Greek word · G485

ἀντιλογία

antilogia

dispute

Literally 'speaking against': contradiction, dispute, argument; from there, defiance, rebellion and hostile opposition. In Hebrews 6:16 and 7:7 it means 'dispute' or 'argument'; in Jude 11 it is 'the rebellion of Korah'.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀντιλογία, -ας ἡ

(ἀντιλέγω), [in LXX chiefly for רִיב ;]

gain-saying, strife (the latter sense being found in π.; see MM, VGT, see word; cf. Field, Notes, 106): Hebrews 6:16 7:7 12:3, Jude 1:11.†

(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 Hebrews 12:3

Range of meaning

Literally 'speaking against': contradiction, dispute, argument; from there, defiance, rebellion and hostile opposition. In Hebrews 6:16 and 7:7 it means 'dispute' or 'argument'; in Jude 11 it is 'the rebellion of Korah'.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'contradiction' kept the old sense of 'speaking against', but modern readers hear a logical inconsistency. YLT's 'gainsaying' is accurate but archaic. BSB 'hostility' and other modern versions with 'opposition' or 'hostility' capture the aggression but lose the verbal element: taunts, accusations, false testimony, mocking.

How it drifted

English 'contradiction' narrowed over time to mean logical inconsistency. In 1611 it could still mean active opposition in words.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (LXX), the waters of Meribah ('quarrelling') are called 'the water of antilogia' (Num 20:13; 27:14; Ps 106[105]:32), the classic example of Israel's rebellion against God and Moses. Jude 11 uses the word for Korah's revolt (Num 16).

From the study of Hebrews 7:7

Range of meaning

Literally "speaking against". It covers a dispute or contested case, verbal opposition, and in stronger settings open defiance or rebellion.

Against the English

"Dispute" (WEB, BSB's "indisputably") is accurate. KJV's "contradiction" meant gainsaying in 1611, but now tends to suggest a logical inconsistency. "Doubt" (NIV) moves the idea from a public argument to an inner uncertainty, though the sense of the sentence survives.

How it drifted

English "contradiction" narrowed over time from "speaking against someone" toward "two statements that cannot both be true". The Greek word is about people arguing.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) it is used for legal disputes (Deuteronomy 17:8; 19:17) and for the rebellion at the "water of dispute", Meribah (Numbers 20:13). Deuteronomy 21:5 is striking: the priests are chosen to bless in the Lord's name, and by their word "every dispute" is decided. Hebrews 6:16 uses it of an oath ending "every dispute", and Hebrews 12:3 and Jude 11 use it of hostile opposition.

From the study of Hebrews 6:16

Range of meaning

'Speaking against': contradiction, dispute, a contested claim. It extends to opposition and rebellion. In legal settings it means a case or controversy between parties.

Against the English

KJV 'strife' sounds to modern ears like general conflict or bad feeling. BSB/NIV 'argument' is closer, though it can sound like a casual quarrel. The Greek points to a disputed claim that needs a decision.

How it drifted

'Strife' in 1611 covered disputes and contention, including legal ones. Today it suggests turmoil or discord in general.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Deut 21:5: by the word of the priests 'every dispute (antilogia) and every assault' shall be decided. See also Deut 17:8; 19:17 and Exod 18:16. Num 20:13 calls Meribah 'the water of antilogia', the place where Israel contended with God. In the NT: Heb 7:7 'beyond all dispute'; Heb 12:3 the 'hostility' Jesus endured from sinners; Jude 11 'the rebellion of Korah'.

Where it appears

Hebrews · 3

  1. Hebrews 6:16 ἀντιλογίας disputes

    Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.

    Here: Literally 'speaking against': two parties contradicting each other's claims, often in a legal or quasi-legal case, and not a general mood of conflict.

  2. Hebrews 7:7 ἀντιλογίας· dispute;

    And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

    Here: Literally a "talking back", the kind of contested claim that might be argued between two parties. The author says nobody would argue the other side of this.

  3. Hebrews 12:3 ἀντιλογίαν, hostility,

    Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

    Here: Literally 'counter-speech': defiance, contradiction and hostile opposition, often voiced out loud. In the Greek Old Testament it names Israel's rebellion at Meribah, and Jude 11 uses it for Korah's revolt. It is the object of 'endured'.

Jude · 1

  1. Jude 1:11 ἀντιλογίᾳ rebellion

    Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed for profit into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

    Here: Literally 'speaking against'. Here it means open defiance of authority God had appointed. In the Greek Old Testament the same word names Meribah, the place where Israel quarrelled with God and Moses.

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