λογο-μᾰχέω G3054
to quarrel about words, engage in verbal disputes
This verb means to fight or wrangle over words, engaging in contentious disputes about terminology or semantics rather than substance. It suggests futile argumentation that generates heat rather than light. In 2 Timothy 2:14, Paul warns against this practice, which he says ruins the hearers and accomplishes nothing beneficial.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Second Timothy 2:14 instructs Timothy to charge believers before God not to engage in word-battles, which profit nothing and lead to the ruin of listeners. The multilingual glosses (quarrel-about-words, discutir-sobre-palabras, λογομαχεῖν, Wortstreit) capture the contentious, unproductive nature of such disputes. Paul consistently warns against verbal controversies that distract from gospel truth and Christian character. 1×
AR["يُماحِكوا-بِ-الكَلِماتِ"]·ben["শব্দ-বিতর্ক-করতে-"]·DE["Wortstreit"]·EN["to-quarrel-about-words"]·FR["λογομαχεῖν"]·heb["לְ-מִלְחֲמוֹת-מִלִּים"]·HI["शबद-लदऐ-करन --"]·ID["bertengkar-tentang-kata-kata"]·IT["logomachein"]·jav["padudon-pangandika-"]·KO["말-싸우기를"]·PT["contender-sobre-palavras"]·RU["словопрениям"]·ES["discutir-sobre-palabras"]·SW["gombane-kwa-maneno"]·TR["kelime-kavgası-yapmak"]·urd["لفظی-جھگڑا-کریں"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
λογο-μᾰχέω, fight about words, NT