Greek word · G483

ἀντιλέγω

antilegō

to dispute

Literally 'to speak against': contradict, dispute, deny, and more broadly oppose, refuse, resist (BDAG s.v. ἀντιλέγω 1 'speak against', 2 'oppose, refuse').

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀντι-λέγω

[in LXX: Hosea 4:4 (רִיב hi.), Isaiah 50:5 (סוּג ni.) Isaiah 22:22 65:2, Sirach 4:25, 3Ma.2:28, 4Ma.4:7 4Mac 8:2 * ;]

cοntradict, oppose, resist (see Field, Notes, 106; MM, VGT, see word); absol.: Acts 28:19, Romans 10:21, Titus 1:9 2:9; with dative, John 19:12, Acts 13:45; with accusative and inf., Luke 20:27 T; pass., Luke 2:34, Acts 28:22.†

(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 2:34

Range of meaning

Literally 'to speak against': contradict, dispute, deny, and more broadly oppose, refuse, resist (BDAG s.v. ἀντιλέγω 1 'speak against', 2 'oppose, refuse').

Against the English

KJV, WEB, YLT, BSB 'spoken against' is literal. ESV and NASB 'opposed' and NLT 'oppose' bring out the wider sense. KJV and BSB make it future ('shall/will be'); the Greek is a present participle describing what kind of sign he is: one that meets contradiction.

How it drifted

'Spoken against' can sound like mere verbal criticism; in usage the verb often means active opposition and rejection.

Used elsewhere in the period

John 19:12: 'whoever makes himself a king opposes (antilegei) Caesar', which is political defiance, not just words. Romans 10:21 quoting Isaiah 65:2 LXX: God stretched out his hands to 'a disobedient and contrary (antilegonta) people'. Acts 13:45 (synagogue leaders contradicting Paul); Acts 28:22 (the Christian movement 'spoken against everywhere').

From the study of Acts 13:45

Range of meaning

Literally 'to speak against': contradict, dispute, talk back, and so oppose or refuse. It can mean simple verbal disagreement or a settled stance of resistance.

Against the English

BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV and NASB have 'contradicted' (with variations), and KJV 'spake against'. These are accurate. What they can lose is the imperfect tense, a persistent or newly begun pattern: 'kept contradicting' or 'began to contradict'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Simeon calls the infant Jesus 'a sign that will be spoken against' (Luke 2:34, antilegomenon). Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2 in the Septuagint: 'a disobedient and contrary (antilegonta) people' (Rom 10:21). Acts 28:19 and 28:22 ('everywhere it is spoken against') close the book with the same verb.

From the study of Romans 10:21

Range of meaning

To speak against: contradict, object, dispute, oppose, talk back. It can mean verbal argument or active opposition more broadly.

Against the English

KJV/YLT "gainsaying" is the exact old equivalent (to "gainsay" is to speak against), but the word is now archaic. "Obstinate" (BSB, NIV, NASB) describes an attitude and drops the speaking in the word. "Contrary" (ESV, WEB) is closer.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Hebrew of Isaiah 65:2 has a single word here, sorer ("stubborn, turning aside"). The Greek translators gave two participles. In LXX Isaiah 50:5 the faithful Servant is the one who does not "speak back". In the NT see Luke 2:34 (a sign "spoken against"), John 19:12, Acts 13:45 and 28:19, 22, and Titus 2:9 (slaves not "talking back").

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 2:34 ἀντιλεγόμενον. spoken against —.

    Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

    Here: A present passive participle: 'being spoken against', 'opposed'. The sign will be continually contradicted and resisted. The sentence breaks off here (the dash) for the aside to Mary in v. 35.

  2. Luke 20:27 ἀντιλέγοντες denying

    Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.

John · 1

  1. John 19:12 ἀντιλέγει speaks against

    From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”

    Here: Literally “speaks against”, but here it means “sets himself against” or “challenges” Caesar. This is the language of treason, not of criticism.

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 13:45 ἀντέλεγον were contradicting

    But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.

    Here: The imperfect tense presents this as ongoing or just starting: 'they kept contradicting' or 'they began to contradict'. It was a running counter-argument against what Paul said, not one objection.

  2. Acts 28:19 ἀντιλεγόντων When were objecting

    But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, even though I have no charge to bring against my nation.

  3. Acts 28:22 ἀντιλέγεται.¶ it is spoken against.

    But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”

    Here: 'It is being spoken against.' The present tense means this is going on continually. The word covers verbal contradiction and open opposition. It echoes Simeon's word over the infant Jesus, 'a sign that will be spoken against' (Luke 2:34).

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 10:21 ἀντιλέγοντα.¶ contradicting.

    But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

    Here: Literally "saying back against": a people that answers God's appeal with objections and talks back. The present participle pictures a continuing habit.

Titus · 2

  1. Titus 1:9 ἀντιλέγοντας contradicting [it]

    He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

    Here: People who keep talking against the teaching. The present tense suggests an ongoing posture of opposition, not one honest question.

  2. Titus 2:9 ἀντιλέγοντας, gainsaying,

    Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,

    Here: 'Talking back' or 'contradicting'. The present participle describes a habit of answering back or resisting. The same verb describes the false teachers who 'contradict' in Titus 1:9, so slaves are told not to behave like the letter's opponents.

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