Greek word · G1727

ἐναντίος

enantios

against

Opposite or facing. From there it means contrary, opposed, or hostile. It is used literally of a contrary or head wind and figuratively of opposition to people or causes. Ὁ ἐξ ἐναντίας means 'the opponent'.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐν-αντίος, -α, -ον

(ἀντίος, set against), [in LXX: ἐξ ἐναντίας, for נֶגֶד, etc.; ἐναντίον, for פָּנִים etc. ;]

over against, opposite, contrary: ἄνεμος, Matthew 14:24, Mark 6:48, Acts 27:4; ἐξ ἐναντίας (ellipse obscure, see Bl., § 44,1; Mozley, Psalms 42:1-11), with genitive, Mark 15:39. Metaphorical, opposed, hostile: 1 Thessalonians 2:15, Acts 26:9 28:17; ὁ ἐξ ἐ., Titus 2:8. Neuter., -ίον, adv., as prep. with genitive, before, in the presence of: Luke 1:6 20:26 24:19 Acts 7:10 (ἔναντι, T), Acts 8:32 (LXX).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 26:9

Range of meaning

Opposite or facing. From there it means contrary, opposed, or hostile. It is used literally of a contrary or head wind and figuratively of opposition to people or causes. Ὁ ἐξ ἐναντίας means 'the opponent'.

Against the English

KJV and WEB 'contrary to' are accurate but sound abstract. NASB 'hostile to' captures the aggression. BSB and NIV turn the phrase into a verb, 'oppose', and add 'all I could', which says more than the Greek 'many things'.

Used elsewhere in the period

A head wind in Matt 14:24, Mark 6:48 and Acts 27:4. 'I had done nothing against our people' (Acts 28:17). 'Hostile to all people' (1 Thess 2:15). 'The opponent' (Titus 2:8). The word is common in the Septuagint and in classical prose.

From the study of Titus 2:8

Range of meaning

Basic sense: 'from the opposite side, facing' (Mark 15:39, the centurion 'standing opposite him'). Used of people, 'ho ex enantias' means 'the opponent, the adversary,' someone who has taken the other side in a dispute, a lawsuit or a battle.

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'he that is of the contrary part' is literal but archaic. BSB 'anyone who opposes us' and similar modern renderings are fine. WEB adds 'you' ('he who opposes you'), but there is no pronoun in the Greek.

Used elsewhere in the period

The phrase is common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for an opponent. The adjective enantios also describes hostility in Acts 26:9, 1 Thess 2:15 and Mark 6:48 (a 'contrary' wind).

From the study of 1 Thessalonians 2:15

Range of meaning

Opposite, contrary (of winds, Mark 6:48; Acts 27:4), opposed, hostile. 'Those opposed' can mean adversaries in a dispute (Titus 2:8).

Against the English

'Contrary to all men' (KJV, WEB) is closer to the original. 'Hostile to all men' (BSB, NASB) and 'hostile to everyone' (NIV) lean toward a general hatred of humanity.

How it drifted

The phrasing sounds like a well-known pagan slur. Greek and Roman writers accused Jews of 'misanthropy' (Diodorus Siculus 34/35.1; Tacitus, Histories 5.5, 'hostile hatred toward all others'; Josephus answers the charge in Against Apion 2.121, 148). So readers, ancient and modern, hear a claim of general hatred of humanity.

Used elsewhere in the period

New Testament: Mark 6:48; Matt 14:24; Acts 26:9 (Paul doing 'many things contrary to the name of Jesus'); Acts 28:17. It is common in ordinary Greek for things that are opposite or adverse.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 14:24 ἐναντίος contrary [was]

    but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

    Here: A standard sailor's term for a headwind, wind blowing from the direction you want to go. The disciples would have had to row into it, and a sail was useless.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 6:48 ἐναντίος contrary

    He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

  2. Mark 15:39 ἐναντίας opposite of

    When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

    Here: With ἐξ: 'facing him'. Mark stresses that this man had a direct, close view of Jesus' face as he died, unlike the women who watched 'from a distance' (v. 40).

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 26:9 ἐναντία contrary

    So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

    Here: 'Hostile' or 'opposing' acts. The word is used of a headwind, so the picture is of active force pushing against something, not mere disagreement.

  2. Acts 27:4 ἐναντίους, contrary,

    After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.

  3. Acts 28:17 ἐναντίον against

    After three days, he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, I was taken prisoner in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 ἐναντίων, opposed,

    who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,

    Here: An adjective meaning 'set against', as a contrary wind is (Mark 6:48). Verse 16 spells out what the opposition is: 'hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved'.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 2:8 ἐναντίας contrary

    and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

    Here: 'The one from the opposite side' was a normal Greek way to say 'the opponent': someone standing against you, as in a contest or a lawsuit.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.