Brief Overview of ἀνταγωνίζομαι (Strong’s G464:)

The Greek verb ἀνταγωνίζομαι (antagōnizomai) means “to contend against” or “to struggle against.” It implies a competitive or confrontational effort, often in the context of rivalry or opposition. The term denotes active engagement in a contest or struggle, whether in a physical, intellectual, or spiritual sense.

Detailed Overview

1. Strong’s Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀνταγωνίζομαι as “to contend with” or “to strive against.” It highlights the sense of contesting or struggling, typically involving effort to overcome an opponent or challenge.
2. Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon: BDAG provides a more nuanced understanding of ἀνταγωνίζομαι. It defines the term as “to strive or compete,” often in the context of a contest or struggle. It emphasizes the competitive aspect of the term, indicating an active engagement in opposing or striving against someone or something.
3. Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon: LSJ describes ἀνταγωνίζομαι as “to contend with” or “to struggle against.” It is used to denote a contest or struggle where one is actively engaged in opposing or competing against another.
4. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: Thayer’s defines ἀνταγωνίζομαι as “to contend with” or “to strive against,” reflecting the sense of engaging in a contest or conflict. It underscores the effort involved in opposing or competing, whether in a literal or metaphorical sense.

In summary, ἀνταγωνίζομαι (antagōnizomai) conveys the concept of actively contending or struggling against an opponent or challenge. While Strong’s provides a basic definition, BDAG, LSJ, and Thayer’s offer additional insights into the competitive and confrontational aspects of the term.