1264. diamachomai

Lexicon

diamachomai: To contend earnestly, to strive vehemently, to argue intensely.

Original Word: διαμάχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: diamachomai
Pronunciation: dee-am-akh'-om-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-am-akh'-om-ahee)
Definition: To contend earnestly, to strive vehemently, to argue intensely.
Meaning: I strive greatly, contend fiercely.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

strive.

From dia and machomai; to fight fiercely (in altercation) -- strive.

see GREEK dia

see GREEK machomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from dia and machomai
Definition
to struggle against
NASB Translation
argue heatedly (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1264: διαμάχομαι

διαμάχομαι: imperfect διεμαχομην; to fight it out; contend fiercely: of disputants, Acts 23:9. (Sir. 8:1, 3; very frequent in Attic writings.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the Greek preposition διά (dia), meaning "through" or "thoroughly," and the verb μάχομαι (machomai), meaning "to fight" or "to strive."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for διαμάχομαι, similar concepts of contention and dispute can be found in Hebrew words such as רִיב (riyb), Strong's Hebrew 7378, which means "to strive" or "to contend," and מָדוֹן (madon), Strong's Hebrew 4066, meaning "strife" or "contention." These terms are used in the Old Testament to describe conflicts and disputes among individuals or groups, reflecting similar themes of intense disagreement.

Usage: The term διαμάχομαι is used in the New Testament to describe a situation where individuals are engaged in a strong or intense argument or debate. It conveys the idea of a vigorous or forceful contention.

Context: The Greek verb διαμάχομαι appears in the New Testament in contexts where there is a significant disagreement or dispute. It is used to describe situations where individuals are not merely having a casual discussion but are engaged in a serious and often heated argument. This term emphasizes the intensity and fervor of the disagreement.

In the Berean Standard Bible, διαμάχομαι is found in Acts 23:9, where it describes the intense dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees during Paul's trial. The verse reads: "A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party got up and contended sharply, 'We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?'"

This usage highlights the deep division and passionate debate between the two groups, each holding firmly to their theological positions. The Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection and the existence of spirits and angels, were in sharp contention with the Sadducees, who denied these beliefs. The verb διαμάχομαι captures the fervent nature of their argument, illustrating the broader theme of division and conflict that can arise from differing interpretations of spiritual matters.

Forms and Transliterations

διεμαχοντο διεμάχοντο diemachonto diemáchonto

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 23:9 V-IIM/P-3P
GRK: τῶν Φαρισαίων διεμάχοντο λέγοντες Οὐδὲν
NAS: stood up and [began] to argue heatedly, saying,
KJV: arose, and strove, saying,
INT: of the Pharisees they were contending saying Nothing

Strong's Greek 1264
1 Occurrence

διεμάχοντο — 1 Occ.