Greek word · G474

ἀντιβάλλω

antiballō

to discuss

Literally "to throw against / throw in return" (anti, "against, in exchange" + ballō, "throw"). In wider Greek: to compare or collate (setting one text against another), to weigh one thing against another, and of speech, to exchange words or argue back and forth.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀντι-βάλλω

[in LXX: 2Ma.11:13 * ;]

to throw in turn, exchange: metaphorically, λόγους (cf. Lat. conferre sermons; see Field, Notes, 81), Luke 24:17.†

(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 24:17

Range of meaning

Literally "to throw against / throw in return" (anti, "against, in exchange" + ballō, "throw"). In wider Greek: to compare or collate (setting one text against another), to weigh one thing against another, and of speech, to exchange words or argue back and forth. BDAG gives "exchange (words)" for this verse.

Against the English

BSB "discussing so intently", NIV "discussing" and ESV "conversation… holding" catch the content but lose the picture of words thrown to and fro. YLT "exchange" and NASB "exchanging" keep it best. KJV "communications… ye have one to another" is accurate for 1611 but flat.

Used elsewhere in the period

This is the only time the word appears in the New Testament. In the Greek Old Testament, 2 Maccabees 11:13 uses it of Lysias "weighing up" his defeat within himself (antibalōn pros heauton), i.e. turning matters over and setting them side by side. Classical and papyrus usage includes checking or collating documents against each other (LSJ).

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 24:17 ἀντιβάλλετε you exchange

    He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, with sadness on their faces.

    Here: Present tense, ongoing action: they are lobbing words at each other, one answering the other, setting one point against another. It is livelier than "talking" and fits v. 15, which says they were debating.

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