### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb κάμνω (kámnō, `{{G2577}}`) is a primary verb carrying the core meaning of "to toil" or "to labor." From this foundational sense of strenuous effort, its semantic range extends to the resulting states of exhaustion and debilitation. Thus, it comes to signify "to tire," "to be weary," "to faint," or "to sicken." The word captures both the process of expending energy and the state of being drained, whether physically or, by extension, mentally or spiritually. It denotes a condition of weakness or enfeeblement brought about by hardship, exertion, or illness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term κάμνω (kámnō, `{{G2577}}`) appears only twice in the New Testament, yet each instance offers profound insight into its usage:
1. **[[Hebrews 12:3]]**: "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and faint in your souls."
Here, κάμνω (kámnō) is paired with ἐκλύω (eklyō, `{{G1590}}`, "to faint" or "to lose heart"), emphasizing a spiritual or psychological weariness. The author exhorts believers to fix their gaze upon Christ's endurance, thereby preventing a state of mental or spiritual exhaustion that could lead to discouragement and a cessation of perseverance in faith. The weariness described is not merely physical fatigue but a profound internal lassitude that threatens one's resolve in the face of opposition or prolonged struggle.
2. **[[James 5:15]]**: "And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
In this context, κάμνω (kámnō) clearly refers to physical illness or sickness. James speaks of the "sick" (τὸν κάμνοντα, *ton kamnonta*), indicating those who are physically ailing and in need of healing. This usage highlights the direct consequence of "toiling" or "being weighed down" in a physical sense, leading to a state of infirmity. The passage underscores the community's responsibility to pray for the physically afflicted, trusting in God's power to restore health.
These two occurrences demonstrate the word's versatility, encompassing both spiritual/mental fatigue and physical ailment, both stemming from an underlying sense of being "worn out" or "overcome."
### Related Words & Concepts
κάμνω (kámnō, `{{G2577}}`) resonates with several other Greek terms that describe states of labor, weakness, or discouragement:
* **κοπιάω (kopiáō, `{{G2872}}`)**: To toil, labor to the point of exhaustion. While κάμνω often describes the *state* of being weary, κοπιάω emphasizes the *act* of laborious effort that leads to such a state.
* **ἀσθενέω (asthenéō, `{{G770}}`)**: To be weak, sick, or infirm. This term broadly covers physical weakness and illness, similar to κάμνω in [[James 5:15]], but κάμνω often implies a weariness that *causes* or *accompanies* the sickness.
* **ἐκκακέω (ekkakeō, `{{G1579}}`)**: To lose heart, faint, or grow weary in doing good. This term is closely aligned with the spiritual weariness seen in [[Hebrews 12:3]], though κάμνω can denote a more general state of exhaustion.
* **ἀποκάμνω (apokámnō, `{{G616}}`)**: To grow weary, become exhausted. This is a compound of κάμνω with the prefix ἀπο- (apo-), intensifying the sense of complete exhaustion.
The concept of endurance (ὑπομονή, hypomonē, `{{G5281}}`), perseverance, and reliance on divine strength are thematic counterpoints to the weariness described by κάμνω.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of κάμνω (kámnō, `{{G2577}}`) lies in its portrayal of human vulnerability and the divine response to it.
1. **Human Frailty and the Need for Divine Strength**: Both instances of κάμνω underscore the reality of human limitations. In [[Hebrews 12:3]], it highlights the susceptibility of believers to spiritual fatigue when faced with prolonged opposition, emphasizing the need to fix their gaze on Christ for renewed strength and perseverance. In [[James 5:15]], it points to physical infirmity, calling for reliance on God's healing power through prayer. The word serves as a reminder that humans are not self-sufficient but are prone to being worn out, whether in body or spirit, necessitating divine intervention and sustenance.
2. **The Compassion of God and the Community**: The use of κάμνω in [[James 5:15]] reveals God's compassionate concern for the physically afflicted and the role of the believing community in ministering to them. The prayer of faith is presented as an effective means through which God's healing power is manifested, demonstrating that divine care extends to the physical well-being of His people.
3. **The Call to Perseverance in Suffering**: In [[Hebrews 12:3]], the warning against becoming "weary and faint" in one's soul is a call to steadfastness in the face of trials. It implies that spiritual weariness is a danger to be actively resisted through faith and contemplation of Christ's example. The suffering and weariness experienced by believers are not meaningless but are part of the refining process, requiring sustained faith rather than succumbing to exhaustion.
### Summary
κάμνω (kámnō, `{{G2577}}`) is a concise yet potent Greek verb, signifying "to toil," "to tire," "to faint," or "to sicken." Though appearing only twice in the New Testament, its usage is significant: in [[Hebrews 12:3]], it denotes a spiritual or psychological weariness that threatens perseverance, urging believers to draw strength from Christ's endurance; in [[James 5:15]], it refers to physical sickness, highlighting God's compassionate response to human infirmity through the prayer of faith. The word thus encapsulates both human vulnerability—be it spiritual exhaustion or physical ailment—and the divine provision of strength and healing. It serves as a reminder of the need for reliance on God amidst the burdens of life and the call to steadfastness in the face of trials.
TRV