Original Word: λειτουργός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: leitourgos
Pronunciation: lay-toorg-os'
Phonetic Spelling: (li-toorg-os')
Definition: Minister, Servant, Public Servant
Meaning: a minister, servant, of an official character; of priests and Levites.

Word Origin: Derived from a combination of two Greek words: "λαός" (laos), meaning "people," and "ἔργον" (ergon), meaning "work."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "leitourgos," the concept of service and ministry can be related to Hebrew terms such as "שָׁרַת" (sharat - Strong's H8334), meaning "to minister" or "to serve."

Usage: The term "leitourgos" in the New Testament context refers to someone who performs a public duty or service, often in a religious or spiritual capacity. It is used to describe individuals who serve God and the community, particularly in roles of leadership or ministry. The word conveys a sense of duty and service for the benefit of others, often with a sacred or divine purpose.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek society, "leitourgos" was used to describe public servants or officials who performed duties for the state or community, often at their own expense. In the context of the New Testament, the term takes on a more spiritual connotation, referring to those who serve in the ministry of the church or in the service of God. This reflects the early Christian understanding of leadership as a form of service and sacrifice for the community and the Kingdom of God.

3011 leitourgós (a masculine noun derived from leitos, "belonging to the people" and 2041 /érgon, "work") – properly, an official servant (minister) who works for the good of the community. In the NT (and LXX), this root (leitourg-) is especially used for priestly-service given to God, impacting all who witness it.

[3011 (leitourgós) was originally a term for public service done by an official minister of the State. In classical Greek, it means "one who discharges a public office at his own expense, then, generally, a public servant, a minister, servant" (Abbott-Smith). That is, "a servant of the state, assuming public office to be administered at his own expense" (L & N, 1, 461, fn 5).]

Note: The leitourg- word-family consists of: 3008 (leitourgéō), 3009 (leitourgía), 3010 (leitourgikós), and 3011 (leitourgós). In the NT, it points to serving God in His sublime "otherness" and sharing this with others.

Word Origin
from laos and ergon
Definition
a public servant, a minister, a servant
NASB Translation
minister (3), ministers (1), servants (1).

STRONGS NT 3011: λειτουργός

λειτουργός, λειτουργου, ὁ (from ἘΡΓΩ i. e. ἐργάζομαι, and unused λεῖτοσ῟ equivalent to ληιτος equivalent to δημοσις public, belonging to the state (Hesychius), and this from λεώς Attic for λαός), the Sept. for מְשָׁרֵת (Piel participle of שָׁרַת);

1. a public minister; a servant of the state: τῆς πόλεως, Inscriptions; of the lictors, Plutarch, Rom. 26; (it has not yet been found in its primary and proper sense, of one who at Athens assumes a public office to be administered at his own expense (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word I.); see λειτουργέω).

2. universally, a minister, servant: so of military laborers, often in Polybius; of the servants of a king, 1 Esdr. 10:5; Sir. 10:2; (of Joshua, Joshua 1:1 Alex.; universally, 2 Samuel 13:18 (cf. 2 Samuel 13:17)); of the servants of the priests, joined with ὑπηρέται, Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 2, 73; τῶν ἁγίων, of the temple, i. e. one busied with holy things, of a priest, Hebrews 8:2, cf. (Philo, alleg. leg. iii. § 46); Nehemiah 10:39; Sir. 7:30; τῶν θεῶν, of heathen priests, Dionysius Halicarnassus 2, 22 cf. 73; Plutarch, mor., p. 417 a.; Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, of Paul likening himself to a priest, Romans 15:16; plural τοῦ Θεοῦ, those by whom God administers his affairs and executes his decrees: so of magistrates, Romans 13:6; of angels, Hebrews 1:7 from Psalm 103:4 () (cf. Philo de caritat. § 3); τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ, those whose ministry the grace of God made use of for proclaiming to men the necessity of repentance, as Noah, Jonah: Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 8, 1 [ET] cf. c. 7 [ET]; τόν ἀπόστολον καί λειτουργόν ὑμῶν τῆς χρείας μου, by whom ye have sent to me those things which may minister to my needs, Philippians 2:25.

minister

From a derivative of laos and ergon; a public servant, i.e. A functionary in the Temple or Gospel, or (genitive case) a worshipper (of God) or benefactor (of man) -- minister(-ed).

see GREEK laos

see GREEK ergon

έλειξαν λείξουσι λείξουσιν λειτουργοι λειτουργοί λειτουργοὶ λειτουργοίς λειτουργον λειτουργόν λειτουργὸν λειτουργος λειτουργός λειτουργὸς λειτουργους λειτουργούς λειτουργοὺς λειτουργών λειχήν λειχήνας λεκάνη leitourgoi leitourgoì leitourgon leitourgòn leitourgos leitourgòs leitourgous leitourgoùsInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts