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Strong's Concordance
Greek Word Study

Strong's G2872 κοπιάω (kopiao)

Kopiao means “toil” — full meaning, definition, and every linked Bible usage across the indexed canon.

Same number, other testament: Strong's H2872 — tabbur (“middle”) in the Hebrew Bible.

Strong's Number G2872
Language Greek
Linked Usages 69
Books 28

Strong's G2872 Quick Answer

Strong's G2872 κοπιάω (kopiao) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. kopiao (kop-ee-ah'-o) v. 1. to feel fatigue 2. (by implication) to work hard It has 69 linked Bible usages across 28 books. Visible English usage signals include labour, bestowed, working, toil, and laboureth. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Meaning
kopiao (kop-ee-ah'-o) v. 1. to feel fatigue 2. (by implication) to work hard
Usage
69 linked usages
Books
28 indexed books
Corpus
New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Usage Words
labour, bestowed, working, toil, and laboureth

Meaning and Definition

kopiao (kop-ee-ah'-o) v. 1. to feel fatigue 2. (by implication) to work hard [from a derivative of G2873] KJV: (bestow) labour, toil, be wearied Root(s): G2873

Original Word
κοπιάω
Transliteration
kopiao
Derivation
Root: κόπος R1: 2873
Morphology
verb

Across Lexicons

How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G2872. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.

Extended Strong's Greek Lexicon (Abbott-Smith based)

to labor

Usage: κοπιάω, -ῶ (κόπος), [in LXX chiefly for יָגַע ;] __1. (as in cl.) to grow weary: Mat.11:28, Jhn.4:6, Rev.2:3 (cf. Isa.40:31). __2. Hence, in LXX and NT, to work with effort, to toil: absol., Mat.6:23, Luk.5:5 12:27, Jhn.4:38, Act.20:35, 1Co.4:12, Eph.4:28, 2Ti.2:5; with accusative of thing(s), Jhn.4:38; frequently in Paul. Epp., of ministerial labour: 1Co.15:10 16:16; before ἐν, Rom.16:12, 1Th.5:12 (see M, Th., in l), 1Ti.5:17; εἰς, Rom.16:6, Gal.4:11, Php.2:16, Col.1:29, 1Ti.4:10.† (AS)

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How Strong's G2872 Is Translated

The English word each shown verse actually uses to render kopiao, taken from the interlinear word alignment (the same word underlined in the excerpts below). Where a rendering is used more than once, the count is shown.

labour Matthew 11:28 bestowed John 4:38 working 1 Corinthians 4:12 laboured Philippians 2:16 laboureth 1 Corinthians 16:16 toil Matthew 6:28 labouring Acts 20:35 toiled Luke 5:5 wearied John 4:6

How Strong's G2872 Usage Compares

Indexed coverage includes Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, New Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.

  • The largest indexed corpus on this page is Septuagint / Greek Old Testament with 35 linked usages.
  • This page lets readers compare New Testament usage with Septuagint / Greek Old Testament usage, which is a key THF advantage over narrower Strong's pages.
  • Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha rows are counted separately so readers can decide how those texts relate to the main word study.

In the Septuagint (LXX)

Strong's G2872 (κοπιάω) appears 49 times in the Greek Septuagint — the Old Testament the New Testament authors quoted.

Sample Septuagint occurrences:

Read the full Greek Septuagint interlinear with Strong's →

Strong's G2872 by Corpus

Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.

Strong's G2872 in the New Testament

21 indexed usages in New Testament.

Matthew 6:28 KJV

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Matthew 11:28 KJV

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Luke 5:5 KJV

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Strong's G2872 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament

35 indexed usages in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 25:18 Septuagint / Brenton

how he withstood thee in the way, and harassed thy rear, even those that were weary behind thee, and thou didst hunger and wast weary; and he did not fear God.

Joshua 24:13 Septuagint / Brenton

And he gave you a land on which ye did not labor, and cities which ye did not build, and ye were settled in them; and ye eat of vineyards and olive yards which ye did not plant.

Judges 5:26 Septuagint / Brenton

She stretched forth her left hand to the nail, And her right hand to the workman’s hammer, And she smote Sisera with it, she nailed through his head and smote him; She nailed through his temples.

Strong's G2872 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha

13 indexed usages in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

1 Maccabees 10:81 Septuagint / Brenton

But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies’ horses were tired.

4 Maccabees 9:12 Septuagint / Brenton

And when they had labored hard without effect in scourging him, they hurled him upon the wheel.

Wisdom of Solomon 6:14 Septuagint / Brenton

Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: For he shall find her sitting at his doors.

Usage Excerpts

First 69 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G2872.

