Biblical Lexicon

ἐναντίος G1727

Adj-ANP | 8× in 2 senses

Contrary, opposing; opposite in spatial position — resistance in direction, purpose, or physical placement

The adjective ἐναντίος carries the classical Greek sense of 'set against,' whether as wind blowing against a boat, people acting in hostile opposition, or someone standing physically opposite another. In the Gospels, Jesus' disciples struggle against a 'contrary' wind (Matt 14:24; Mark 6:48) — a vivid image of natural forces resisting human effort. In Acts, the word shifts to interpersonal and ideological opposition: Paul confesses he once thought he ought to do many things 'contrary to' the name of Jesus (Acts 26:9). A single occurrence in Mark 15:39, where the centurion stands 'opposite' the cross, preserves the purely spatial, non-hostile sense of facing someone directly.

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Senses

1. contrary, opposed — Contrary, opposing, or hostile — acting against someone or something in direction, purpose, or attitude. Used of wind blowing against a boat on the Sea of Galilee (Matt 14:24; Mark 6:48), headwinds impeding sea travel (Acts 27:4), Paul's former opposition to Jesus' name (Acts 26:9), and Jewish leaders perceived as acting 'contrary' to Paul's mission (Acts 28:17). Arabic 'muaakisatan' (opposing), Hebrew 'mitnagged' (resisting), and Korean 'yeonkpung' (역풍, headwind) all deploy active-opposition vocabulary. This sense accounts for seven of the eight NT occurrences. 7×

PROPERTIES_RELATIONS › Nature, Class, Example › Geography and Space

AR["-المُقاوِمِ","ضِدَّ","مُعادينَ","مُعاكِسَةً","مُعَارِضَةً","مُعَاكِسَةً"]·ben["বিপক্ষ","বিপরীত","বিরুদ্ধ","বিরুদ্ধে","বিরোধী"]·DE["ἐναντία","ἐναντίας","ἐναντίον","ἐναντίος","ἐναντίους","ἐναντίων"]·EN["contrary","opposite"]·FR["contraire","opposé"]·heb["מְנַגְּדִים","מִתְנַגֵּד","נֶגְדִּיּוֹת","נֶגְדִּית","נֶגֶד"]·HI["उनके-विरुद्ध","विपरीत।","विरुद्ध","विरोधमें","विरोधि"]·ID["berlawanan","berlawanan.","lawan","melawan"]·IT["contrario","enantias","enantios","enantiōn"]·jav["nglawan","nglawan,","nglawan."]·KO["대적하는","반대-의","반대되는","반대되는-것들을","반대편이","역이었다","역풍이었다"]·PT["contrárias","contrário","contrários","contrários.","lado-contrário"]·RU["против","противного","противной-стороны","противный","противными","противящихся"]·ES["contrarias","contrario","contrarios","lo-contrario"]·SW["kinyume","kinyume-cha-","upande-wa-pili","wanaopinga"]·TR["halka","karşı","karşı-taraf","karşıt","ters"]·urd["خلاف","مخالف","مخالفانہ"]

Matt 14:24, Mark 6:48, Acts 26:9, Acts 27:4, Acts 28:17, 1 Thess 2:15, Titus 2:8

2. opposite (spatial position) — Physically positioned opposite or facing someone, a spatial relationship without hostile connotation. In Mark 15:39, the centurion who stood 'opposite' (ἐξ ἐναντίας) Jesus watched him breathe his last and confessed him as the Son of God. Spanish 'enfrente' (in front of, facing), rather than 'contrario' (contrary), and the simple positional framing of the narrative confirm a spatial-locative sense distinct from the adversarial meaning. This sole occurrence preserves the oldest Homeric usage of the word as simple face-to-face positioning. 1×

PROPERTIES_RELATIONS › Nature, Class, Example › Geography and Space

AR["مُقَابِلِهِ"]·ben["সামনে"]·DE["ἐναντίας"]·EN["opposite"]·FR["contraire"]·heb["לְ-מוּל"]·HI["सामने"]·ID["depan"]·IT["enantias"]·jav["ing-ngajengipun"]·KO["맞은편에"]·PT["defronte"]·RU["против"]·ES["enfrente"]·SW["mbele-yake"]·TR["karşısında"]·urd["سامنے"]

Mark 15:39

BDB / Lexicon Reference

ἐναντίος, α, ον, opposite, ={ἀντίος} (which is rare in Prose): __1 of Place, on the opposite side, opposite, c.dative, ἀκταὶ ἐναντίαι ἀλλήλῃσιν Refs 8th c.BC+: hence, fronting, face to face, αὐτῳ οὔ πω φαίνετ᾽ ἐναντίη Refs 7th c.BC+; δεῖξον.. τὸ σὸν πρόσωπον δεῦρ᾽ ἐ. πατρί before him, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰναντία τινί things open to one's sight, Refs 5th c.BC+ look opposite ways, Refs 5th c.BC+ __1.b…