διαμάχομαι

From the study of Acts 23:9

Range of meaning

To fight something out, struggle hard against, argue fiercely. It is built on machomai, 'to fight' (also used of bitter quarrels, as in John 6:52, Jas 4:2), with dia- adding intensity and the sense of 'to the finish'.

Against the English

BSB/ESV 'contended sharply', NASB 'argue heatedly', KJV/YLT 'strove', WEB 'contended'. All are accurate. 'Strove' sounds tamer to modern ears than the Greek, which is a fighting word.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in classical and Hellenistic Greek for hard fighting and for stubborn argument. In the Greek Old Testament, Sirach 8:1 and 8:3 warn 'do not contend with a powerful man' and 'do not quarrel with a talkative man'. This is its only occurrence in the New Testament.

From the study of Sirach 8:3

Range of meaning

To fight it out, contend hard, battle through a dispute. The root machē means 'battle'; the prefix dia- suggests carrying the fight on to the end. In the New Testament it appears only in Acts 23:9 (the scribes 'contended sharply').

Against the English

KJV 'strive with' meant 'quarrel with' in 1611; today 'strive' usually means 'try hard.' 'Argue' (WEB) is closer but can sound mild, like a discussion. The Greek is a verbal fight.

How it drifted

'Strive' moved from 'contend against someone' to 'make an effort toward something.'

Used elsewhere in the period

Sirach uses it again at 51:19 ('my soul strove/wrestled for wisdom'), and it is common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for contending or insisting hard. The present-tense command here fits the pattern of 8:1–2, which use near-synonyms: 'do not fight' (diamachou, 8:1) with a powerful man, 'do not quarrel' (erize, 8:2) with a rich man.