προσεργάζομαι (prosergazomai)
prosergazomai
to earn more
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prosergazomai describes gaining something additional through work or trade. It combines a prefix meaning "to" or "besides" with a root for labor, pointing to profit earned on top of what was already invested. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Luke 19:16.
Jesus uses it in the parable of the minas to describe the first servant’s return. That servant reports earning ten more minas from the original one entrusted to him. The term highlights active effort rather than passive receipt; the gain is a direct result of diligent work applied to the initial resource.
This rare usage underscores a key theme in Luke: faithful stewardship yields tangible increase. The word does not imply luck or mere chance, but rather the cumulative effect of working with what one has been given. It serves as a concrete example of how responsibility and reward are linked in Jesus’ teaching.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we look at the first servant in Jesus’ parable of the minas, he does not hide his master’s gift out of fear. Instead, he puts it to work and brings back ten more minas. The Greek word used here, prosergazomai, captures this active effort. It means to earn an addition through labor. This tells us that God expects us to use what He has given us, whether that is time, talent, or treasure, rather than letting it sit idle.
This approach to stewardship brings a sense of purpose to our daily tasks. It suggests that our faithful work in ordinary moments can lead to unexpected growth. We are not just waiting for blessings to fall into our laps; we are invited to partner with God by being diligent with the resources already in our hands. This active trust turns simple responsibility into a meaningful contribution to His kingdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- has produced1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσηργάσατο1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 19:16
The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’
This verse uses prosergazomai to highlight the first servant's active labor, showing that the ten additional minas were a direct result of his diligent work rather than passive chance.