Lexical Summary polemeó: To wage war, to fight, to engage in battle Original Word: πολεμέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to battle, make war. From polemos; to be (engaged) in warfare, i.e. To battle (literally or figuratively): -fight, (make) war. see GREEK polemos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom polemos Definition to make war NASB Translation make war (1), quarrel (1), wage war (2), waged (1), wages war (1), waging (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4170: πολεμέωπολεμέω, πολέμῳ; future πολεμήσω; 1 aorist ἐπολέμησα; (πόλεμος); (from Sophocles and Herodotus down); the Sept. chiefly for נִלְחַם; to war, carry on war; to fight: Revelation 19:11; μετά τίνος (on which construction see μετά, I. 2 d., p. 403{b}), Revelation 2:16; Revelation 12:7 (where Rec. κατά; (cf. on this verse Buttmann, § 140, 14 and under the word μετά as above)); Revelation 13:4; Revelation 17:14; equivalent to to wrangle, quarrel, James 4:2. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usage Strong’s Greek 4170, appearing seven times in the New Testament, portrays the active conduct of warfare—whether celestial, eschatological, ecclesial, or personal. The word’s distribution, concentrated in Revelation with one occurrence in James, underscores a consistent biblical theme: all conflict ultimately centers on allegiance to God or rebellion against Him. Heavenly Warfare and the Cosmic Conflict (Revelation 12:7) “Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back” (Revelation 12:7). Here the verb depicts a battle beyond earthly history, revealing that sin’s struggle began in the heavenly realm. Michael’s victory anticipates the final overthrow of evil, assuring believers that the conflict’s outcome is already secured. Eschatological Assault on the Saints (Revelation 13:4; 17:14; 19:11) Revelation 13:4 records the beast’s blasphemous challenge: “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” In Revelation 17:14, the kings allied with the beast “will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them.” At His return, Christ appears as the conquering Rider: “With justice He judges and wages war” (Revelation 19:11). These passages present a progressive intensification of rebellion ending in Christ’s decisive victory. The Lamb’s triumph reassures the church that history is teleologically moving toward divine justice. Corrective Warfare Within the Church (Revelation 2:16) “To the angel of the church in Pergamum”: “Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you soon and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.” Christ threatens combat not against external persecutors but against doctrinal compromise inside His body. The imagery reminds congregations that Christ’s holiness confronts error with the piercing authority of His word. Personal Passions as Spiritual Warfare (James 4:2) “You crave what you do not have… You quarrel and fight” (James 4:2). James brings the vocabulary of military conflict into the arena of inner passions. By locating warlike striving in the human heart, he exposes covetousness as a microcosm of the cosmic revolt and calls believers to submission under God (James 4:7). Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty in Conflict: Every occurrence presupposes God’s ultimate control. Whether angelic hosts or earthly powers engage in battle, the narrative always culminates in God’s predetermined victory (Revelation 19:16). Historical Context First-century readers in Asia Minor faced pressure from imperial cults and local guilds. Language of “making war” would resonate both with Rome’s militarism and with Jewish apocalyptic expectations of end-time conflict. Revelation employs the term to reframe those expectations around Christ, not Caesar, as the decisive warrior. Ecclesiological Implications • Purity and Discipline: Churches tolerate false teaching at their peril (Revelation 2:16). Practical Ministry Application • Preach Christ’s Triumph: Emphasize the already-won victory to strengthen hope. Eschatological Confidence The verb’s placement at pivotal prophetic moments assures the church that every front of hostility—heavenly, earthly, ecclesial, personal—will end in God’s glory. “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them” (Revelation 17:14). Forms and Transliterations επολέμει επολέμεις επολέμησα επολέμησαν επολέμησάν επολέμησε επολεμησεν επολέμησεν ἐπολέμησεν επολέμουν πολεμει πολεμεί πολεμεῖ πολέμει πολεμείν πολεμειτε πολεμείτε πολεμεῖτε πολεμησαι πολεμήσαι πολεμήσαί πολεμῆσαι πολεμήσατε πολεμήσει πολεμήσεις πολεμήσετε πολεμήσητε πολεμήσομεν πολέμησον πολεμήσουσι πολεμήσουσί πολεμησουσιν πολεμήσουσιν πολεμησω πολεμήσω πολεμήσωμεν πολεμικά πολεμική πολεμικοίς πολεμικόν πολέμιος πολεμίου πολεμισταί πολεμισταίς πολεμιστάς πολεμιστήν πολεμιστής πολεμιστών πολεμίων πολεμουμένη πολεμούντα πολεμούντας πολεμούντάς πολεμούντες πολεμούντές πολεμούντων πολεμούσιν πολεμών epolemesen epolemēsen epolémesen epolémēsen polemei polemeî polemeite polemeîte polemesai polemêsai polemēsai polemē̂sai polemeso polemēsō polemḗso polemḗsō polemesousin polemēsousin polemḗsousinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance James 4:2 V-PIA-2PGRK: μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε οὐκ ἔχετε NAS: [so] you fight and quarrel. You do not have KJV: ye fight and war, yet ye have INT: you fight and war not you have Revelation 2:16 V-FIA-1S Revelation 12:7 V-ANA Revelation 12:7 V-AIA-3S Revelation 13:4 V-ANA Revelation 17:14 V-FIA-3P Revelation 19:11 V-PIA-3S Strong's Greek 4170 |
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