λογο-μᾰχία G3055
word-battles, disputes about words
This noun denotes quarrels or controversies focused on words and semantics rather than substantive truth. It describes the activity of logomachia—fighting over terminology, definitions, or verbal formulations in ways that obscure rather than clarify. First Timothy 6:4 associates such word-battles with the diseased craving for controversy characteristic of false teachers.
Senses
1. sense 1 — First Timothy 6:4 describes false teachers as having a morbid craving for controversy and disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, and evil suspicions. The multilingual evidence (word-battles, disputas-de-palabras, λογομαχίας, Wortstreit) emphasizes the combative, unedifying nature of such arguments. Paul sees these verbal contests as symptoms of spiritual disease rather than genuine pursuit of truth. 1×
AR["مُماحَكاتٍ"]·ben["শব্দযুদ্ধে,"]·DE["Wortstreit"]·EN["word-battles"]·FR["λογομαχίας"]·heb["מִלְחֲמוֹת-מִלִּים"]·HI["शबद-लदऐ"]·ID["pertengkaran-kata-kata"]·IT["logomachias"]·jav["adu-pangandika,"]·KO["말-싸움들,"]·PT["disputás-de-palavras"]·RU["словопрения"]·ES["disputas-de-palabras"]·SW["ugomvi-wa-maneno"]·TR["kelime-kavgaları"]·urd["لفظی-لڑائیوں"]
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-μᾰχία, ἡ, war about words, disputation, NT+3rd c.AD+; title of Menippean satire by Varro, Nonius Refs