Opposite; figuratively, antagonistic
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
G1727 is a Greek adjective or prepositional expression for what is opposite, contrary, against, hostile, opposing, or before someone. Mark 6:48 describes the wind as against the disciples as they strain at the oars, a physical obstacle rather than a moral enemy.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἐναντίος (G1727) · Open the biblical lexicon
G1727 is a Greek adjective or prepositional expression for what is opposite, contrary, against, hostile, opposing, or before someone. Mark 6:48 describes the wind as against the disciples as they strain at the oars, a physical obstacle rather than a moral enemy.
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include against (2), against it (1), against us (1), hostile (1), in front of (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 14:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (3), Mark (2), 1 Thessalonians (1), Matthew (1).
G1727 is a Greek adjective or prepositional expression for what is opposite, contrary, against, hostile, opposing, or before someone. Mark 6:48 describes the wind as against the disciples as they strain at the oars, a physical obstacle rather than a moral enemy. In Acts 26:9 Paul confesses that he once thought he should do much against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Titus 2:8 urges sound speech so an opponent will be ashamed for having nothing evil to say. Other uses concern adverse winds, contrary commands, legal opposition, and people acting with hostility. One passage describes particular persecutors as hostile to all people, language that must remain tied to those actors and actions. G1727 opens resistance and contradiction.
It corrects collective blame, especially anti-Jewish readings that erase Paul, the apostles, and the earliest Jewish believers.
G1727 identifies spatial, circumstantial, argumentative, legal, or personal opposition. What stands against someone may be wind, an action, a command, a claim, or a hostile actor, so context must establish both the kind and moral weight of resistance.
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,
A contrary wind physically resists the disciples' rowing before Jesus comes to them on the sea.
So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Paul publicly owns his former conviction that he should oppose the name of Jesus, showing that sincere opposition can be gravely mistaken.
And wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
Believers are called to sound, irreproachable speech that leaves an opponent without a truthful evil charge.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. Physically opposite or facing; metaphorically hostile or antagonistic, especially opposing God's purposes
Textus Receptus witness, full corpusGreek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
8 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
opposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseopposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseopposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseopposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseopposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseopposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseopposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseopposite, opposed, contrary, the adversary
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 6 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Showing 1 selected witness from 8 lexical occurrence verses.
ἐναντίος is built from this root:
Describes adverse winds shaping the narrative tension.Acts 27:1-12
G1727 shows that being against something is not a complete moral description. Wind can be against rowers without agency. Paul can sincerely oppose Jesus and later confess that his judgment was wrong. A critic can oppose a congregation while still deserving honest, sound speech in return. The word therefore calls communities to specify actions and test claims instead of turning opposition into an identity.
This is especially important in reading First Thessalonians 2. Its severe language concerns persecuting actors within a concrete conflict; it cannot bear collective blame against Jewish people. Paul is Jewish, Jesus and the apostles are Jewish, and the earliest Christ-following communities include many Jewish believers. Christian interpretation must reject antisemitism, conspiracy, contempt, and inherited guilt.
When opposition is abusive or violent, leaders should protect people and involve appropriate authorities. When it is criticism or disagreement, they should listen, answer truthfully, and remain open to correction. Faithfulness is measured by allegiance to truth and Christlike conduct, not by the mere existence of opponents.
Acts.26.9
G1727 can function adjectivally for something opposite or contrary and in constructions that locate something over against or before another. Its force ranges from neutral spatial or physical opposition to active hostility, depending on agents and context.
Israel's Scriptures distinguish hostile enemies, false witnesses, legal adversaries, and circumstantial trouble while forbidding partial justice. Jesus loves enemies and confronts persecutors, and the apostles summon both courageous witness and humble self-examination.