Topical Bible: Labor

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Context:
Labor, in the biblical context, refers to the physical and mental effort exerted by individuals in their daily tasks, work, and responsibilities. It encompasses both the toil of manual work and the endeavors of intellectual and spiritual pursuits. Labor is a fundamental aspect of human existence, ordained by God from the beginning of creation.

Biblical Foundations:
The concept of labor is introduced early in the Scriptures. In Genesis 2:15, God places Adam in the Garden of Eden "to work it and take care of it." This indicates that labor was part of God's original design for humanity, intended to be fulfilling and purposeful.

However, after the Fall, labor became associated with toil and hardship. Genesis 3:17-19 describes the curse upon the ground, resulting in laborious work: "Cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground."

Theological Significance:
Labor is seen as a means of stewardship and service. Colossians 3:23-24 instructs believers, "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 emphasizes that labor is not merely for personal gain but is an act of worship and service to God.

Rest and Sabbath:
The Bible also emphasizes the importance of rest from labor. The Sabbath, instituted in Exodus 20:8-10, commands, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God." This rest is a reminder of God's creation and a symbol of trust in His provision.

New Testament Perspective:
In the New Testament, labor is often linked with the work of the Gospel. Jesus speaks of the spiritual harvest in Matthew 9:37-38: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest." The Apostle Paul frequently refers to his own labor in spreading the Gospel, as seen in 1 Corinthians 15:10, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

Ethical Implications:
The Bible encourages diligence and condemns laziness. Proverbs 6:6-11 advises, "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest." This passage highlights the virtue of hard work and the consequences of idleness.

Social Justice and Fairness:
Scripture also addresses the fair treatment of workers. James 5:4 warns, "Look, the wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts." This underscores the biblical mandate for justice and equity in labor relations.

Eschatological Hope:
Ultimately, the Bible points to a future where the toil of labor is redeemed. Revelation 14:13 offers hope: "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.'" This promise assures believers of eternal rest and reward for their faithful labor in the Lord.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Physical toil or bodily exertion, especially when fatiguing, irksome, or unavoidable, in distinction from sportive exercise; hard, muscular effort directed to some useful end, as agriculture, manufactures, and like; servile toil; exertion; work.

2. (n.) Intellectual exertion; mental effort; as, the labor of compiling a history.

3. (n.) That which requires hard work for its accomplishment; that which demands effort.

4. (n.) Travail; the pangs and efforts of childbirth.

5. (n.) Any pang or distress.

6. (n.) The pitching or tossing of a vessel which results in the straining of timbers and rigging.

7. (n.) A measure of land in Mexico and Texas, equivalent to an area of 177/ acres.

8. (n.) To exert muscular strength; to exert one's strength with painful effort, particularly in servile occupations; to work; to toil.

9. (n.) To exert one's powers of mind in the prosecution of any design; to strive; to take pains.

10. (n.) To be oppressed with difficulties or disease; to do one's work under conditions which make it especially hard, wearisome; to move slowly, as against opposition, or under a burden; to be burdened; -- often with under, and formerly with of.

11. (n.) To be in travail; to suffer the pangs of childbirth.

12. (n.) To pitch or roll heavily, as a ship in a turbulent sea.

13. (v. t.) To work at; to work; to till; to cultivate by toil.

14. (v. t.) To form or fabricate with toil, exertion, or care.

15. (v. t.) To prosecute, or perfect, with effort; to urge strenuously; as, to labor a point or argument.

16. (v. t.) To belabor; to beat.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LABOR

la'-ber (yeghia`, `amal; kopos): The word (noun and verb) denoting hard work or "toil" (thus in the Revised Version (British and American) of Deuteronomy 26:7 Joshua 7:3 Revelation 2:2) represents several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly those above. Occasionally, as in Habakkuk 3:17 (ma`aseh), it stands for "fruit of labor." Sometimes, in conjunction with "travail," it refers to childbirth (Genesis 35:16, 17, yaladh; compare 1 Thessalonians 2:9 2 Thessalonians 3:8). Examples of the word in the ordinary sense are: of yeghia`, Genesis 31:42 Job 39:11, 16 Psalm 128:2; of `amal, common in Ecclesiastes 1:3, 8; Ecclesiastes 2:10, 11, 18, etc.; of kopos, 1 Corinthians 15:58 ("your labor is not vain," etc.); 1 Thessalonians 1:3 ("work of faith and labor of love"; compare Hebrews 6:10); 1 Timothy 5:17 ("labor in the word and in teaching").