Deuteronomy 25:18 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
how he withstood thee in the way, and harassed thy rear, even those that were weary behind thee, and thou didst hunger and wast weary; and he did not fear God.
Joshua 24:13 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he gave you a land on which ye did not labor, and cities which ye did not build, and ye were settled in them; and ye eat of vineyards and olive yards which ye did not plant.
Judges 5:26 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
She stretched forth her left hand to the nail, And her right hand to the workman’s hammer, And she smote Sisera with it, she nailed through his head and smote him; She nailed through his temples.
1 Kingdoms 6:12 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And the cows went straight on the way to the way of Beth-shemesh, they went along one track; and labored, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after it as far as the coasts of Beth-shemesh.
1 Kingdoms 14:31 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And on that day he smote some of the Philistines in Michmash; and the people were very weary.
1 Kingdoms 17:39 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he girded David with his sword over his coat: and he made trial walking with them once and again: and David said to Saul, I shall not be able to go with these, for I have not proved them: so they remove them from him.
2 Kingdoms 17:2 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
and I will come upon him when he is weary and weakhanded, and I will strike him with terror; and all the people with him shall flee, and I will smite the king only of all.
2 Kingdoms 23:7 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And a man shall not labor among them; And one shall have that which is fully armed with iron, And the staff of a spear, And he shall burn them with fire, and they shall be burned in their shame.
2 Kingdoms 23:10 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
He arose and smote the Philistines, until his hand was weary, and his hand clove to the sword: and the Lord wrought a great salvation in that day, and the people rested behind him only to strip the slain.
Job 20:18 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
He has labored unprofitably and in vain, for wealth of which he shall not taste: It is as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow.
Job 39:16 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
She has hardened herself against her young ones, as though she bereaved not herself: She labors in vain without fear.
Psalms 6:7 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
I am wearied with my groaning; I shall wash my bed every night; I shall water my couch with my tears.
Psalms 68:4 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
I am weary of crying, my throat has become hoarse; Mine eyes have failed by my waiting on my God.
Psalms 126:1 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
A Song of Degrees. Except the Lord build the house, They that build labor in vain: Except the Lord keep the city, The watchman watches in vain.
Proverbs 4:12 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
For when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And when thou runnest, thou shalt not be distressed.
Isaiah 5:27 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
They shall not hunger nor be weary, neither shall they slumber nor sleep; neither shall they loose their girdles from their loins, neither shall their shoe latchets be broken.
Isaiah 16:12 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And it shall be to thy shame (for Moab is wearied at the altars), that he shall go in to the idols thereof to pray, but they shall not be at all able to deliver him.
Isaiah 30:4 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
For there are princes in Tanis, evil messengers.
Isaiah 31:3 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
even an Egyptian, a man, and not God; the flesh of horses, and there is no help in them: but the Lord shall bring his hand upon them, and the helpers shall fail, and all shall perish together.
Isaiah 33:24 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And the people dwelling among them shall by no means say, I am in pain: for their sin shall be forgiven them.
Isaiah 40:28 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And now, hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? the eternal God, the God that formed the ends of the earth, shall not hunger, nor be weary, and there is no searching of his understanding.
Isaiah 40:30 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
For the young men shall hunger, and the youths shall be weary, and the choice men shall be powerless:
Isaiah 40:31 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
but they that wait on God shall renew their strength; they shall put forth new feathers like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not hunger.
Isaiah 43:22 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
I have not now called thee, O Jacob; neither have I made thee weary, O Israel.
Isaiah 45:14 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Egypt has labored for thee; and the merchandise of the Ethiopians, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall pass over to thee, and shall be thy servants; and they shall follow after thee bound in fetters, and shall pass over to thee, and shall do obeisance to thee, and make supplication to thee: because God is in thee; and there is no God beside thee, O Lord.
Isaiah 46:1 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Bel has fallen, Nebo is broken to pieces, their graven images are gone to the wild beasts and the cattle: ye take them packed up as a burden to the weary, exhausted, hungry, and at the same time helpless man;
Isaiah 47:13 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Thou art wearied in thy counsels. Let now the astrologers of the heaven stand and deliver thee, let them that see the stars tell thee what is about to come upon thee.
Isaiah 47:15 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
these shall be thy help. Thou hast wearied thyself with traffic from thy youth: every man has wandered to his own home, but thou shalt have no deliverance.
Isaiah 49:4 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have given my strength for vanity and for nothing: therefore is my judgment with the Lord, and my labor before my God.
Isaiah 57:10 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Thou hast wearied thyself with thy many ways; yet thou saidst not, I will cease to strengthen myself: for thou hast done these things; therefore thou hast not supplicated me.
Isaiah 63:13 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
He led them through the deep, as a horse through the wilderness, and they fainted not,
Isaiah 65:23 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
My chosen shall not toil in vain, neither shall they beget children to be cursed; for they are a seed blessed of God, and their offspring with them.
Jeremiah 2:24 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
she has extended her ways over the waters of the desert; she was hurried along by the lusts of her soul; she is given up to them, who will turn her back? none that seek her shall be weary; at the time of her humiliation they shall find her.
Jeremiah 17:16 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
But I have not been weary of following thee, nor have I desired the day of man; thou knowest; the words that proceed out of my lips are before thy face.
Jeremiah 28:58 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Thus saith the Lord, The wall of Babylon was made broad, but it shall be completely broken down, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the peoples shall not labor in vain, nor the nations fail in their rule.
Matthew 6:28 New Testament, KJV
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Matthew 11:28 New Testament, KJV
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Luke 5:5 New Testament, KJV
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
Luke 12:27 New Testament, KJV
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
John 4:6 New Testament, KJV
Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
John 4:38 New Testament, KJV
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Acts 20:35 New Testament, KJV
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Romans 16:6 New Testament, KJV
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
Romans 16:12 New Testament, KJV
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:12 New Testament, KJV
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1 Corinthians 15:10 New Testament, KJV
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Corinthians 16:16 New Testament, KJV
That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
Galatians 4:11 New Testament, KJV
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Ephesians 4:28 New Testament, KJV
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Philippians 2:16 New Testament, KJV
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Colossians 1:29 New Testament, KJV
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 New Testament, KJV
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1 Timothy 4:10 New Testament, KJV
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
1 Timothy 5:17 New Testament, KJV
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
2 Timothy 2:6 New Testament, KJV
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Revelation 2:3 New Testament, KJV
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
1 Maccabees 10:81 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and so the enemies’ horses were tired.
4 Maccabees 9:12 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
And when they had labored hard without effect in scourging him, they hurled him upon the wheel.
Wisdom of Solomon 6:14 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: For he shall find her sitting at his doors.
Wisdom of Solomon 9:10 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
O send her out of thy holy heavens, And from the throne of thy glory, That being present she may labor with me, That I may know what is pleasing unto thee.
Wisdom of Sirach 6:19 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, And wait for her good fruits: For thou shalt not toil much in laboring about her, But thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.
Wisdom of Sirach 11:11 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
There is one that laboreth, and taketh pains, and maketh haste, And is so much the more behind.
Wisdom of Sirach 16:27 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
He garnished his works forever, And the chief of them unto all generations: They neither labor, nor are weary, nor cease from their works.
Wisdom of Sirach 24:34 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Behold that I have not labored for myself only, But for all them that seek wisdom.
Wisdom of Sirach 31:3 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, Even as the likeness of a face to a face.
Wisdom of Sirach 31:4 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Of an unclean thing what can be cleansed? And from that thing which is false what truth can come?
Wisdom of Sirach 43:30 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; For even yet will he far exceed: And when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, And be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.
Wisdom of Sirach 51:27 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Behold with your eyes, how that I have had but little labor, And have gotten unto me much rest.

