ἀνταγωνίζομαι (antagōnizomai)
antagōnizomai
to struggle
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb antagōnizomai describes a strenuous struggle or contest against an opponent. Its roots combine "against" and "contest," capturing the intensity of physical or spiritual combat. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Hebrews 12:4, where believers are urged to fight against sin with such vigor that they have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.
This single usage highlights a specific kind of endurance. It is not merely resisting temptation passively, but actively engaging in a difficult battle. The word conveys the idea of striving hard against a powerful adversary, emphasizing the effort required to remain faithful under pressure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word antagōnizomai appears only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 12:4. It describes a strenuous struggle or contest against an opponent. The roots combine "against" and "contest," capturing the intensity of physical or spiritual combat. In this verse, believers are urged to fight against sin with such vigor that they have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.
This single usage highlights a specific kind of endurance. It is not merely resisting temptation passively, but actively engaging in a difficult battle. The word conveys the idea of striving hard against a powerful adversary, emphasizing the effort required to remain faithful under pressure. When you face moral choices or spiritual fatigue, remember that this struggle is part of the Christian journey.
God does not expect you to fight alone. Even when the battle feels overwhelming, His grace sustains you. You are called to persevere, knowing that your efforts are seen and valued by Him. This active resistance is a sign of your commitment to faithfulness, not a burden to bear in isolation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- struggling1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνταγωνιζόμενοι1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 12:4
You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.
This verse uniquely applies antagōnizomai to the active, strenuous resistance against sin, distinguishing it from passive avoidance.