◄ 75. agónizomai ►
Strong's Lexicon agónizomai: To strive, to struggle, to fight, to labor fervently Original Word: ἀγωνίζομαι Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: agónizomai Pronunciation: ah-go-NEE-zoh-my Phonetic Spelling: (ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee) Definition: To strive, to struggle, to fight, to labor fervently Meaning: I am struggling, striving (as in an athletic contest or warfare); I contend, as with an adversary. Word Origin: Derived from ἀγών (agón), meaning "a contest" or "struggle." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to ἀγωνίζομαι, the concept of striving or contending can be seen in Hebrew words like לָחַם (lacham, Strong's H3898), meaning "to fight" or "to battle." Usage: The verb ἀγωνίζομαι conveys the idea of engaging in a struggle or contest, often with a sense of intense effort or determination. In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the spiritual and moral effort required in the Christian life. It implies a sense of perseverance and dedication in the face of challenges, akin to an athlete competing in a race or a soldier in battle. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the term ἀγών (agón) was commonly associated with athletic contests, such as the Olympic Games, where competitors would exert themselves to the utmost to win a prize. This cultural backdrop provides a vivid metaphor for the Christian life, which is often depicted as a race or battle requiring discipline, endurance, and focus. The early Christians, living in a society that often opposed their beliefs, would have resonated with the imagery of striving and struggling to maintain their faith. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 75 agōnízomai (from 73 /agṓn, "conflict/struggle," the root of the English term, "agonize") – properly, to struggle, like engaged in an intense athletic contest or warfare (Souter). See 73 (agōn). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from agón Definition to contend for a prize, struggle NASB Translation competes in the games (1), fight (1), fighting (1), fought (1), laboring earnestly (1), strive (2), striving (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 75: ἀγωνίζομαι ἀγωνίζομαι; imperfect ἠγωνιζόμην; perfect ἠγώνισμαι; a deponent middle verb (cf. Winer's Grammar, 260 (244)); (ἀγών); 1. to enter a contest; contend in the gymnastic games: 1 Corinthians 9:25. 2. universally, to contend with adversaries, fight: followed by ἵνα μή, John 18:36. 3. figuratively to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers antagonistic to the gospel: Colossians 1:29; 1 Timothy 4:10 (L T Tr text WH text; for Rec. ὀνειδιζόμεθα); ἀγωνίζομαι ἀγῶνα (often used by the Greeks also, especially the Attic), 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7. 4. to endeavor with strenuous zeal, strife, to obtain something; followed by an infinitive, Luke 13:24; ὑπέρ τίνος ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς, ἵνα, Colossians 4:12. (Compare: ἀνταγωνίζομαι, ἐπαγωνίζομαι, καταγωνίζομαι, συναγωνίζομαι.) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fight, labor fervently, strive. From agon; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something) -- fight, labor fervently, strive. see GREEK agon Forms and Transliterations Αγωνιζεσθε αγωνίζεσθε Ἀγωνίζεσθε αγωνιζομεθα ἀγωνιζόμεθα αγωνιζομενος αγωνιζόμενος ἀγωνιζόμενος αγωνιζου αγωνίζου ἀγωνίζου απο ηγωνιζοντο ηγωνίζοντο ἠγωνίζοντο ηγωνίσατο ηγωνισμαι ηγώνισμαι ἠγώνισμαι Agonizesthe Agonízesthe Agōnizesthe Agōnízesthe agonizomenos agonizómenos agōnizomenos agōnizómenos agonizometha agonizómetha agōnizometha agōnizómetha agonizou agonízou agōnizou agōnízou egonismai egṓnismai ēgōnismai ēgṓnismai egonizonto egonízonto ēgōnizonto ēgōnízonto Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Luke 13:24 V-PMM/P-2P GRK: Ἀγωνίζεσθε εἰσελθεῖν διὰ NAS: Strive to enter through KJV: Strive to enter in at INT: Strive to enter in through John 18:36 V-IIM/P-3P GRK: οἱ ἐμοὶ ἠγωνίζοντο ἄν ἵνα NAS: then My servants would be fighting so KJV: my servants fight, that I should INT: my would fight anyhow that 1 Corinthians 9:25 V-PPM/P-NMS GRK: δὲ ὁ ἀγωνιζόμενος πάντα ἐγκρατεύεται NAS: Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control KJV: every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate INT: moreover that strives in all things controls himself Colossians 1:29 V-PPM/P-NMS GRK: καὶ κοπιῶ ἀγωνιζόμενος κατὰ τὴν NAS: I labor, striving according KJV: also labour, striving according to his INT: also I toil striving according to the Colossians 4:12 V-PPM/P-NMS GRK: Ἰησοῦ πάντοτε ἀγωνιζόμενος ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν NAS: always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, KJV: always labouring fervently for INT: Jesus always striving for you 1 Timothy 4:10 V-PIM/P-1P GRK: κοπιῶμεν καὶ ἀγωνιζόμεθα ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν NAS: we labor and strive, because INT: we toil and strive because we have hope 1 Timothy 6:12 V-PMM/P-2S GRK: ἀγωνίζου τὸν καλὸν NAS: Fight the good fight KJV: Fight the good fight INT: Fight the good 2 Timothy 4:7 V-RIM/P-1S GRK: καλὸν ἀγῶνα ἠγώνισμαι τὸν δρόμον NAS: I have fought the good fight, KJV: I have fought a good fight, INT: good fight I have fought the course Strong's Greek 75 8 Occurrences Ἀγωνίζεσθε — 1 Occ. ἀγωνιζόμενος — 3 Occ. ἀγωνιζόμεθα — 1 Occ. ἀγωνίζου — 1 Occ. ἠγώνισμαι — 1 Occ. ἠγωνίζοντο — 1 Occ.