See WORK; SLAVERY.

James Orr

Greek

4192. ponos -- labor
... labor. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: ponos Phonetic Spelling:
(pon'-os) Short Definition: labor, pain Definition: (a) labor, toil, (b) pain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4192.htm - 6k

4020. periergazomai -- to waste one's labor about (a thing)
... to waste one's labor about (a thing). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
periergazomai Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-er-gad'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I overdo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4020.htm - 7k

2123. eukopoteros -- with easier labor
... with easier labor. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eukopoteros Phonetic
Spelling: (yoo-kop-o'-ter-os) Short Definition: easier Definition: easier. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2123.htm - 6k

373. anapauo -- to give rest, give intermission from labor, by ...
... to give rest, give intermission from labor, by impl. ... Word Origin from ana and pauo
Definition to give rest, give intermission from labor, by impl. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/373.htm - 8k

2038b. ergazomai -- to work, labor
... 2038a, 2038b. ergazomai. 2039 . to work, labor. Transliteration: ergazomai
Short Definition: work. Word Origin from ergon Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2038b.htm - 6k

2872. kopiao -- to grow weary, toil
... Spelling: (kop-ee-ah'-o) Short Definition: I grow weary, toil Definition: (a) I
grow weary, (b) I toil, work with effort (of bodily and mental labor alike). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2872.htm - 8k

2038. ergazomai -- to search, examine.
... ergazomai Phonetic Spelling: (er-gad'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I word, trade,
do Definition: I work, trade, perform, do, practice, commit, acquire by labor. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2038.htm - 8k

2041. ergon -- work
... work. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ergon Phonetic Spelling:
(er'-gon) Short Definition: work, labor, action, deed Definition: work, task ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2041.htm - 7k

2873. kopos -- laborious toil
... laborious toil. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kopos Phonetic
Spelling: (kop'-os) Short Definition: trouble, toil, labor Definition: (a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2873.htm - 7k

2669. kataponeo -- to wear down
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataponeo Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ap-on-eh'-
o) Short Definition: I ill-treat Definition: I exhaust by labor or suffering ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2669.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5999. amal -- trouble, labor, toil
... 5998, 5999. amal. 6000 . trouble, labor, toil. Transliteration: amal
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-mawl') Short Definition: labor. Word ...
/hebrew/5999.htm - 6k

5656. abodah -- labor, service
... 5655, 5656. abodah or abodah. 5657 . labor, service. Transliteration: abodah
or abodah Phonetic Spelling: (ab-o-daw') Short Definition: service. ...
/hebrew/5656.htm - 6k

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. ... take labor in. ...
/hebrew/5998.htm - 6k

3018. yegia -- toil, product
... 3017, 3018. yegia. 3019 . toil, product. Transliteration: yegia Phonetic
Spelling: (yeg-ee'-ah) Short Definition: labor. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/3018.htm - 6k

4522. mas -- body of forced laborers, forced service, taskworkers ...
... body of forced laborers, forced service, taskworkers, taskwork, serfdom.
Transliteration: mas or mis Phonetic Spelling: (mas) Short Definition: labor. ...
/hebrew/4522.htm - 6k

1518. giach -- to burst forth
... root Definition to burst forth NASB Word Usage broke (1), brought me forth (1),
burst forth (1), bursting forth (1), give birth (1), labor to give birth (1 ...
/hebrew/1518.htm - 6k

3205. yalad -- to bear, bring forth, beget
... 1), given it birth (1), given birth (4), gives birth (2), gives delivery (1), giving
birth (2), had (17), had sons (1), has (1), have (2), labor (5), labor has ...
/hebrew/3205.htm - 7k

6887b. tsarar -- to suffer distress
... 6887a, 6887b. tsarar. 6887c . to suffer distress. Transliteration: tsarar
Short Definition: labor. Word Origin denominative verb ...
/hebrew/6887b.htm - 5k

6468. peullah -- a work, recompense
... Word Origin from paal Definition a work, recompense NASB Word Usage deeds (1), labor
(1), recompense (3), reward (2), wages (2), work (3), works (1). ...
/hebrew/6468.htm - 6k

213. uts -- to press, be pressed, make haste
... make hasten labor, be narrow. A primitive root; to press; (by implication) to be
close, hurry, withdraw -- (make) haste(-n, -y), labor, be narrow. 212, 213. ...
/hebrew/213.htm - 6k

