3164. machomai

Lexicon

machomai: To fight, to quarrel, to strive

Original Word: μάχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: machomai
Pronunciation: MAH-khoh-my
Phonetic Spelling: (makh'-om-ahee)
Definition: To fight, to quarrel, to strive
Meaning: I engage in battle, fight; hence: I strive, contend, dispute.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fight, strive.

Middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to war, i.e. (figuratively) to quarrel, dispute -- fight, strive.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to fight
NASB Translation
argue (1), fight (1), fighting together (1), quarrelsome (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3164: μάχομαι

μάχομαι; imperfect 3 person plural Ἐμάχοντο; (allied with μάχαιρα; Curtius, § 459; Vanicek, p. 687; from Homer down); to fight: properly, of armed combatants, or those who engage in a hand-to-hand struggle, Acts 7:26; tropically, of those who engage in a war of words, to quarrel, wrangle, dispute: 2 Timothy 2:24; πρός ἀλλήλους, John 6:52 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 5; Buttmann, § 133, 8); of those who contend at law for property and privileges, James 4:2. (Compare: διαμάχομαι. Synonym: see πόλεμος, b.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from a primary root word meaning "to fight" or "to battle."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H3898 לָחַם (lacham): To fight, to battle, often used in the context of physical warfare or conflict.
• H7379 רִיב (riyb): To strive, to contend, often used in the context of legal disputes or verbal quarrels.

These Hebrew terms share a similar thematic focus on conflict and contention, paralleling the Greek concept of μάχομαι in their respective contexts.

Usage: The term μάχομαι is used in the New Testament to describe physical or verbal conflicts, disputes, or quarrels. It often conveys the idea of engaging in a struggle or contention, whether literal or metaphorical.

Context: The Greek verb μάχομαι appears in the New Testament to describe various forms of conflict, both physical and verbal. It is used to illustrate the nature of disputes that arise from human passions and desires, often leading to strife and division. The term is employed in contexts that warn against unnecessary quarrels and emphasize the importance of peace and unity among believers.

In 2 Timothy 2:24, the Apostle Paul advises Timothy, "And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patient with difficult people." Here, μάχομαι is used to caution against engaging in fruitless disputes that do not edify or promote the gospel.

James 4:1-2 provides another example: "What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight." In this passage, μάχομαι is used to describe the internal and external conflicts that arise from unchecked desires and selfish ambitions.

The New Testament usage of μάχομαι underscores the destructive nature of quarrels and the importance of pursuing peace and reconciliation. It serves as a reminder to believers to avoid contentious behavior and to seek harmony within the community of faith.

Forms and Transliterations

εμαχεσάμην εμαχέσαντο εμαχέσατο Εμαχοντο εμάχοντο Ἐμάχοντο μαχεσθαι μάχεσθαι μαχεσθε μάχεσθε μαχομενοις μαχομένοις μαχόμενος μάχωνται μαωζείν Emachonto Emáchonto machesthai máchesthai machesthe máchesthe machomenois machoménois

Englishman's Concordance

John 6:52 V-IIM/P-3P
GRK: Ἐμάχοντο οὖν πρὸς
NAS: the Jews [began] to argue with one another,
KJV: therefore strove among
INT: Were arguing therefore with

Acts 7:26 V-PPM/P-DMP
GRK: ὤφθη αὐτοῖς μαχομένοις καὶ συνήλλασσεν
NAS: he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile
KJV: unto them as they strove, and
INT: he appeared to those who were contending and urged

2 Timothy 2:24 V-PNM/P
GRK: οὐ δεῖ μάχεσθαι ἀλλὰ ἤπιον
NAS: must not be quarrelsome, but be kind
KJV: must not strive; but be
INT: not it behoves to contend but gentle

James 4:2 V-PIM/P-2P
GRK: δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε
NAS: obtain; [so] you fight and quarrel.
KJV: cannot obtain: ye fight and war,
INT: are able to obtain you fight and war

Strong's Greek 3164
4 Occurrences

Ἐμάχοντο — 1 Occ.
μάχεσθαι — 1 Occ.
μάχεσθε — 1 Occ.
μαχομένοις — 1 Occ.