Greek word · G1755

ἐνέργημα

energēma

working

Energēma means an activity, an operation, or the effect something produces. It comes from the same root as English "energy", but in Greek it describes something actually done or brought about, not stored-up force. Dynamis means power or ability.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐνέργημα, -τος, τό

(ἐνεργέω),

effect, operation (Polyb.): pl., 1 Corinthians 12:6 12:10 (Cremer, 262, 713).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 12:10

Range of meaning

Energēma means an activity, an operation, or the effect something produces. It comes from the same root as English "energy", but in Greek it describes something actually done or brought about, not stored-up force. Dynamis means power or ability. In the plural (dynameis) it regularly means "mighty deeds", that is, displays of power. The phrase therefore means roughly "effects of powers": particular occasions when divine power is put to work.

Against the English

KJV, BSB and ESV have "the working of miracles". YLT's "in-workings of mighty deeds" is clumsy but closer to the Greek. NIV's "miraculous powers" loses the stress on things actually done. "Miracles" is a fair word, but it brings in modern ideas the Greek does not contain (see drift).

How it drifted

Since the Enlightenment, "miracle" has usually meant a break in the closed laws of nature. Paul's word does not frame things that way. It is about power, specifically God's power at work, and has nothing to say about suspending natural laws.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Synoptic Gospels dynameis is the standard word for Jesus' mighty works (Mark 6:2, 5; Matt 11:20–23). Paul uses the same pair of words in Gal 3:5: God "works (energōn) mighty deeds (dynameis) among you". In 2 Cor 12:12 "signs, wonders and mighty deeds" mark Paul's apostleship. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), dynamis often translates words for God's might and for armies ("LORD of hosts").

From the study of 1 Corinthians 12:6

Range of meaning

The thing that has been worked or done: an effect, activity, operation or deed produced by active power. It is a rare word, built on the verb energeō. The ending -ma usually names the result of an action.

Against the English

KJV "operations" (from the Latin Vulgate's operationum), ESV "activities", NASB "effects", BSB "ways of working", NIV "kinds of working". "Effects" and "workings" keep the sense of a result. "Activities" is flatter.

How it drifted

The KJV's "operations" was ordinary English for "workings" in 1611. Today it suggests surgery, the military or business, which pulls the word away from "what divine power produces".

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it is used only here and in 1 Corinthians 12:10 ("workings of miracles", literally "workings of powers"). Hellenistic writers such as Polybius and Diodorus use it for deeds or operations. The related noun energeia was commonly used for the active power of gods or forces.

Similar words

Where it appears

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 12:6 ἐνεργημάτων of workings

    There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.

    Here: The concrete results or deeds that come from active power: things that get done. In verse 10 the same word describes miracles ("workings of powers"). Here it covers every effective activity in the assembly.

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:10 ἐνεργήματα working

    to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

    Here: Plural: "workings" or "effects", meaning particular occasions when power is put to work. It repeats the word for "workings" in verse 6 and looks ahead to the verb "works" (energei) in verse 11.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.