Topical Bible: Laboured

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "laboured" in the Bible often refers to the physical, mental, or spiritual exertion undertaken by individuals in the pursuit of fulfilling God's will, providing for their families, or serving others. It is a concept deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting the human condition post-Fall and the divine mandate to work.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, labor is introduced early in the narrative of Genesis. After the Fall, God tells Adam, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground" (Genesis 3:19). This pronouncement marks the beginning of labor as a necessary part of human existence, intertwined with the consequences of sin.

The Israelites' experience in Egypt is another significant context where labor is highlighted. The Egyptians subjected the Israelites to harsh labor, as described in Exodus 1:13-14: "They worked the Israelites ruthlessly and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields." This oppressive labor underscores the theme of bondage and the need for divine deliverance.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament, particularly Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, offers insights into the nature and value of labor. Proverbs 14:23 states, "In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." This reflects the biblical principle that diligent work is rewarded, while idleness leads to lack.

Ecclesiastes presents a more nuanced view, acknowledging the toil and sometimes seemingly futile nature of labor. Ecclesiastes 2:11 observes, "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." This perspective invites reflection on the ultimate purpose and fulfillment found in labor.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, labor takes on a spiritual dimension, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles. Jesus Himself labored in His ministry, often withdrawing to solitary places to pray after periods of intense teaching and healing (Mark 1:35).

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of labor to describe his ministry efforts. In 1 Corinthians 15:10, he states, "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." Here, Paul acknowledges both his own efforts and the enabling grace of God in his labors.

Paul also exhorts believers to labor in love and good works. In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, he commends the Thessalonians for their "work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." This highlights the Christian calling to labor not only for material needs but also for spiritual growth and the edification of the church.

Theological Implications

Theologically, labor is seen as both a consequence of the Fall and a means of participating in God's creative and redemptive work. It is an opportunity to reflect God's image through creativity, stewardship, and service. The Bible encourages believers to view their labor as an act of worship, done "heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23).

In summary, the concept of "laboured" in the Bible encompasses a wide range of human experiences and divine purposes, from the toil of daily work to the spiritual labor of ministry and service. It is a reminder of the dignity of work and the call to labor with purpose and hope in the Lord.

Strong's Hebrew

3022. yaga -- a gain
... earnings as the product of toil. From yaga'; earnings (as the product of toil);
-that which he laboured for. see HEBREW yaga'. 3021, 3022. yaga. 3023 . ...
/hebrew/3022.htm - 6k

Library

That not the Apostle Only, but those Two who were with Him ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter IX. That not the Apostle only, but those two who were
with him laboured with their own hands. And he testifies ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter ix that not the.htm

That for this Reason the Apostle Laboured with his Own Hands, that ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter X. That for this reason the Apostle laboured with his
own hands, that he might set us an example of work. "Not ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter x that for this.htm

Persis
... ROMANS PERSIS. 'Salute the beloved Persis, who laboured much in the
Lord.'"Romans 16:12. There are a great number of otherwise ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/persis.htm

Declension from First Love
... them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast
borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/declension from first love.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke x. 2, "The Harvest Truly is ...
... For in this husbandry did he labour, who said, "I laboured more than they all."
[3263] But the strength to labour was given him by the Lord of the harvest. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon li on the words.htm

He Repels the Calumny Concerning the Acceptance of Persons.
... And in that parable of the labourers, indeed, where they received one denarius who
laboured for one hour, as well as those who laboured twelve times as long ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 13 vii he repels the.htm

The Same Continued. The Monk Pelagius. Grace is Conferred on the ...
... he derive his proof, that "His grace bestowed on himself was not in vain," except
from the fact which he goes on to mention: "But I laboured more abundantly ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 36 the same continued the.htm

The Second Sign in Galilee.
... another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not laboured: others
have laboured, and ye are entered into their labour. And ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xi the second sign in.htm

Good Works
... We laboured when here the Sabbath morning before last, to let you know the difference
between the two covenants, the covenant of grace and the covenant of works ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/good works.htm

Against the Heresy of one Noetus.
... this is God, who is the only One, and who afterwards did show Himself, and conversed
with men." And in another place he says, "Egypt hath laboured; and the ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/against the heresy of one.htm

Thesaurus

Laboured (34 Occurrences)
...Laboured (34 Occurrences). ... (DBY YLT). John 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye
bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. ...
/l/laboured.htm - 16k

Labour (119 Occurrences)
... (WEY). John 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men
laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (KJV WEY DBY YLT). ...
/l/labour.htm - 35k

