοπετός, a beating of the breast in grief, sorrow (Jeremiah 51:33 3. labor (so the Sept. often for עָמָל), i. e. a. trouble (Aeschylus, Sophocles): κόπους παρέχειν τίνι, to cause one trouble, make work for him, Matthew 26:10; Mark 14:6; Luke 11:7; Galatians 6:17; κόπον παρέχειν τίνι, Luke 18:5. b. intense labor united with trouble, toil. (Euripides, Arstph;, others): universally, plural, 2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 11:23; of manual labor, joined with μόχθος ((see below)), 1 Thessalonians 2:9; ἐν κόπῳ καί μόχθῳ (toil and travail), 2 Corinthians 11:27 (where L T Tr WH omit ἐν); 2 Thessalonians 3:8; of the laborious efforts of Christian virtue, 1 Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2:2; plural Revelation 14:13; ὁ κόπος τῆς ἀγάπης, the labor to which love prompts, and which voluntarily assumes and endures trouble and pains for the salvation of others, 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 6:10 Rec.; of toil in teaching, John 4:38 (on which see εἰς, B. I. 3); 1 Thessalonians 3:5; of that which such toil in teaching accomplishes, 1 Corinthians 3:8; plural 2 Corinthians 10:15 (cf. Sir. 14:15). The word group built on Strong’s Greek 2873 paints a picture of sustained effort that drains strength yet presses forward for a higher goal. Whether describing manual labor, mental strain, or spiritual exertion, the emphasis always lies on costly perseverance that ultimately serves God’s purposes and is never wasted. Patterns of New Testament Usage 1. Persevering Gospel Ministry 2. United Labor within the Body of Christ 3. Works of Mercy toward Christ 4. Divine Commendation and Eschatological Reward Historical Context In the Greco-Roman world, manual labor often carried social stigma, yet Paul embraces it, weaving tent-making into church planting. By doing so, he subverts cultural values, elevating humble work as a conduit for gospel advance and community support. Early Christian communities imitated this ethic, recognizing that strenuous effort, whether vocational or spiritual, becomes worship when offered to Christ. Ministry Implications • Gospel service demands more than enthusiasm; it requires endurance that willingly accepts weariness, danger, and misunderstanding. Theological Reflection Kόπος underscores the paradox of grace-empowered effort: salvation is entirely God’s gift, yet believers are summoned into strenuous partnership. The New Testament never treats toil as currency to purchase favor but as evidence that grace is actively shaping lives for the glory of Christ and the good of others. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 26:10 N-AMPGRK: αὐτοῖς Τί κόπους παρέχετε τῇ NAS: to them, Why do you bother the woman? KJV: Why trouble ye the woman? INT: to them Why trouble do you cause to the Mark 14:6 N-AMP Luke 11:7 N-AMP Luke 18:5 N-AMS John 4:38 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 3:8 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 15:58 N-NMS 2 Corinthians 6:5 N-DMP 2 Corinthians 10:15 N-DMP 2 Corinthians 11:23 N-DMP 2 Corinthians 11:27 N-DMS Galatians 6:17 N-AMP 1 Thessalonians 1:3 N-GMS 1 Thessalonians 2:9 N-AMS 1 Thessalonians 3:5 N-NMS 2 Thessalonians 3:8 N-DMS Revelation 2:2 N-AMS Revelation 14:13 N-GMP Strong's Greek 2873 |
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