2189. echthra

Lexicon

echthra: Enmity, hostility, hatred

Original Word: ἔχθρα
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: echthra
Pronunciation: EKH-thrah
Phonetic Spelling: (ekh'-thrah)
Definition: Enmity, hostility, hatred
Meaning: enmity, hostility, alienation.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

enmity, hatred.

Feminine of echthros; hostility; by implication, a reason for opposition -- enmity, hatred.

see GREEK echthros

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2189 éxthra – properly, enemy (hatred, hostility); enmity. See 2190 (exthros).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2189: ἔχθρα

ἔχθρα, ἔχθρας, ἡ (from the adjective ἐχθρός), enmity: Luke 23:12; Ephesians 2:14 (15),16; plural, Galatians 5:20; ἔχθρα (Lachmann ἔχθρα feminine adjective (Vulg.inimica)) Θεοῦ, toward God, James 4:4 (where Tdf. τῷ Θεῷ); εἰς Θεόν, Romans 8:7; by metonymy, equivalent to cause of enmity, Ephesians 2:14 (15) (but cf. Meyer. (From Pindar down.))

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from ἐχθρός (echthros), meaning "enemy" or "hostile."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 342: אֵיבָה (eybah) • Enmity, hostility.
• Strong's Hebrew 8130: שָׂנֵא (sane) • To hate, be hostile.

These Hebrew terms reflect similar concepts of enmity and hostility found in the Old Testament, often describing the adversarial relationships between individuals or nations, as well as the spiritual enmity between humanity and God.

Usage: The term ἔχθρα is used in the New Testament to describe a state of enmity or hostility, often in the context of human relationships or the spiritual condition of individuals in opposition to God.

Context: The Greek word ἔχθρα (echthra) appears several times in the New Testament, primarily to denote a state of enmity or hostility. It is used to describe both interpersonal conflicts and the broader spiritual enmity between humanity and God due to sin.

In Galatians 5:20, ἔχθρα is listed among the "works of the flesh," indicating behaviors and attitudes that are contrary to the Spirit-led life. The passage warns believers against such dispositions, which include "hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage" (BSB).

In Romans 8:7, the term is used to describe the mindset of the flesh, which is hostile to God: "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so" (BSB). This highlights the inherent opposition between the sinful nature and the divine will.

James 4:4 uses ἔχθρα to illustrate the spiritual adultery of friendship with the world: "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God" (BSB). This passage underscores the incompatibility of worldly allegiance with devotion to God.

Theologically, ἔχθρα signifies the deep-seated division that sin creates between humanity and God, as well as among individuals. The New Testament message emphasizes reconciliation through Christ, who breaks down the barriers of enmity, as seen in Ephesians 2:14-16, where Christ is described as our peace, having "destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" (BSB).

Forms and Transliterations

εχθρα έχθρα ἔχθρα ἔχθρᾳ εχθραι έχθραι ἔχθραι εχθραίνετε εχθραίνοντάς εχθραίνοντές εχθραίνουσιν εχθραίνων εχθραν έχθραν ἔχθραν έχθρας εχθρεύσουσιν εχθρεύσω εχθρία echthra échthra echthrai échthrai échthrāi echthran échthran

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 23:12 N-DFS
GRK: γὰρ ἐν ἔχθρᾳ ὄντες πρὸς
NAS: for before they had been enemies with each other.
KJV: at enmity between
INT: indeed at emnity were between

Romans 8:7 N-NFS
GRK: τῆς σαρκὸς ἔχθρα εἰς θεόν
NAS: on the flesh is hostile toward
KJV: mind [is] enmity against
INT: of the flesh [is] hostility toward God

Galatians 5:20 N-NFP
GRK: εἰδωλολατρία φαρμακεία ἔχθραι ἔρις ζῆλος
NAS: sorcery, enmities, strife,
KJV: witchcraft, hatred, variance,
INT: idolatry sorcery enmities strife jealousy

Ephesians 2:15 N-AFS
GRK: τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ
NAS: in His flesh the enmity, [which is] the Law
KJV: flesh the enmity, [even] the law
INT: the hostility in the

Ephesians 2:16 N-AFS
GRK: ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ
NAS: by it having put to death the enmity.
KJV: having slain the enmity thereby:
INT: having slain the hostility by it

James 4:4 N-NFS
GRK: τοῦ κόσμου ἔχθρα τοῦ θεοῦ
NAS: with the world is hostility toward God?
KJV: is enmity with God?
INT: of the world hostility [with] God

Strong's Greek 2189
6 Occurrences

ἔχθρᾳ — 3 Occ.
ἔχθραι — 1 Occ.
ἔχθραν — 2 Occ.