Topical Bible: Labored

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "labored" in the Bible often refers to the physical, mental, or spiritual exertion required in various aspects of life. It is a concept that appears throughout Scripture, illustrating the human condition and the divine expectation of diligence and perseverance.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, labor is frequently associated with the toil and effort required in daily life, particularly in an agrarian society. Genesis 3:17-19 describes the curse upon Adam, where God declares that man will eat from the ground through painful toil all the days of his life. This passage highlights the introduction of labor as a consequence of sin, emphasizing the struggle inherent in human existence.

Ecclesiastes often reflects on the futility and weariness of labor. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 states, "For what does a man get for all the labor and endeavors at which he toils under the sun? Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile." Here, the Preacher contemplates the temporary and often unsatisfying nature of earthly labor, pointing to the need for a higher purpose.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, labor takes on a broader spiritual dimension. Jesus speaks to the burden of labor in Matthew 11:28-30 , saying, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Here, Christ offers spiritual rest and relief from the burdens of life, inviting believers to find solace in Him.

The Apostle Paul frequently addresses labor in the context of ministry and the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 , he encourages believers, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Paul emphasizes that labor for the Lord has eternal significance, contrasting it with the temporal nature of earthly toil.

Theological Implications

Theologically, labor is seen as both a consequence of the Fall and a means of fulfilling God's purposes. While labor can be burdensome, it is also an opportunity for stewardship and service. Colossians 3:23-24 instructs, "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." This passage underscores the idea that all labor, when done for the Lord, is meaningful and rewarded by God.

Practical Application

Believers are called to approach labor with diligence and integrity, recognizing it as a form of worship and service. Proverbs 14:23 states, "There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty." This wisdom literature encourages hard work and warns against idleness, reflecting the biblical principle that labor is both necessary and beneficial.

In summary, the concept of labor in the Bible encompasses the physical, mental, and spiritual efforts required in life. It serves as a reminder of the human condition post-Fall, the redemptive work of Christ, and the eternal value of labor done in service to God.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (imp. & p. p.) of Labor.

2. (a.) Bearing marks of labor and effort; elaborately wrought; not easy or natural; as, labored poetry; a labored style.

Greek

2872. kopiao -- to grow weary, toil
... Word Origin from kopos Definition to grow weary, toil NASB Word Usage diligently
labor (1), grown weary (1), hard-working (1), labor (3), labored (4), labors (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2872.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

6001b. amel -- toiling
... 6001a, 6001b. amel. 6002 . toiling. Transliteration: amel Short Definition:
labored. Word Origin from amal Definition toiling NASB ...
/hebrew/6001b.htm - 5k

5998. amal -- to labor, toil
... 5997, 5998. amal. 5999 . to labor, toil. Transliteration: amal Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-mal') Short Definition: labored. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5998.htm - 6k

5301. naphach -- to breathe, blow
... root Definition to breathe, blow NASB Word Usage blow (3), blows (1), boiling (2),
breathe (1), breathed (1), breathing is labored* (1), disdainfully sniff (1 ...
/hebrew/5301.htm - 6k

3021. yaga -- to toil, grow or be weary
... root Definition to toil, grow or be weary NASB Word Usage become weary (1), get
tired (1), labor (1), labored (4), tired (3), toil (4), toiled (1), wearied (4 ...
/hebrew/3021.htm - 6k

6213a. asah -- do, make
... 1), indeed perform (1), industrious* (1), inflict (1), inflicted (1), inlaid (1),
instituted (2), introduced (2), keep (1), kept (1), labored (1), laborers (1 ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

Library

A Warning Rejected
... In preaching the doctrine of the second advent, William Miller and his associates
had labored with the sole purpose of arousing men to a preparation for the ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 21 a warning rejected.htm

A Warning Rejected.
... In preaching the doctrine of the second advent, William Miller and his associates
had labored with the sole purpose of arousing men to a preparation for the ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /21 a warning rejected.htm

The Epistles of Paul
... On this first journey they labored on the island of Cyprus and in Pisidian Antioch,
Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, preaching the Gospel and working miracles. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the epistles of paul.htm

Preface.
... Moody, Sankey, Whittle, and the late lamented PP Bliss, the four evangelists who
have so long and industriously labored together, and whose names conjoined ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/preface.htm

Miscellaneous Subjects.
... extended privilege to all, though not expected of all, as we see in 1:Cor.12:29:
"Are all prophets?" Paul expressly mentions those women which labored with him ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xvi miscellaneous subjects.htm

Election.
... I have been surprised at the labored and learned efforts to show that this doctrine
is not expressly taught in the Bible. Suppose it were not, what then? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xliii election.htm

The First Successors of the Apostles.
... Against the tradition that he labored during his later years in Ephesus there is
nothing to be urged; though on the other hand the evidence for it amounts to ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter iv the first successors of.htm

Various Experiences in Gospel Work
... James, Mo. We had labored there but a short time when Brother Warner and
his company came to the town to hold a camp-meeting. When ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter xiv various experiences in.htm

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Paul's Witness to Christ's ...
... the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I:am: and his grace which
was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/eleventh sunday after trinity pauls.htm

