ἀντιστρᾰτεύομαι G0497
wage war against, make war on
This verb means to make war against or wage military campaign against someone. Paul uses it in Romans 7:23 describing the 'law of sin waging war against the law of my mind.' Classical usage was military—taking the field against an enemy or conducting a campaign. The compound (ἀντι-στρατεύομαι) combines 'against' with 'make war,' emphasizing hostile military action. Spanish 'que-guerrea-contra' (that wars against), French 'combattre-contre' (fight against), and German 'widerstreiten' (resist/oppose) all capture the warfare imagery.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Wage war against (Rom 7:23). Paul describes the internal conflict: 'I see another law waging war against the law of my mind.' The military metaphor is deliberate and vivid—this is not mere temptation but full-scale warfare. Classical usage of military campaigns shows this is sustained, organized opposition, not sporadic skirmishes. The present participle indicates ongoing warfare—the law of sin continuously conducts military operations against the believer's renewed mind. This is the warfare of sanctification, resolved only through Christ (7:24-25). 1×
AR["مُحَارِبًا"]·ben["যুদ্ধ-করে"]·DE["widerstreiten"]·EN["waging-war-against"]·FR["combattre-contre"]·heb["הַ-נִלְחָם"]·HI["लड़नेवाली"]·ID["berperang-melawan"]·IT["combattere-contro"]·jav["ingkang-nglawan"]·KO["싸우는"]·PT["guerreando-contra"]·RU["-закону"]·ES["que-guerrea-contra"]·SW["inayopigana-dhidi-ya"]·TR["savaşan"]·urd["لڑتی-ہوئی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀντιστρᾰτεύομαι, take the field, make war against, τινίRefs 5th c.BC+:—later in active, Refs 1st c.BC+