ἀντιστρατεύομαι (G497) — Greek Lexicon

ἀντιστρατεύομαι

antistrateúomai

G497 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to wage war against, to oppose in battle or military campaign; by extension, to engage in active opposition or conflict (including metaphoric or figurative struggles, such as internal moral or spiritual conflicts). The primary lexical sense involves the act of contending with an adversary in a hostile or combative manner, either literally (in martial engagement) or figuratively (in struggles against opposing forces of any kind).

Semantic Range

to wage war against, to campaign in opposition, to engage in battle, to actively oppose, to struggle against (including internal or figurative conflicts), to contend with hostile intent

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἀντί (against, opposite) prefixed to the middle/passive form of στρατεύομαι (to wage war, engage in military service); hence, "to wage war against."

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek usage, ἀντιστρατεύομαι describes engaging in military action against an enemy, often implying a reciprocal or responsive hostility (i.e., to launch a counter-campaign or wage war in return). In later Hellenistic and Koine usage—including the New Testament (cf. Romans 7:23)—the term acquires metaphorical significance, especially as a descriptor for internal or moral conflict (e.g., the law in one’s mind 'waging war' against another law or desire). The word may occur in military treatises and narrative literature with the literal sense of waging war, but in the New Testament and similar texts, the figurative sense becomes more prominent, often expressing active resistance or determined opposition. Standard English translations vary, rendering it as 'to make war against,' 'to oppose,' or 'to wage war,' but these sometimes obscure the metaphorical breadth of the term in Greek usage, particularly outside the context of literal armed conflict. Unlike the related term πολεμέω (to make war), ἀντιστρατεύομαι more explicitly signals the idea of directed, opposed struggle (either literal or figurative) against another force.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀντί and στρατεύομαι; (figuratively) to attack, i.e. (by implication) destroy:--war against.

Root Family

ἀντιστρατεύομαι (antistrateuomai) — to wage war, to campaign against, to engage in battle, to actively oppose

Root στρατεύ- to wage war, to campaign, to serve as a soldier

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G497-01`	ἀντιστρατευόμενον	antistrateuomenon	`V PRS MID PTCP ACC M SG`	waging war	waging war against	waging war against	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G497-01`	Romans 7:23	ἀντιστρατευόμενον	antistrateuomenon	`V PRS MID PTCP ACC M SG`	waging war	waging war against	waging war against

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