θῡμο-μᾰχέω G2371
to be furiously angry, to rage; to fight with intense anger or hostility
The verb θυμομαχέω combines θυμός (wrath, passion) with μάχομαι (to fight), describing someone fighting with furious anger or engaging in hostile contention. Ancient sources use it for desperate fighting or obstinate contention driven by rage. Acts 12:20 describes Herod as "furiously angry" (θυμομαχῶν) with the people of Tyre and Sidon, who come seeking peace. The participle suggests Herod was in a state of hostile rage toward these cities. Translations render it "furiously angry" (English), "furioso" (Spanish), "furieux" (French), capturing the intense, aggressive hostility the compound verb denotes.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Acts describes Herod Agrippa I as θυμομαχῶν toward Tyre and Sidon (12:20)—literally "fighting with wrath" or in a state of furious hostility. The cities' delegation seeks peace, suggesting a trade embargo or political pressure stemming from royal anger. The compound θυμομαχέω intensifies beyond mere anger (θυμός) to angry contention or hostile action. Classical usage includes desperate battle-fighting and obstinate contention. The multilingual evidence uniformly emphasizes fury: "furiously angry," "furioso," "furieux," though the verb suggests more than emotion—active hostile engagement or quarrel. 1×
AR["غَاضِبًا-جِدًّا"]·ben["ক্রুদ্ধ"]·DE["θυμομαχῶν"]·EN["furiously-angry"]·FR["furieux"]·heb["כּוֹעֵס-מְאֹד"]·HI["क्रोधित"]·ID["sangat-marah"]·IT["essere-adirato"]·jav["duka"]·KO["화내고-있었다"]·RU["враждующий"]·ES["furioso"]·SW["akiwaghadhibikia"]·TR["öfkeli"]·urd["بہت-ناراض"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
θῡμο-μᾰχέω, to be angry, Refs 2nd c.BC+; τισι NT __II fight desperately, Refs 1st c.BC+; contend obstinately, τινι Refs 1st c.BC+