All Indexed Usage Links

Every indexed verse link for Strong's G2872, grouped by book.

Deuteronomy 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Joshua 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Judges 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
1 Kingdoms 3 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
2 Kingdoms 3 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Job 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Psalms 3 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Proverbs 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Isaiah 17 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Jeremiah 3 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Matthew 2 usages, New Testament
Luke 2 usages, New Testament
John 2 usages, New Testament
Acts 1 usage, New Testament
Romans 2 usages, New Testament
1 Corinthians 3 usages, New Testament
Galatians 1 usage, New Testament
Ephesians 1 usage, New Testament
Philippians 1 usage, New Testament
Colossians 1 usage, New Testament
1 Thessalonians 1 usage, New Testament
1 Timothy 2 usages, New Testament
2 Timothy 1 usage, New Testament
Revelation 1 usage, New Testament
1 Maccabees 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
4 Maccabees 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 2 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Sirach 9 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha

Strong's G2872 FAQ

What does kopiao (κοπιάω) mean?

Kopiao (Strong's G2872) is a Greek word most simply glossed "toil". kopiao (kop-ee-ah'-o) v. 1. to feel fatigue 2. (by implication) to work hard

How many times is kopiao (κοπιάω) used in the Bible?

This page currently indexes 69 linked usages for Strong's G2872 across 28 books.

Where can I study kopiao (κοπιάω) in context?

Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G2872 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, and Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

What English words translate kopiao (κοπιάω)?

The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as labour, bestowed, working, toil, laboureth, and laboured. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.

Does Strong's G2872 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?

Yes. The current local index includes 35 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament and 13 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha for Strong's G2872, with linked reader references where each row is available.