Strong's Lexicon thériomacheó: To fight with wild beasts Original Word: θηριομαχέω Word Origin: From θηρίον (thērion, meaning "wild beast") and μάχομαι (machomai, meaning "to fight") Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "thériomacheó," the concept of facing fierce opposition or trials can be related to Hebrew terms such as "לחם" (lacham, Strong's H3898), meaning "to fight" or "to battle." Usage: The verb "thériomacheó" is used to describe the act of fighting with wild beasts. In the context of the New Testament, it is often understood metaphorically to describe intense spiritual or physical struggles, rather than a literal combat with animals. This term conveys the idea of facing formidable and life-threatening challenges. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Roman Empire, fighting with wild beasts was a form of capital punishment and entertainment in arenas such as the Colosseum. Christians were sometimes subjected to this fate during periods of persecution. The imagery of battling wild beasts would have been a powerful metaphor for early Christians, symbolizing the severe trials and persecutions they faced for their faith. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom thérion and machomai Definition to fight with wild beasts NASB Translation fought with wild beasts (1), wild beasts (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2341: θηριομαχέωθηριομαχέω, θηριομάχω: 1 aorist ἐθηριομάχησα; (θηριομαχος); to fight with wild beasts (Diodorus 3, 43, 7; Artemidorus Daldianus, oneir. 2, 54; 5, 49); εἰ ἐθηριομάχησα ἐν Ἐφέσῳ, 1 Corinthians 15:32 — these words some take literally, supposing that Paul was condemned to fight with wild beasts; others explain them tropically of a fierce contest with brutal and ferocious men (so θηριομάχειν in Ignatius ad Rom. 5 [ET] (etc.); ὁιοις θηρίοις μαχομεθα says Pompey, in the Appendix, bell. 104:2,61; see θηρίον). The former opinion encounters the objection that Paul would not have omitted this most terrible of all perils from the catalog in 2 Corinthians 11:23ff Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fight with wild beasts. From a compound of therion and machomai; to be a beast-fighter (in the gladiatorial show), i.e. (figuratively) to encounter (furious men) -- fight with wild beasts. see GREEK therion see GREEK machomai Forms and Transliterations εθηριομαχησα εθηριομάχησα ἐθηριομάχησα etheriomachesa etheriomáchesa ethēriomachēsa ethēriomáchēsaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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