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<!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: 2052. ἐριθεία (eritheia) -- Selfish ambition, strife, rivalry</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2052.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> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><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/acts/20-18.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/2052.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> > 2052</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/2051.htm" title="2051">◄</a> 2052. eritheia <a href="../greek/2053.htm" title="2053">►</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">eritheia: Selfish ambition, strife, rivalry</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">ἐριθεία</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Noun, Feminine<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>eritheia<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>eh-ree-thay'-ah<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(er-ith-i'-ah)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Selfish ambition, strife, rivalry<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>(the seeking of followers and adherents by means of gifts, the seeking of followers, hence) ambition, rivalry, self-seeking; a feud, faction.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the Greek word ἔριθος (erithos), meaning "a hireling" or "laborer for hire," which implies working for personal gain.<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span>While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "eritheia," the concept of selfish ambition can be related to terms like "מַחֲלֹקֶת" (machaloketh) meaning "division" or "contention," and "רִיב" (riv) meaning "strife" or "dispute."<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>In the New Testament, "eritheia" is used to describe a self-seeking attitude that leads to division and conflict. It denotes a spirit of rivalry and ambition that prioritizes personal gain over communal harmony and the well-being of others. This term is often associated with negative behaviors that disrupt unity within the Christian community.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the Greco-Roman world, ambition and competition were often seen as virtues, especially in political and social contexts. However, the early Christian community, influenced by the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, viewed such self-centered ambition as contrary to the values of humility, service, and love. The term "eritheia" reflects a departure from the communal and sacrificial ethos that characterized the early church.<div class="vheading2">HELPS Word-studies</div><p class="discovery"><b>2052</b> <i>eritheía</i> (from <i>eritheuō</i>, "work for hire") – properly, work done <i>merely for hire</i> (as a <i>mercenary</i>), referring therefore to <i>carnal ambition</i> (<i>selfish rivalry</i>).</p><p class="discovery">Ancient Greek uses <a href="/greek/2052.htm">2052</a> <i>/eritheía</i> ("mercenary self-seeking") of acting for one's <i>own gain</i>, regardless of the discord (strife) it causes. <a href="/greek/2052.htm">2052</a> <i>/eritheía</i> ("selfish ambition") places self-interest ahead of what <i>the Lord</i> declares right, or what is good for others.</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 erithos (day-laborer)<br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>rivalry, hence ambition<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>disputes (2), selfish ambition (3), selfishly ambitious (1), selfishness (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 2052: ἐριθεία</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">ἐριθεία</span></span> (not <span class="greek2">ἐριθεία</span>, cf. <span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>s Grammar, § 6, 1 g.; (<span class="abbreviation">Chandler</span> § 99)) (<span class="greek2">ἐριθια</span> <span class="manuref">WH</span>; see Iota and <span class="manuref">Tdf.</span> Proleg., p. 88), <span class="greek2">ἐριθείας</span>, <span class="greek2">ἡ</span> (<span class="greek2">ἐριθεύω</span> to spin wool, work in wool, <span class="abbreviation">Heliodorus</span> 1, 5; middle in the same sense, Tobit 2:11; used of those who electioneer for office, courting popular applause by trickery and low arts, <span class="abbreviation">Aristotle</span>, polit. 5, 3; the verb is derived from <span class="greek2">ἔριθος</span> working for hire, a hireling; from the Maced. age down, a spinner or weaver, a worker in wool, <a href="/interlinear/isaiah/38-12.htm">Isaiah 38:12</a> the <span class="manuref">Sept.</span>; a mean, sordid fellow), <span class="accented">electioneering or intriguing for office,</span> <span class="abbreviation">Aristotle</span>, pol. 5, 2 and 3 (pp. 1302b, 4 and 1303a, 14); hence, apparently, in the N. T. "a courting distinction, a desire to put oneself forward, a partisan and factious spirit which does not disdain low arts; partisanship, factiousness": <a href="/interlinear/james/3-14.htm">James 3:14, 16</a>; <span class="greek2">κατ'</span> <span class="greek2">ἐριθείαν</span>, <a href="/interlinear/philippians/2-3.htm">Philippians 2:3</a>; <span class="abbreviation">Ignatius</span> ad Philadelph. § 8 [ET]; <span class="greek2">οἱ</span> <span class="greek2">ἐξ</span> <span class="greek2">ἐριθείας</span> (see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">ἐκ</span></span>, II. 7), <a href="/interlinear/philippians/1-16.htm">Philippians 1:16</a> (<BIBLE/VERSE_ONLY:Philippians 1:17>) (yet see <span class="greek2"><span class="lexref">ἐκ</span></span>, II. 12 b.); equivalent to contending against God, <a href="/interlinear/romans/2-8.htm">Romans 2:8</a> (yet cf. Meyer (edited by Weiss) at the passage); in the plural <span class="greek2">αἱ</span> <span class="greek2">ἐριθείαι</span> (<span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>s Grammar, § 27, 3; <span class="abbreviation">Buttmann</span>, § 123, 2): <a href="/interlinear/2_corinthians/12-20.htm">2 Corinthians 12:20</a>; <a href="/interlinear/galatians/5-20.htm">Galatians 5:20</a>. See the very full and learned discussion of the word by Fritzsche in his Commentary on Romans, i., p. 143f; (of which a summary is given by Ellicott on <a href="/interlinear/galatians/5-20.htm">Galatians 5:20</a>. See further on its derivation, Lobeck, Path. Proleg., p. 365; cf. <span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>'s Grammar, 94 (89)).