3163. maché

Lexicon

maché: Battle, fight, conflict, strife

Original Word: μάχη
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: maché
Pronunciation: mah-KHAY
Phonetic Spelling: (makh'-ay)
Definition: Battle, fight, conflict, strife
Meaning: (earlier: a battle, conflict, hence) in the sphere of words, etc: strife, contention, quarrel.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fighting, strive, striving.

From machomai; a battle, i.e. (figuratively) controversy -- fighting, strive, striving.

see GREEK machomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from machomai
Definition
a fight
NASB Translation
conflicts (2), disputes (1), quarrels (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3163: μάχη

μάχη, μάχης, ἡ (μάχομαι; from Homer down), the Sept. several times for רִיב, מָדון, etc.; a flight, combat;

1. of those in arms, a battle.

2. of persons at variance disputants, etc., strife, contention; a quarrel: 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Timothy 2:23; James 4:1; μάχαι νομικαι, contentions about the law, Titus 3:9.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From the root verb μάχομαι (machomai), meaning "to fight" or "to engage in battle."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for μάχη, similar concepts of conflict and strife can be found in Hebrew words such as:
• מִלְחָמָה (milchamah) • Strong's Hebrew 4421, meaning "war" or "battle."
• רִיב (riv) • Strong's Hebrew 7379, meaning "strife" or "dispute."

These Hebrew terms capture the essence of conflict and are used in the Old Testament to describe both physical battles and interpersonal disputes, paralleling the New Testament usage of μάχη.

Usage: The term μάχη appears in the New Testament to describe both physical and metaphorical conflicts. It is used to highlight the destructive nature of disputes and the importance of avoiding such strife among believers.

Context: The Greek word μάχη (machē) is used in the New Testament to denote conflicts or battles, both literal and figurative. It appears in contexts that emphasize the negative impact of quarrels and disputes within the Christian community. The term is often associated with the broader theme of peace and unity among believers, contrasting the destructive nature of internal strife.

In 2 Timothy 2:23-24, Paul advises Timothy to "avoid foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed quarrels (μάχας)." Here, μάχη is used to describe the kind of disputes that arise from pointless arguments, which are detrimental to the harmony and witness of the church. Paul emphasizes that "the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing."

James 4:1 further illustrates the internal source of conflicts, asking, "What causes conflicts and quarrels (μάχαι) among you? Don’t they come from the passions that wage war within you?" This rhetorical question points to the internal desires and passions that lead to external disputes, urging believers to seek peace and resolve conflicts through humility and submission to God.

The use of μάχη in these passages underscores the importance of maintaining peace and unity within the Christian community. It serves as a reminder of the destructive potential of unresolved conflicts and the call for believers to pursue reconciliation and harmony.

Forms and Transliterations

μαχαι μάχαι μάχαις μαχας μάχας μάχη μαχήλ μάχην μάχης μαχηταί μαχηταίς μαχητάς μαχητήν μαχητής μαχήτης μαχητού μαχητών μάχιμοι μαχίμου μαχίμων machai máchai machas máchas

Englishman's Concordance

2 Corinthians 7:5 N-NFP
GRK: θλιβόμενοι ἔξωθεν μάχαι ἔσωθεν φόβοι
NAS: on every side: conflicts without,
KJV: without [were] fightings, within
INT: being oppressed on the outside contentions within fears

2 Timothy 2:23 N-AFP
GRK: ὅτι γεννῶσιν μάχας
NAS: knowing that they produce quarrels.
KJV: that they do gender strifes.
INT: that they breed quarrels

Titus 3:9 N-AFP
GRK: ἔρεις καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιίστασο
NAS: and strife and disputes about the Law,
KJV: and strivings about the law;
INT: quarrels and contentions about [the] law stand aloof from

James 4:1 N-NFP
GRK: καὶ πόθεν μάχαι ἐν ὑμῖν
NAS: of quarrels and conflicts among
KJV: [come] wars and fightings among you?
INT: and from where fightings among you

Strong's Greek 3163
4 Occurrences

μάχαι — 2 Occ.
μάχας — 2 Occ.