3008. leitourgeó

Lexicon

leitourgeó: To minister, to serve, to perform a public duty

Original Word: λειτουργέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: leitourgeó
Pronunciation: lay-toorg-eh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (li-toorg-eh'-o)
Definition: To minister, to serve, to perform a public duty
Meaning: I act in the public service, render service, minister, in the widest sense, of some special public religious service, but also of the service of priests and Levites.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

minister.

From leitourgos; to be a public servant, i.e. (by analogy) to perform religious or charitable functions (worship, obey, relieve) -- minister.

see GREEK leitourgos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 3008 leitourgéō (from 3011 /leitourgós, "someone who officially serves sovereign and community") – properly, to minister in an official (technical, authorized) capacity, especially on behalf of the community. For the believer, 3011 (leitourgós) refers to the priestly-ministering they give to God – which automatically impacts (for eternity) all who witness it. Because each believer is an official priest of God, their ministering to the Lord is equally profound with every "living sacrifice" offered up in faith (cf. Ro 12:1-3,15:27). Thus it also carries out His plan for His people.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from leitourgos
Definition
to serve the state, i.e. by anal. to perform religious service
NASB Translation
minister (1), ministering (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3008: λειτουργέω

λειτουργέω, participle λειτουργῶν; 1 aorist infinitive λειτουργῆσαι; (from λειτουργός, which see);

1. in Attic, especially the orators, "to serve the state at one's own cost; to assume an office which must be administered at one's own expense; to discharge a public office at one's own cost; to render public service to the state" (cf. Melanchthon in Apology, Confessions, Augustine, p. 270f (Corpus Reformat. edition Bindseil (post Bretschn.) vol. xxvli., p. 623, and F. Francke, Conf. Luth., Part i., p. 271 note (Lipsius 1846)); Wolf, Demosthenes, Lept., p. 85ff; Böckh, Athen. Staatshaush. i., p. 480ff; Lübker, Reallex. des class. Alterth. (or Smith, Dict. of Greek and Rom. Antiq.) under the word λειτουργία).

2. universally, to do service, to perform a work; Vulg.ministro (A. V. to minister);

a. of the priests and Levites who were busied with the sacred rites in the tabernacle or the temple (so the Sept. often for שֵׁרֵת; as Numbers 18:2; Exodus 28:31, 39; Exodus 29:30; Joel 1:9, etc.; several times for עָבַד, Numbers 4:37, 39; Numbers 16:9; Numbers 18:6f; add, Sir. 4:14 (; Judith 4:14); 1 Macc. 10:42; (Philo, vit. Moys. 3:18; cf. ὑμῖν λειτουργουσι καί αὐτοί τήν λειτουργίαν τῶν προφητῶν καί διδασκάλων (of bishops and deacons), Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, chapter 15 [ET] (cf. Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 44, 2 [ET] etc.))): Hebrews 10:11. b.λειτουργουν τῷ κυρίῳ, of Christians serving Christ, whether, by prayer, or by instructing others concerning the way of salvation, or in some other way: Acts 13:2; cf. DeWette at the passage c. of those who aid others with their resources, and relieve their poverty: τίνι ἐν τίνι, Romans 15:27, cf. Sir. 10:25.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek words "λαός" (laos), meaning "people," and "ἔργον" (ergon), meaning "work." The term originally referred to public service or work done for the benefit of the community.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 8334 (שָׁרַת, sharath): To minister, serve, or attend to, often used in the context of priestly service in the Old Testament.
• Strong's Hebrew 5647 (עָבַד, abad): To work, serve, or labor, used broadly for various forms of service, including religious duties.

These Hebrew terms share a similar focus on service and ministry, reflecting the continuity of the concept of serving God and others throughout the biblical narrative.

Usage: The term λειτουργέω is used in the New Testament to describe acts of service, particularly those related to worship and ministry. It conveys the idea of serving God or the community in a dedicated and often formal capacity.

Context: λειτουργέω (leitourgeō) is a verb that appears in the New Testament to describe acts of service, especially those associated with religious duties. The term is rooted in the concept of public service, reflecting its origins in ancient Greek society where it referred to civic duties performed for the benefit of the people.

In the New Testament, λειτουργέω is used to describe the service of priests and Levites in the temple, as well as the ministry of apostles and other church leaders. For example, in Acts 13:2, it is used to describe the worship and fasting of the prophets and teachers in Antioch: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.'" Here, λειτουργέω conveys the idea of worshipful service that is attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 15:16, Paul uses the term to describe his own ministry: "to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." This usage highlights the priestly aspect of Paul's mission, emphasizing the sacred nature of his work in spreading the gospel.

The concept of λειτουργέω underscores the importance of dedicated service to God and the community, reflecting a life committed to fulfilling divine purposes. It is a reminder of the call to serve others as an expression of worship and devotion to God.

Forms and Transliterations

ελειτούργει ελειτούργουν λειτουργείν λειτουργείτωσάν λειτουργήματα λειτουργησαι λειτουργήσαι λειτουργῆσαι λειτουργήσατε λειτουργησεί λειτουργήσει λειτουργήσετε λειτουργησίμων λειτουργήσουσιν λειτουργούν λειτουργούντας λειτουργούντες Λειτουργουντων Λειτουργούντων λειτούργουσα λειτουργούσι λειτουργούσιν λειτουργων λειτουργών λειτουργῶν leitourgesai leitourgêsai leitourgēsai leitourgē̂sai leitourgon leitourgôn leitourgōn leitourgō̂n Leitourgounton Leitourgountōn Leitourgoúnton Leitourgoúntōn

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 13:2 V-PPA-GMP
GRK: Λειτουργούντων δὲ αὐτῶν
NAS: While they were ministering to the Lord
KJV: As they ministered to the Lord, and
INT: As were ministering moreover they

Romans 15:27 V-ANA
GRK: τοῖς σαρκικοῖς λειτουργῆσαι αὐτοῖς
NAS: they are indebted to minister to them also
KJV: also to minister unto them
INT: to the fleshly things to minister to them

Hebrews 10:11 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: καθ' ἡμέραν λειτουργῶν καὶ τὰς
NAS: daily ministering and offering
KJV: daily ministering and
INT: every day ministering and the

Strong's Greek 3008
3 Occurrences

λειτουργῆσαι — 1 Occ.
λειτουργῶν — 1 Occ.
Λειτουργούντων — 1 Occ.