μόχθος
mochthos
toil
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word μόχθος (mochthos) has a short definition of "toil", conveying the idea of hard work or labor. With only three occurrences in the Bible, its usage is limited, which could suggest a specific focus on particular themes or contexts where toil is relevant. In employing "toil" to describe difficult work or labor, μόχθος conveys a sense of struggle or exertion. This may imply a focus on overcoming obstacles or completing tasks against odds. Its scarcity of usage also implies that it is being used specifically to accentuate the difficulties or burdens associated with labor or work. Understanding μόχθος as a description of labor or work effort may provide insight into certain biblical themes, such as the difficulty of God's work in an individual's life or the necessity of hard work in maintaining livelihoods. Despite its limited context, the specific connotation of "toil" in these three occurrences suggests that a nuanced exploration of μόχθος could reveal aspects of these themes.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences across the text
in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
1 Thessalonians 2:9For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
2 Thessalonians 3:8neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you,