"to be wearied or spent with labor, faint from weariness, Mt. 11:28; Jn. 4:6; in NT to labor hard, to toil, Lk. 5:5; Jn. 4:38"
Definition and meaning
to be wearied or spent with labor, faint from weariness, Mt. 11:28; Jn. 4:6; in NT to labor hard, to toil, Lk. 5:5; Jn. 4:38
In the original Greek the word is written: κοπιάω
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 kopiao (G2872) across the King James Bible.
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
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.
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.
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.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
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.
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
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Common questions
Strong's G2872 (kopiao) is a Greek word that means: to be wearied or spent with labor, faint from weariness, Mt. 11:28; Jn. 4:6; in NT to labor hard, to toil, Lk. 5:5; Jn. 4:38 It appears 21 times in the King James Bible.
The word kopiao (G2872) appears 21 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2872 is kopiao, a Greek word defined as: to be wearied or spent with labor, faint from weariness, Mt. 11:28; Jn. 4:6; in NT to labor hard, to toil, Lk. 5:5; Jn. 4:38. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kopiao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.