Greek word · G471

ἀντεῖπον

anteipon

to contradict

To speak in reply against, contradict, rebut, gainsay. In the New Testament it appears only here and in Acts 4:14.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀντ-εῖπον

(άντί, εἶτον), [in LXX for H7725 hi., דָבַר pi., עָנָה, etc. ;]

2 2 aor., without present in use, to speak against, gainsay: Luke 21:15, Acts 4:14.†

(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 Luke 21:15

Range of meaning

To speak in reply against, contradict, rebut, gainsay. In the New Testament it appears only here and in Acts 4:14.

Against the English

KJV 'gainsay' is accurate but archaic. Modern 'contradict' and 'refute' are close. NLT's 'reply' is weaker, since the point is a hostile rebuttal and not just any reply.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 4:14: seeing the healed man standing with Peter and John, the Sanhedrin 'had nothing to say against it' (οὐδὲν εἶχον ἀντειπεῖν). Two verses earlier (4:13) they marvel that these men are 'unschooled and ordinary'. It is a common word in classical Greek for answering an argument.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 21:15 ἀντειπεῖν to reply to

    For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

    Here: 'To say something back', to rebut. It is a courtroom and debating word. In Acts 4:14 the council 'had nothing to say against it'.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 4:14 ἀντειπεῖν.¶ to contradict.

    And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.

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