ἀγωνίζομαι
agōnízomai
G75 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To engage in a contest or struggle, to compete or strive intensely; in extended usage, to make great effort or to exert oneself earnestly toward a goal (whether literal or figurative). In classical and Hellenistic Greek, primary sense is to participate in athletic or other formal contests. In broader contexts, can refer to striving against difficulties, adversaries, or in pursuit of a cause.
Semantic Range
to compete (in an athletic or other formal contest), to strive or struggle (against difficulties or adversaries), to make great effort, to labor intensely, to endeavor earnestly, to contend for a cause or goal
Root / Etymology
Deverbal from ἀγών (agōn), meaning 'contest,' 'struggle,' 'gathering for games.' The verb-forming suffix -ίζομαι denotes middle or passive participation in the activity of the base noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The primary sense in classical literature is of participating in official contests or games (athletics, rhetorical, or military), often with emphasis on discipline, effort, and opposition. Metaphorical extension to moral or religious striving appears in later Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, where ἀγωνίζομαι frequently expresses determined effort in pursuit of virtue or faithfulness (e.g., 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Timothy 6:12). In these texts, the contest metaphor underscores the arduous and ongoing nature of commitment, rather than implying a single event. Later Christian usage further develops this metaphor for spiritual or ethical struggle. English translations render the word variously as 'strive,' 'fight,' 'struggle,' or 'labor,' but sometimes obscure the original athletic or agonistic overtones. The verb is part of a larger semantic field including terms such as ἀθλέω (to contend as an athlete) and συναθλέω (to contend together).
Translation Consistency
Covers the primary senses in the SILEX range—compete in a contest, struggle against difficulty, and make intense effort—while remaining natural English. 'Strive' preserves the athletic/contest imagery without the violent connotation of 'fight' and is more common and readable than the more formal 'contend.' It therefore suits the typical usages of ἀγωνίζομαι across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀγών; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something):--fight, labor fervently, strive.
Root Family
ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnizomai) — to contest, to struggle, to strive
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G75-02 |
ἀγωνιζόμενος | agonizomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
competes | one striving in contest | one striving in contest | 3 |
G75-03 |
ἀγωνιζόμεθα | agonizometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
strive | we are striving | we are striving | 1 |
G75-04 |
ἀγωνίζου | agonizou | V PRS MID IMP 2P SG |
Fight | Keep striving | Keep striving | 1 |
G75-01 |
ἀγωνίζεσθε | agonizesthe | V PRS MID IMP 2P PL |
Strive | Keep striving | Keep striving | 1 |
G75-05 |
ἠγώνισμαι | egonismai | V PRF MID IND 1P SG |
I have fought | I have contended | I have contended | 1 |
G75-06 |
ἠγωνίζοντο | egonizonto | V IMPF MID IND 3P PL |
would fight | they were striving | would be striving | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G75-01 |
Luke 13:24 | ἀγωνίζεσθε | agonizesthe | V PRS MID IMP 2P PL |
Strive | Keep striving | Keep striving |
G75-06 |
John 18:36 | ἠγωνίζοντο | egonizonto | V IMPF MID IND 3P PL |
would fight | they were striving | would be striving |
G75-02 |
1 Corinthians 9:25 | ἀγωνιζόμενος | agonizomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
competes | one striving in contest | one striving in contest |
G75-02 |
Colossians 1:29 | ἀγωνιζόμενος | agonizomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
striving | one striving in contest | one striving in contest |
G75-02 |
Colossians 4:12 | ἀγωνιζόμενος | agonizomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
struggling | one striving in contest | one striving in contest |
G75-03 |
1 Timothy 4:10 | ἀγωνιζόμεθα | agonizometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
strive | we are striving | we are striving |
G75-04 |
1 Timothy 6:12 | ἀγωνίζου | agonizou | V PRS MID IMP 2P SG |
Fight | Keep striving | Keep striving |
G75-05 |
2 Timothy 4:7 | ἠγώνισμαι | egonismai | V PRF MID IND 1P SG |
I have fought | I have contended | I have contended |