ἀγων-ίζομαι G0075
To contend, strive, fight — from athletic competition to spiritual warfare to literal combat
Drawn from the world of Greek athletic games, this verb carries the intensity of a competitor straining for the prize into the heart of New Testament spirituality. Paul's farewell declaration 'I have fought the good fight' (2 Tim 4:7) and his command to 'fight the good fight of faith' (1 Tim 6:12) use the same word that described wrestlers and runners in the arena. Jesus commands his hearers to 'strive to enter through the narrow door' (Luke 13:24), while Epaphras 'strives earnestly' in prayer for the Colossians (Col 4:12). Only in John 18:36 does the literal military sense surface, where Jesus says his servants 'would fight' if his kingdom were of this world.
3. to fight, do battle (literal) — Literal physical fighting or combat. Jesus declares in John 18:36 that if his kingdom were of this world, his servants 'would have fought' to prevent his arrest. Spanish 'pelearían' (they would fight) signals unmistakable military engagement — the one New Testament passage where this verb retains its plainly martial sense. 1×
AR["يُجَاهِدُونَ"]·ben["লড়াই-করত"]·DE["kaempfen"]·EN["would-have-fought"]·FR["combattre"]·heb["נִלְחָמִים"]·HI["लड़ते"]·ID["akan-berjuang"]·IT["lottare"]·jav["perang"]·KO["싸웠을-것이다"]·PT["lutariam"]·RU["сражались-бы»"]·ES["pelearían"]·SW["wangepigana"]·TR["savaşırlardı"]·urd["لڑتے"]
▼ 2 more senses below
Senses
1. to strive, contend earnestly (spiritual effort) — Earnest spiritual striving, contending in faith, prayer, or ministry. The dominant New Testament sense, appearing six times. Spanish 'esforzaos/luchamos/he luchado' and German 'kaempfen' reflect the intense exertion. Paul labors 'striving according to His working' (Col 1:29), Epaphras 'strives earnestly' in prayer (Col 4:12), and Timothy is charged to 'fight the good fight of faith' (1 Tim 6:12; cf. 2 Tim 4:7; Luke 13:24). 6×
AR["جاهَدْتُ","جاهِدْ","جَاهِدُوا","مُجاهِدًا","نُجاهِدُ"]·ben["আমরা-সংগ্রাম-করি,","লড়েছি;","সংগ্রাম-কর","সংগ্রাম-করে"]·DE["kaempfen","Ἀγωνίζεσθε"]·EN["I-have-fought","Strive","fight","striving","we-strive"]·FR["combattre"]·heb["הִלָּחֵם","הִתְאַמְּצוּ","נְאֶבְקִים","נֶאֱבַקְתִּי","נֶאֱבָק"]·HI["प्रयत्न-करो","लदो","लध;","सनघरश-करत-हुअ","सनघरश-करते-हैन"]·ID["Berjuanglah","aku-telah-bertanding","berjuang","bertandinglah"]·IT["combattere","lottare"]·jav["Kawula-pèranga","kita-perjuang,","kula-jurit;","padha-perjuang","rekasa"]·KO["싸우라","싸웠다","애쓴다,","힘쓰는","힘쓰라","힘쓰면서"]·PT["Esforçai-vos","combate","combatendo","lutamos","lutando"]·RU["Подвизайтесь","подвизаемся","подвизайся","подвизающийся","подвизаясь","я-боролся"]·ES["Esforzaos","he-luchado","luchamos","luchando","pelea"]·SW["Jitahidini","akipambana","nikipambana","nimepigana","pigana","tunajitahidi"]·TR["mucadele-eden","mücadele-et","mücadele-ettim","uğraşıyoruz","Çabalayın"]·urd["جدوجہد-کرتے-ہیں","لڑ","میں-نے-لڑی-ہے","کوشش-کرتا-ہوا","کوشش-کرتے-ہوئے","کوشش-کرو"]
2. to compete (athletic metaphor) — Competing in athletic contest, used as metaphor for disciplined Christian life. In 1 Cor 9:25 Paul compares the believer to athletes who exercise self-control in all things. Spanish 'luchando' and French 'combattre' preserve the competitive register. The metaphor evokes the rigorous training and single-minded focus of the Greek games. 1×
AR["المُجاهِدُ"]·ben["প্রতিযোগী,"]·DE["kaempfen"]·EN["competing"]·FR["combattre"]·heb["מִתְחָרֶה"]·HI["संघर्ष-करने-वाला"]·ID["bertanding"]·IT["lottare"]·jav["ingkang-tandhing,"]·KO["경기하는-자는"]·PT["competindo,"]·RU["состязающийся,"]·ES["luchando"]·SW["anayeshindana,"]·TR["o-"]·urd["مقابلہ-کرنے-والا"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀγων-ίζομαι, future -ῐοῦμαιRefs 5th c.BC+, etc. (in passive sense, see infr. B); -ίσομαι only in late writers, as Refs 3rd c.AD+ -ισθήσομαι Refs 2nd c.AD+: aorist ἠγωνισάμηνRefs 5th c.BC+, etc.: perfect ἠγώνισμαι (in active sense) Id Refs 5th c.BC+ (passive, see infr. B): aorist ἠγωνίσθην in passive sense, infr. B: active form ἀγωνίσαςRefs — __A contend for a prize, especially in the public…