CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 1864. ἐπαγωνίζομαι (epagónizomai) -- To contend earnestly, to struggle for</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/1864.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/matthew/3-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/1864.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 1864</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/1863.htm" title="1863">◄</a> 1864. epagónizomai <a href="../greek/1865.htm" title="1865">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">epagónizomai: To contend earnestly, to struggle for</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">ἐπαγωνίζομαι</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Verb<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>epagónizomai<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>ep-ag-o-NEE-zom-ahee<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(ep-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>To contend earnestly, to struggle for<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>I contend earnestly for.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi, meaning "upon" or "over") and the verb ἀγωνίζομαι (agonizomai, meaning "to struggle" or "to contend").<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span>While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to ἐπαγωνίζομαι, the concept of contending or striving can be seen in Hebrew words like לָחַם (lacham, Strong's H3898), which means "to fight" or "to battle," and יָגַע (yaga, Strong's H3021), meaning "to toil" or "to labor."<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The verb ἐπαγωνίζομαι is used to describe a vigorous and determined effort, often in the context of a struggle or contest. It conveys the idea of striving with intense focus and dedication, particularly in the defense or pursuit of a cause or belief. In the New Testament, it is used to encourage believers to contend earnestly for the faith, emphasizing the importance of standing firm in the truth of the Gospel.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "agon" (from which ἀγωνίζομαι is derived) was associated with athletic contests and public competitions. These events were not only physical but also involved mental and moral challenges. The imagery of contending or struggling was familiar to early Christians, who were often called to defend their faith amidst persecution and false teachings. The use of ἐπαγωνίζομαι would resonate with the audience's understanding of the dedication and perseverance required in such contests.<div class="vheading2">HELPS Word-studies</div><p class="discovery"><b>1864</b> <i>epagōnízomai</i> (from <a href="/greek/1909.htm">1909</a> <i>/epí</i>, "focused <i>on</i>" and <a href="/greek/73.htm">73</a> <i>/agṓn</i>, "a contest, competition") – properly, to <i>contend</i> (literally, "<i>struggle upon, appropriately</i>"), i.e. with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of faith (God's <i>persuasion</i>).</p><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/discovery.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from <a href="/greek/1909.htm">epi</a> and <a href="/greek/75.htm">agónizomai</a><br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>to contend with or for<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>contend earnestly (1).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 1864: ἐπαγωνίζομαι</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">ἐπαγωνίζομαι</span></span>; <span class="accented">to contend</span>: <span class="greek2">τίνι</span>, for a thing, <a href="/interlinear/jude/1-3.htm">Jude 1:3</a>. (<span class="greek2">τῷ</span> <span class="greek2">Ἀννιβα</span>, against Hannibal, <span class="abbreviation">Plutarch</span>, Fab. 23, 2; <span class="greek2">ταῖς</span> <span class="greek2">νικαις</span>, added a new contest to his victories, id. Cim. 13, 4; by others in different senses.)<FOOTNOTE:1> <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>earnestly contend<p>From <a href="/greek/1909.htm">epi</a> and <a href="/greek/75.htm">agonizomai</a>; to struggle for -- earnestly contend foreign <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/1909.htm">epi</a> <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/75.htm">agonizomai</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>επαγωνιζεσθαι επαγωνίζεσθαι ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι επάδοντι επαδόντων επάδων επάσαι epagonizesthai epagonízesthai epagōnizesthai epagōnízesthai<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/jude/1-3.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Jude 1:3</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive">V-PNM/P</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/jude/1.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ὑμῖν παρακαλῶν <b>ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι</b> τῇ ἅπαξ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/jude/1.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> to you appealing <span class="itali">that you contend earnestly</span> for the faith<br><a href="/kjvs/jude/1.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and exhort <span class="itali">[you] that ye should earnestly contend</span> for the faith<br><a href="/interlinear/jude/1-3.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> to you exhorting [you] <span class="itali">to contend earnestly</span> for the once for all<p><b><a href="/greek/1864.htm">Strong's Greek 1864</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_1864.htm">1 Occurrence</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/epago_nizesthai_1864.htm">ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι — 1 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/greek/1863.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1863"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1863" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/1865.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1865"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1865" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>