691. argeó

Lexicon

argeó: To be idle, to be inactive, to be lazy

Original Word: ἀργέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: argeó
Pronunciation: ar-GEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (arg-eh'-o)
Definition: To be idle, to be inactive, to be lazy
Meaning: I linger, delay, am idle.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

linger.

From argos; to be idle, i.e. (figuratively) to delay -- linger.

see GREEK argos

HELPS Word-studies

691 argéō (from 692 /argós, "idle") – properly, motionless (at rest); doing nothing ("inactive").

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from argos
Definition
to be idle
NASB Translation
idle (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 691: ἀργέω

ἀργέω, ἀργῷ; (to be ἀργός, which see); to be idle, inactive; contextually, to linger, delay: 2 Peter 2:3 οἷς τό κρίμα ἔκπαλαι οὐκ ἀργεῖ, i. e. whose punishment has long been impending and will shortly fall. (In Greek writings from Sophocles down.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek adjective ἀργός (argos), meaning "idle" or "inactive."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀργέω, the concept of idleness and its negative implications can be found in several Hebrew terms. One such term is עָצֵל (ʿāṣēl, Strong's Hebrew 6102), which means "sluggard" or "lazy." This term is used in the Old Testament to describe those who are negligent in their duties, as seen in Proverbs 6:6-11, which admonishes the sluggard to learn from the ant's diligence. Another related term is רָפָה (rāphāh, Strong's Hebrew 7503), meaning "to slacken" or "to be idle," used in contexts that warn against neglect and encourage perseverance.

Usage: The verb ἀργέω is used in the New Testament to describe a state of inactivity or lack of productivity. It often carries a negative connotation, implying negligence or failure to fulfill one's duties.

Context: The Greek verb ἀργέω appears in the New Testament to convey the concept of idleness or inactivity. This term is rooted in the adjective ἀργός, which describes something that is not working or is ineffective. In the context of the New Testament, ἀργέω is used to admonish believers against spiritual laziness and to encourage active engagement in faith and good works.

The concept of idleness is addressed in several passages, emphasizing the importance of diligence and productivity in the Christian life. For instance, in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the servant who fails to invest his master's money is described as "wicked and lazy" (Matthew 25:26, BSB), illustrating the negative consequences of spiritual inactivity.

The apostle Paul also warns against idleness in his epistles, urging believers to work diligently and not to be a burden to others. In 2 Thessalonians 3:11, Paul addresses those who are "idle" and "disruptive," instructing them to settle down and earn the bread they eat. This reflects the broader biblical principle that faith should be accompanied by action, as seen in James 2:17, "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead" (BSB).

The use of ἀργέω in the New Testament serves as a reminder of the call to active participation in the Christian community and the pursuit of a life that bears fruit in accordance with God's will.

Forms and Transliterations

αργει ἀργεῖ αργία αργίαν αργίας αργούν ήργησαν ήργησε argei argeî

Englishman's Concordance

2 Peter 2:3 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ἔκπαλαι οὐκ ἀργεῖ καὶ ἡ
NAS: from long ago is not idle, and their destruction
KJV: now of a long time lingereth not,
INT: of old not is idle and the

Strong's Greek 691
1 Occurrence

ἀργεῖ — 1 Occ.