Reaped (9 Occurrences)
... Reaped (9 Occurrences). John 4:38 I sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured;
others laboured, and ye into their labour have entered. (See NIV). ...
/r/reaped.htm - 9k

Strenuously (6 Occurrences)
... But she strenuously maintained that it was true. "It is his guardian angel," they
said. (WEY). Romans 16:6 to Mary who has laboured strenuously among you; (WEY) ...
/s/strenuously.htm - 8k

Vexation (36 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and
on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and ...
/v/vexation.htm - 18k

Wage (39 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 49:4 And I said, 'For a vain thing I laboured, For emptiness and vanity my
power I consumed, But my judgment 'is' with Jehovah, And my wage with my God. ...
/w/wage.htm - 18k

Labourer (8 Occurrences)

/l/labourer.htm - 8k

Consume (136 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:39 vineyards thou dost plant, and hast laboured, and wine thou
dost not drink nor gather, for the worm doth consume it; (YLT). ...
/c/consume.htm - 40k

Labors (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Ecclesiastes 2:20 Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair
concerning all the labour wherein I had laboured under the sun. (See RSV). ...
/l/labors.htm - 14k

Labourers (11 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women
which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my ...
/l/labourers.htm - 9k

Resources

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

Concordance

Laboured (34 Occurrences)

Luke 5:5
And Simon answering said to him, Master, having laboured through the whole night we have taken nothing, but at thy word I will let down the net.
(DBY YLT)

John 4:38
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
(KJV WEY DBY YLT)

John 5:4
For an angel descended at a certain season in the pool and troubled the water. Whoever therefore first went in after the troubling of the water became well, whatever disease he laboured under.
(BBE)

Romans 16:6
to Mary who has laboured strenuously among you;
(WEY DBY)

Romans 16:12
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
(KJV WEY DBY)

1 Corinthians 15:10
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.
(KJV DBY)

Galatians 4:11
I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.
(DBY)

Philippians 2:16
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.
(KJV DBY)

Philippians 4:3
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
(KJV)

2 Thessalonians 3:8
nor did we eat any one's bread without paying for it, but we laboured and toiled, working hard night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you.
(WEY)

Revelation 2:3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
(KJV)

Deuteronomy 28:39
vineyards thou dost plant, and hast laboured, and wine thou dost not drink nor gather, for the worm doth consume it;
(YLT)

Joshua 24:13
And I gave you a land whereon thou hadst not labored, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell therein; of vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
(See JPS YLT)

Nehemiah 4:21
So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
(KJV DBY)

Job 20:18
That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
(KJV JPS DBY YLT)

Proverbs 16:26
A labouring man hath laboured for himself, For his mouth hath caused 'him' to bend over it.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:11
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
(KJV JPS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:18
And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
(See JPS)

Ecclesiastes 2:19
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
(KJV JPS DBY YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:20
Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun.
(DBY JPS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
(KJV JPS DBY YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:22
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
(KJV YLT)

Ecclesiastes 5:16
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
(KJV DBY)

Isaiah 47:12
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
(KJV JPS DBY YLT)

Isaiah 47:15
Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.
(KJV JPS DBY YLT)

Isaiah 49:4
Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
(KJV JPS DBY YLT)

Isaiah 57:10
In the greatness of thy way thou hast laboured, Thou hast not said, 'It is desperate.' The life of thy hand thou hast found, Therefore thou hast not been sick.
(YLT)

Isaiah 62:8
The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
(KJV JPS DBY YLT)

Jeremiah 9:5
And each at his friend they mock, And truth they do not speak, They taught their tongue to speak falsehood, To commit iniquity they have laboured.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 51:58
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly laid bare, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; so that the peoples will have laboured in vain, and the nations for the fire: and they shall be weary.
(DBY)

Lamentations 5:5
For our neck we have been pursued, We have laboured -- there hath been no rest for us.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 29:20
His wage for which he laboured I have given to him, The land of Egypt -- in that they wrought for Me, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
(YLT)

Daniel 6:14
Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
(KJV JPS DBY)

Jonah 4:10
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
(KJV JPS DBY)

Subtopics

Laboured

Related Terms

Fellow-labourer (1 Occurrence)

Deserves (25 Occurrences)

Labourers (11 Occurrences)

Laboured (34 Occurrences)

Justus (3 Occurrences)

Fellowlabourers (2 Occurrences)

Fellowlabourer (2 Occurrences)

Treadeth (25 Occurrences)

Regards (43 Occurrences)