Nor Indeed Hath the Holy Spirit Failed to Speak what Should be of ...
... vineyard is ended? whether it be to those who have labored from the first
hour, or to those who have labored one hour? [2070] What ...
/.../augustine/of holy virginity /section 25 nor indeed hath.htm

Thesaurus

Labored (35 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Bearing marks of labor and effort; elaborately wrought; not easy or natural;
as, labored poetry; a labored style. ...Labored (35 Occurrences). ...
/l/labored.htm - 17k

Syntyche (1 Occurrence)
... mind in the Lord." The apostle also entreats an unnamed Christian at Philippi, whom
he terms "true yokefellow," to "help these women, for they labored with me ...
/s/syntyche.htm - 8k

Laboured (34 Occurrences)
... Joshua 24:13 And I gave you a land whereon thou hadst not labored, and cities which
ye built not, and ye dwell therein; of vineyards and oliveyards which ye ...
/l/laboured.htm - 16k

Greet (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Romans 16:6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. ... Greet
Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/g/greet.htm - 19k

Reap (35 Occurrences)
... John 4:38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven't labored. Others
have labored, and you have entered into their labor." (WEB ...
/r/reap.htm - 18k

Pant (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To breathe quickly or in a labored manner, as after exertion or from eagerness
or excitement; to respire with heaving of the breast; to gasp. ...
/p/pant.htm - 9k

Persis (1 Occurrence)
... Paul designates her "the beloved, who labored much in the Lord." The name is not
found in inscriptions of the imperial household, but it occurs as the name of ...
/p/persis.htm - 7k

Benefits (12 Occurrences)
... John 4:38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven't labored. Others have
labored, and you have entered into their labor." (See NIV). ...
/b/benefits.htm - 9k

Haven't (87 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). John 4:38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven't labored. Others
have labored, and you have entered into their labor." (WEB). ...
/h/haven't.htm - 32k

Labor (181 Occurrences)
... John 4:38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven't labored. Others have labored,
and you have entered into their labor." (Root in WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/labor.htm - 38k

Resources

What is a yokefellow in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about finding satisfaction in life? | GotQuestions.org

Why does Exodus 35:2 require the death penalty for working on the Sabbath? | GotQuestions.org

Labored: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Labored (35 Occurrences)

John 4:38
I sent you to reap that for which you haven't labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Acts 27:18
As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard.
(WEB ASV)

Romans 16:6
Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
(WEB)

Romans 16:12
Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
(WEB ASV WBS)

1 Corinthians 15:10
But what I am I am by the grace of God, and His grace bestowed upon me did not prove ineffectual. But I labored more strenuously than all the rest--yet it was not I, but God's grace working with me.
(WEY ASV WBS NAS)

Galatians 4:11
I am afraid of you, lest in vain I did labour toward you.
(See NAS RSV)

Philippians 2:16
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
(WBS)

Philippians 4:3
Yes, I beg you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

Revelation 2:3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
(WBS)

Joshua 24:13
I gave you a land whereon you had not labored, and cities which you didn't build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn't plant.'
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Ruth 2:19
And her mother-in-law said to her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou labored? blessed be he that took knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.
(WBS)

1 Kings 5:16
besides Solomon's chief officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.
(WEB)

1 Kings 9:23
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work, five hundred fifty, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.
(WEB)

2 Chronicles 24:13
So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state, and strengthened it.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 34:10
They delivered it into the hand of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and the workmen who labored in the house of Yahweh gave it to mend and repair the house;
(WEB)

Nehemiah 4:17
They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon;
(See RSV)

Nehemiah 4:21
So we labored in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
(WBS RSV)

Job 20:18
That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
(WEB ASV WBS)

Ecclesiastes 2:11
Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
(WEB ASV WBS)

Ecclesiastes 2:18
I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
(WEB ASV NAS)

Ecclesiastes 2:19
Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS)

Ecclesiastes 2:20
Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
(WEB ASV NAS)

Ecclesiastes 2:21
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS)

Ecclesiastes 2:22
For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, in which he hath labored under the sun?
(WBS)

Ecclesiastes 5:16
And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind?
(WBS)

Ecclesiastes 9:9
Enjoy life with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which He hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity; for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labour wherein thou labourest under the sun.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 47:12
"Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 47:15
Thus shall the things be to you in which you have labored: those who have trafficked with you from your youth shall wander everyone to his quarter; there shall be none to save you.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 49:4
But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh, and my reward with my God."
(WEB ASV WBS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 62:8
Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, "Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies; and foreigners shall not drink your new wine, for which you have labored:
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 3:24
But the shameful thing hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
(See RSV)

Jeremiah 15:9
She who has borne seven languishes; she has given up the spirit; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she has been disappointed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, says Yahweh.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 29:20
His wage for which he laboured I have given to him, The land of Egypt -- in that they wrought for Me, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
(See RSV)

Daniel 6:14
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

Jonah 4:10
Yahweh said, "You have been concerned for the vine, for which you have not labored, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night.
(WEB ASV WBS)

Subtopics

Labored

Related Terms

Fellow-laborer (2 Occurrences)

Wages (52 Occurrences)

Workman (22 Occurrences)

Worker (36 Occurrences)

Muzzle (4 Occurrences)

Hire (48 Occurrences)

Worthy (92 Occurrences)

Laborers (19 Occurrences)

Labored (35 Occurrences)