ἐχθρός
echthros
enemy
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word ἐχθρός (echthros) is a term that refers to an enemy. This concept is deeply rooted in the realm of warfare and conflict, encompassing individuals or groups that are hostile towards one another. With 32 occurrences in the Bible, this word is a significant element in the biblical narrative, often used to describe the adversarial relationships between people, nations, or even spiritual entities. The usage of ἐχθρός spans various contexts, including interpersonal conflicts, national rivalries, and even spiritual battles. This word underscores the idea that enemies can be perceived as threats, obstacles, or adversaries that must be confronted and overcome. The range of usage is broad, allowing the term to be applied to both physical and metaphorical enemies, making it a versatile concept in the biblical narrative. The significance of ἐχθρός lies in its ability to convey the complex dynamics of human relationships, highlighting the tensions and conflicts that arise between individuals and groups. By examining the occurrences of this word in the Bible, we can gain insight into the ways in which ancient cultures understood and navigated conflict, and how these concepts continue to shape our understanding of human relationships today.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
32 total occurrences across the text
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
Matthew 10:36A man’s foes will be those of his own household.
Matthew 13:25but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away.
Matthew 13:28“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
Matthew 13:39The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Matthew 22:44‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?’
Mark 12:36For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.” ’
Luke 1:71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;
Luke 1:74to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
Luke 6:27“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 6:35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
Luke 10:19Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.
Luke 19:43For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,
Luke 20:43until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.” ’
Acts 2:35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’
Acts 13:10and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Romans 5:10For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.
Romans 11:28Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake.
Romans 12:20Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
1 Corinthians 15:25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:26The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Galatians 4:16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Philippians 3:18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
Colossians 1:21You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
2 Thessalonians 3:15Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Hebrews 1:13But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”
Luke 19:27But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’ ”
Hebrews 10:13from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.
James 4:4You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Revelation 11:5If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way.
Revelation 11:12I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them.