ἐνεργέω (energeō)
energeō
be active
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 19 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb energeō describes power in action, moving beyond mere activity to effective operation. Its root combines the preposition for "in" with the word for "work," suggesting that energy is not just motion but force applied within a context. In the New Testament, this word rarely refers to human effort alone; instead, it highlights a divine or spiritual power actively producing results.
Paul uses energeō frequently to describe God’s work in believers and the world. He speaks of Christ working effectively in him (Galatians 2:8) and of God’s mighty strength operating within those who believe (Ephesians 1:19-20). The sources note that this power can be at work for good, as in Philippians 2:13 where God works in us to will and act, or for judgment, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 where the "mystery of lawlessness" is already at work. It conveys a sense of invisible force becoming visible through action.
Unlike words that simply mean "to do," energeō emphasizes the source and efficacy of the action. It implies that the outcome is guaranteed by the power behind it. Translators often use "work," "active," or "effective" to capture this dynamic sense of divine energy bringing about its intended purpose in history and in individual lives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word energeō describes power in action. It moves beyond mere activity to effective operation. Its root combines 'in' with 'work', suggesting that energy is force applied within a context. In the New Testament, this word rarely refers to human effort alone. Instead, it highlights a divine or spiritual power actively producing results.
Paul uses energeō frequently to describe God’s work in believers and the world. He speaks of Christ working effectively in him (Galatians 2:8) and of God’s mighty strength operating within those who believe (Ephesians 1:19-20). This power can be at work for good, as in Philippians 2:13 where God works in us to will and act, or for judgment, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 where the 'mystery of lawlessness' is already at work.
It conveys a sense of invisible force becoming visible through action. Unlike words that simply mean 'to do', energeō emphasizes the source and efficacy of the action. It implies that the outcome is guaranteed by the power behind it. Translators often use 'work', 'active', or 'effective' to capture this dynamic sense of divine energy bringing about its intended purpose in history and in individual lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 19 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- working4×
- is working4×
- works2×
- works,1×
- working.1×
- were at work1×
- to work1×
- operate1×
- is operating1×
- having worked1×
- did1×
- being made effective.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐνεργῶν3×
- ἐνήργησεν2×
- ἐνεργοῦσιν2×
- ἐνεργοῦντος2×
- ἐνεργουμένην2×
- ἐνεργουμένη.2×
- ἐνεργεῖται2×
- ἐνηργεῖτο1×
- ἐνεργήσας1×
- ἐνεργουμένης1×
- ἐνεργεῖται,1×
- ἐνεργεῖν1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
This verse shows God actively producing both the desire and the action for His good pleasure within the believer.
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Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
It connects God's ability to do abundantly above all we ask with the specific power that is already working inside us.
-
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love.
Here the word describes faith not as a static belief but as an active force operating through love.
-
Ephesians 1:20
which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
It refers to the mighty power God exerted when raising Christ from the dead, demonstrating its supreme efficacy.
-
I Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause we also thank God without ceasing that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, God’s word, which also works in you who believe.
This occurrence highlights how God's word itself functions as an active agent in the lives of those who believe.