STRONGS NUMBER G3008

Original Word: λειτουργέω
Transliteration: leitourgeō
Phonetic Spelling: (li-toorg-eh'-o)
Part of Speech: Verb
Short Definition: to serve the state, by anal. to perform religious service
Meaning: to minister, serve publiclyminister.

From leitourgos; to be a public servant, i.e. (by analogy) to perform religious or charitable functions (worship, obey, relieve) -- minister.

see GREEK leitourgos

STRONGS NT 3008: λειτουργέω

λειτουργέω, participle λειτουργῶν; 1 aorist infinitive λειτουργῆσαι; (from λειτουργός, which see);

1. in Attic, especially the orators, "to serve the state at one's own cost; to assume an office which must be administered at one's own expense; to discharge a public office at one's own cost; to render public service to the state" (cf. Melanchthon in Apology, Confessions, Augustine, p. 270f (Corpus Reformat. edition Bindseil (post Bretschn.) vol. xxvli., p. 623, and F. Francke, Conf. Luth., Part i., p. 271 note (Lipsius 1846)); Wolf, Demosthenes, Lept., p. 85ff; Böckh, Athen. Staatshaush. i., p. 480ff; Lübker, Reallex. des class. Alterth. (or Smith, Dict. of Greek and Rom. Antiq.) under the word λειτουργία).

2. universally, to do service, to perform a work; Vulg.ministro (A. V. to minister);

a. of the priests and Levites who were busied with the sacred rites in the tabernacle or the temple (so the Sept. often for שֵׁרֵת; as Numbers 18:2; Exodus 28:31, 39; Exodus 29:30; Joel 1:9, etc.; several times for עָבַד, Numbers 4:37, 39; Numbers 16:9; Numbers 18:6f; add, Sir. 4:14 (; Judith 4:14); 1 Macc. 10:42; (Philo, vit. Moys. 3:18; cf. ὑμῖν λειτουργουσι καί αὐτοί τήν λειτουργίαν τῶν προφητῶν καί διδασκάλων (of bishops and deacons), Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, chapter 15 [ET] (cf. Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 44, 2 [ET] etc.))): Hebrews 10:11. b.λειτουργουν τῷ κυρίῳ, of Christians serving Christ, whether, by prayer, or by instructing others concerning the way of salvation, or in some other way: Acts 13:2; cf. DeWette at the passage c. of those who aid others with their resources, and relieve their poverty: τίνι ἐν τίνι, Romans 15:27, cf. Sir. 10:25.