Apply a jQuery function to a DOM element from a list of DOM elements

Apply a jQuery function to a DOM element from a list of DOM elements

I'm trying to apply a jQuery function .val() or .text() to a DOM element. I get this DOM element from a list of DOM elements like this:

  1. $("label")[0]

and this:

  1. $("label").get(0)

and everything is alright, but the problem is when I try to apply a function to this element

  1. $("label").get(0).text() 

or 

  1. $("label").get(0).val() 
then I get this error in the console:

TypeError: undefined is not a function

Shouldn't this work?