"pr. inactive, unemployed, Mt. 20:3, 6; idle, averse from labor, 1 Tim. 5:13; Tit. 1:12; met. 2 Pet. 1:8; unprofitable, hollow, or by impl., injurious, Mt. 12:36; Jas. 2:20*"
Definition and meaning
pr. inactive, unemployed, Mt. 20:3, 6; idle, averse from labor, 1 Tim. 5:13; Tit. 1:12; met. 2 Pet. 1:8; unprofitable, hollow, or by impl., injurious, Mt. 12:36; Jas. 2:20*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀργός
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of argos (G692) across the King James Bible.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Common questions
Strong's G692 (argos) is a Greek word that means: pr. inactive, unemployed, Mt. 20:3, 6; idle, averse from labor, 1 Tim. 5:13; Tit. 1:12; met. 2 Pet. 1:8; unprofitable, hollow, or by impl., injurious, Mt. 12:36; Jas. 2:20* It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word argos (G692) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G692 is argos, a Greek word defined as: pr. inactive, unemployed, Mt. 20:3, 6; idle, averse from labor, 1 Tim. 5:13; Tit. 1:12; met. 2 Pet. 1:8; unprofitable, hollow, or by impl., injurious,. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
argos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.