Library

Prayer and Labor for the Gathering of the Great Harvest.
... XIX. PRAYER AND LABOR FOR THE GATHERING OF THE GREAT HARVEST. "But ... earth.
We are always on hand, ready for any labor or any suffering. ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xix prayer and labor for.htm

The Conflict Between Capital and Labor.
... Chapter Six The Signs of the Redeemer's Return 7. The conflict between
Capital and Labor. "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/7 the conflict between capital.htm

Wesley's Labor Colony
... Chapter 4. Preaching Incidents; Wesley's Labor Colony; Dispute with Whitefield;
Curious Interruptions; The Mother of the Wesleys Wesley's Labor Colony. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesleys labor colony.htm

Whether Religious are Bound to Manual Labor?
... OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE COMPETENT TO RELIGIOUS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether
religious are bound to manual labor? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether religious are bound to.htm

PMJH Perkins. Prayer and Labor.
... PMJH Perkins. Prayer and Labor. ... 2 But purer spirits walk above, Who worship alway;
who are blest With an upspringing might of love That makes all labor, rest. ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/455 p m j h.htm

Call to Labor in God's vineyard.
... 722. " Call to Labor in God's Vineyard. 722. SM Wesleyan. Call to Labor in God's
Vineyard. 1 The vineyard of the Lord Before his laborers lies; And, lo! ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/722 call to labor.htm

The Liberation of Free Persons Condemned to Labor in the Women's ...
... Book II. Chapter XXXIV."The Liberation of Free Persons condemned to labor
in the Women's Apartments, or to Servitude. "Lastly, if ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxxiv the liberation of free.htm

Now Strange as all this May Seem to the Labor-Learned Possessor of ...
... Address 163: Now strange as all this may seem to the labor-learned possessor
of far-fetched book- riches? Now strange as all this ...
/.../address 163 0 0 now strange as.htm

1 Thessalonians i. 3-Jan
... [928] We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and ...
/.../homily i 1 thessalonians i.htm

The Wise Man, Having Found that Wisdom Brought with it but ...
... The resources at his command are practically limitless, and so he works on and rejoices
in the labor, apparently with the idea that now the craving within can ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter ii the wise man.htm

Thesaurus

Labor (181 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Intellectual exertion; mental effort; as, the labor of compiling a history. ...
16. (vt) To belabor; to beat. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LABOR. ...
/l/labor.htm - 38k

Work (4564 Occurrences)
... of strength or faculties; physical or intellectual effort directed to an end;
industrial activity; toil; employment; sometimes, specifically, physically labor. ...
/w/work.htm - 12k

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

Adoniram (4 Occurrences)
... In the American Standard Revised Version it is uniformly "over the men subject to
taskwork." Adoniram was at the head of the department of forced labor for the ...
/a/adoniram.htm - 10k

Struggle (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To use great efforts; to labor hard; to strive; to contend forcibly; as,
to struggle to save one's life; to struggle with the waves; to struggle with ...
/s/struggle.htm - 11k

Labors (27 Occurrences)
... Labors (27 Occurrences). John 4:38 I sent you to reap that on which ye bestowed
no labor: other men labored, and ye have entered into their labors. (WBS). ...
/l/labors.htm - 14k

Laborers (19 Occurrences)
... didn't drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in
the midst of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor. ...
/l/laborers.htm - 11k

Finish (35 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the utmost
possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish. ...
/f/finish.htm - 20k

Service (317 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor
for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior ...
/s/service.htm - 42k

Striving (33 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Colossians 1:29 for which I also labor, striving according to his working,
which works in me mightily. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/s/striving.htm - 16k

Resources

Is it wrong for a woman to get an epidural and/or other pain relievers during childbirth? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian view socialism? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Issachar? | GotQuestions.org

Labor: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Labor (181 Occurrences)

Matthew 6:28
and about clothing why are ye anxious? consider well the lilies of the field; how do they grow? they do not labour, nor do they spin;
(See NIV)

Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

Luke 12:27
Consider the lilies, how do they grow? they labour not, nor do they spin, and I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these;
(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."
(Root in WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

John 6:27
Labor not for the food which perisheth, but for that food which endureth to everlasting life, which the Son of man will give to you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
(WBS RSV)

John 16:21
A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn't remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.
(See NAS)

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

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 3:8
Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 4:12
And labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;
(WBS RSV)

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:9
Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted by him.
(WBS)

2 Corinthians 11:27
in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
(WEB ASV YLT NAS NIV)

Galatians 4:11
I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Galatians 4:19
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you-
(See NAS)

Galatians 4:27
For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."
(See NAS NIV)