<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>contention, strife. <p>Perhaps as the same as <a href="/greek/2042.htm">erethizo</a>; properly, intrigue, i.e. (by implication) faction -- contention(-ious), strife. <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/2042.htm">erethizo</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>ερίθεια ἐριθεία εριθείαι ερίθειαι ἐριθείαι ερίθειαν ἐριθείαν εριθείας ἐριθείας εριθια ἐριθία εριθιαι ἐριθίαι εριθιαν ἐριθίαν εριθιας ἐριθίας ερίθου ερικτά eritheia eritheía eritheiai eritheíai eritheian eritheían eritheias eritheías<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/romans/2-8.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Romans 2:8</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular">N-GFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/romans/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">δὲ ἐξ <b>ἐριθείας</b> καὶ ἀπειθοῦσι</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/romans/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> but to those <span class="itali">who are selfishly ambitious</span> and do not obey<br><a href="/interlinear/romans/2-8.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> moreover of <span class="itali">self-interest</span> and who disobey<p><b><a href="/text/2_corinthians/12-20.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">2 Corinthians 12:20</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural">N-NFP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/2_corinthians/12.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ζῆλος θυμοί <b>ἐριθείαι</b> καταλαλιαί ψιθυρισμοί</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/2_corinthians/12.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> angry tempers, <span class="itali">disputes,</span> slanders,<br><a href="/kjvs/2_corinthians/12.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> wraths, <span class="itali">strifes,</span> backbitings,<br><a href="/interlinear/2_corinthians/12-20.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> jealousies anger <span class="itali">contentions</span> slander gossip<p><b><a href="/text/galatians/5-20.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Galatians 5:20</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural">N-NFP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/galatians/5.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ζῆλος θυμοί <b>ἐριθείαι</b> διχοστασίαι αἱρέσεις</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/galatians/5.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> outbursts of anger, <span class="itali">disputes,</span> dissensions,<br><a href="/kjvs/galatians/5.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> wrath, <span class="itali">strife,</span> seditions,<br><a href="/interlinear/galatians/5-20.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> jealousy fits of rage <span class="itali">contentions</span> dissentions factions<p><b><a href="/text/philippians/1-17.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Philippians 1:17</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular">N-GFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/philippians/1.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">δὲ ἐξ <b>ἐριθείας</b> τὸν χριστὸν</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/philippians/1.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> Christ <span class="itali">out of selfish ambition</span> rather than<br><a href="/interlinear/philippians/1-17.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> however [the] out of <span class="itali">self-interest</span> the Christ<p><b><a href="/text/philippians/2-3.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Philippians 2:3</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular">N-AFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/philippians/2.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">μηδὲν κατ' <b>ἐριθείαν</b> μηδὲ κατὰ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/philippians/2.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> Do nothing <span class="itali">from selfishness</span> or<br><a href="/kjvs/philippians/2.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> [be done] through <span class="itali">strife</span> or<br><a href="/interlinear/philippians/2-3.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> [do] nothing according to <span class="itali">self-interest</span> or according to<p><b><a href="/text/james/3-14.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">James 3:14</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular">N-AFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/james/3.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ἔχετε καὶ <b>ἐριθείαν</b> ἐν τῇ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/james/3.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> jealousy <span class="itali">and selfish ambition</span> in your heart,<br><a href="/kjvs/james/3.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> envying and <span class="itali">strife</span> in your<br><a href="/interlinear/james/3-14.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> you have and <span class="itali">self-interest</span> in the<p><b><a href="/text/james/3-16.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">James 3:16</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular">N-NFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/james/3.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ζῆλος καὶ <b>ἐριθεία</b> ἐκεῖ ἀκαταστασία</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/james/3.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> jealousy <span class="itali">and selfish ambition</span> exist, there<br><a href="/kjvs/james/3.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> and <span class="itali">strife</span> [is], there<br><a href="/interlinear/james/3-16.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> jealousy and <span class="itali">self-interest [are]</span> there [is] disorder<p><b><a href="/greek/2052.htm">Strong's Greek 2052</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_2052.htm">7 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/eritheia_2052.htm">ἐριθεία — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/eritheiai_2052.htm">ἐριθείαι — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/eritheian_2052.htm">ἐριθείαν — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/eritheias_2052.htm">ἐριθείας — 2 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/2051.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2051"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2051" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/2053.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2053"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2053" /></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>