ἔχθρ-α G2189
Enmity, hostility, or deep-seated antagonism between parties, whether personal, cosmic, or spiritual.
An abstract noun denoting settled hostility or antagonism — not a passing quarrel but a deep rift between opposing parties. Paul identifies it as a 'work of the flesh' alongside jealousy and strife (Gal 5:20), but also uses it theologically for the cosmic hostility between sinful humanity and God (Rom 8:7) and the dividing wall of enmity between Jew and Gentile that Christ abolished (Eph 2:14-16). Luke records that Herod and Pilate had been at enmity before being reconciled over Jesus' trial (Luke 23:12). The Spanish 'enemistad' and French 'inimitie' both preserve the relational depth of the term.
Senses
1. enmity / hostility — Enmity, hostility, or deep antagonism between persons or groups — ranging from interpersonal feuds to cosmic spiritual opposition. In Rom 8:7 it describes the mind of the flesh as enmity toward God; in Eph 2:15-16 Christ destroys the dividing wall of enmity between Jew and Gentile; in Gal 5:20 it appears among the works of the flesh alongside jealousy and discord. Luke 23:12 uses it of the personal feud between Herod and Pilate. The plural form in Galatians (Spanish 'enemistades') suggests multiple manifestations of hostility, while the singular elsewhere points to a settled, structural antagonism. 6×
AR["العَداواتُ", "العَداوَةَ", "عَداوَةٌ", "عَداوَةٍ", "عَدَاوَةٌ"]·ben["শত্রুতা", "শত্রুতা,", "শত্রুতায়"]·DE["Feindschaft", "ἔχθρᾳ"]·EN["enmities", "enmity", "hostility"]·FR["hostilité", "inimitié"]·heb["אֵיבָה", "אֵיבוֹת"]·HI["बैर", "बैरय,", "शत्रुता"]·ID["permusuhan"]·IT["echthra", "echthrai", "echthran", "inimicizia"]·jav["mengsah", "sesatron", "sesatron,", "sesengitan"]·KO["원수-됨", "원수이라", "적대,", "적대감에", "적대감을"]·PT["inimizade", "inimizades"]·RU["-Богу", "вражда", "вражде", "вражду", "вражды"]·ES["enemistad", "enemistades"]·SW["hasira", "uadui"]·TR["dusmanligi", "düşmanlık", "düşmanlıklar", "düşmanlıkta", "düşmanlığı", "yasayi"]·urd["دشمنی", "دشمنیاں"]
Related Senses
H4421 1. war, battle, armed conflict (319×)H0341 1. enemy, adversary, foe (284×)H3898a 1. Nifal: to fight, wage war (167×)H2026 1. kill, slay (active) (146×)H2451 1. wisdom, discernment (146×)H5483b 1. horse (the animal) (138×)H0006 1. to perish, be destroyed (105×)H7843 1. Hifil: destroy, annihilate (83×)H2491a 1. slain, fatally pierced (74×)H6862c 1. adversary, enemy, foe (69×)H8045 1. destroy, exterminate (69×)G0615 1. kill, put to death (60×)H6571b 1. horseman, cavalryman (52×)H8077a 1. desolation, waste (abstract state) (52×)G4678 1. of wisdom (51×)G4717 1. crucify, fasten to a cross (46×)H2763a 1. utterly destroy (Hifil active) (44×)G0622 1. perish, be destroyed (intransitive) (41×)H0006 2. to destroy, annihilate (Piel) (38×)H8074 1. be desolate, lie waste (36×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἔχθρ-α, Ionic dialect ἔχθρη, ἡ, hatred, enmity, Refs 5th c.BC+: in philosophical sense, ={νεῖκος}Refs 3rd c.AD+; ἔ. τινός hatred for, enmity to one, NT+5th c.BC+; δι᾽ ἔχθρας μολεῖν, ἀφῖχθαί τινι, to be at feud with one, Refs 5th c.BC+; πρὸς ἔχθραν from personal enmity, Refs 4th c.BC+; ἔ. συμβάλλειν, συνάπτειν τινί, to engage in hostility with.., Refs 5th c.BC+, of undying hatred, Refs 5th c.BC+