Ephesians 4:28
Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Philippians 1:22
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I know not.
(WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Philippians 2:16
holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn't run in vain nor labor in vain.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV NIV)

Philippians 2:25
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
(WBS)

Colossians 1:29
for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS NIV)

Colossians 4:13
For I bear him witness, that he hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.
(ASV)

1 Thessalonians 1:3
remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Thessalonians 2:9
For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.
(See NAS NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:12
But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

2 Thessalonians 3:8
neither did we eat bread from anyone's hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you;
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 4:10
For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS NIV)

1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

2 Timothy 2:6
The farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops.
(WEB ASV WBS)

Hebrews 4:11
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
(WBS)

Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.
(WEB WBS)

Revelation 2:2
I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear them who are evil; and thou hast tried them who say they are apostles, and are not; and hast found them liars:
(WBS)

Revelation 12:2
She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.
(Root in WEB NAS)

Revelation 14:13
I heard the voice from heaven saying, "Write,'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them."
(Root in WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 5:29
and calleth his name Noah, saying, 'This 'one' doth comfort us concerning our work, and concerning the labour of our hands, because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.'
(See NIV)

Genesis 31:42
Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Genesis 35:16
They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Genesis 35:17
When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for now you will have another son."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Genesis 38:28
When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This came out first."
(See RSV)

Genesis 49:15
He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 1:11
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 1:13
The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,
(See NAS)

Exodus 1:14
and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 2:11
It happened in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 5:4
The king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!"
(See NAS NIV)

Exodus 5:9
Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don't let them pay any attention to lying words."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Exodus 5:11
Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.'"
(See NAS)

Exodus 20:9
You shall labor six days, and do all your work,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 23:12
"Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the alien may be refreshed.
(See NAS)

Exodus 23:16
And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you sow in the field: and the feast of harvest, at the end of the year, when you gather in your labors out of the field.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.'"
(See NAS)

Exodus 34:21
"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 5:13
You shall labor six days, and do all your work;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 20:11
It shall be, if it makes you answer of peace, and opens to you, then it shall be, that all the people who are found therein shall become tributary to you, and shall serve you.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 26:6
The Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid on us hard bondage:
(See NAS NIV)

Deuteronomy 26:7
And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression:
(KJV WBS)

Deuteronomy 28:33
The fruit of your ground, and all your labors, shall a nation which you don't know eat up; and you shall be only oppressed and crushed always;
(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 7:3
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.
(KJV WBS)

Joshua 16:10
They didn't drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 17:13
It happened, when the children of Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn't utterly drive them out.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

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.'
(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Judges 1:28
It happened, when Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 1:30
Zebulun didn't drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 1:33
Naphtali didn't drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and of Beth Anath became subject to forced labor.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 1:35
but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 4:19
His daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered. When she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came on her.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 12:31
He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under saws, and under iron picks, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln: and he did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
(See RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 20:24
and Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 4:6
and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 5:13
King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 5:14
He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
(WEB NAS NIV)

1 Kings 9:15
This is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Yahweh, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 9:21
their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them did Solomon raise a levy of bondservants to this day.
(See NAS NIV)

1 Kings 11:28
The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he put him in charge of all the labor of the house of Joseph.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 12:4
"Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you."
(See NIV)

1 Kings 12:18
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 20:3
He brought forth the people who were therein, and cut them with saws, and with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
(See RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 8:8
of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn't consume, of them did Solomon conscripted forced labor to this day.
(WEB NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 10:4
Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 10:18
Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 4:22
Likewise at the same time said I to the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Nehemiah 5:13
Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn't perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. All the assembly said, Amen, and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

Job 7:1
"Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?
(WEB NAS)

Job 9:29
I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
(WEB ASV WBS RSV)

Job 10:3
Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?
(See NAS)

Job 24:5
Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food. The wilderness yields them bread for their children.
(See NIV)

Job 37:7
He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.
(See NIV)

Job 39:3
They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, they end their labor pains.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Job 39:11
Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Job 39:16
She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 48:6
Trembling took hold of them there, pain, as of a woman in travail.
(See NIV)

Psalms 78:46
He gave also their increase to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Psalms 90:10
The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS)

Psalms 104:14
He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth:
(See NAS)

Psalms 104:23
Man goes forth to his work, to his labor until the evening.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 105:44
He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labor of the peoples in possession,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS)

Psalms 107:12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was none to help.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 109:11
Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Labor

Labor Day

Labor Pains

Labor: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Work (4564 Occurrences)

Labored (35 Occurrences)