ἄθλησις
áthlēsis
G119 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Engagement in a contest or competition, especially one demanding preparation and endurance; by extension, persistent struggle, effort, or striving in the face of adversity. In figurative usage, denotes the experience of enduring difficulty, conflict, or opposition, often likened to an athlete's struggle in a competition.
Semantic Range
contest, athletic competition, struggle, persistent effort, enduring opposition, figurative conflict
Root / Etymology
Derived from ἀθλέω (athleō, 'to contend in the games' or generally 'to compete' from ἆθλος, 'contest, prize'). The suffix -σις (-sis) forms an abstract noun indicating the action or process of competing or struggling.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἄθλησις primarily referred to participation in athletic contests, with emphasis on the rigor, rules, and honors associated with public competitions — most notably the panhellenic games. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, especially as found in the New Testament (e.g. Hebrews 10:32), the word is extended metaphorically to refer to enduring spiritual or social hardship, often conceptualized as a contest or struggle requiring perseverance and steadfastness. This figurative extension is consistent with broader tendencies in Hellenistic literature, which often invoked sporting metaphors to describe ethical or moral perseverance. Unlike the related term ἀγών (which can refer to any assembly, contest, or struggle), ἄθλησις specifically evokes the notion of regulated, persistent effort in pursuit of a goal, in line with the context of athletic training and contests. English Bible translations often use "fight," "struggle," or "contest," but these may not always convey the athletic and enduring aspect inherent to the term. The root is also productive in words like ἀθλητής ('athlete').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀθλέω; a struggle (figuratively):--fight.
Root Family
ἄθλησις (athlēsis) — contest, competition, struggle, striving, enduring conflict
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G119-01 |
ἄθλησιν | athlesin | N ACC F SG |
fight | a contest-struggle | contest-struggle | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G119-01 |
Hebrews 10:32 | ἄθλησιν | athlesin | N ACC F SG |
fight | a contest-struggle | contest-struggle |