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ἐριθεία

eritheía

G2052 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Self-seeking pursuit or ambition, especially in the context of partisanship or factional rivalry. In various contexts, the term refers to a disposition of seeking advantage, engaging in rivalry, or fostering factionalism; sometimes connoting selfish ambition or divisive contentiousness; may also denote canvassing for office in later Greek usage.

Semantic Range

selfish ambition, partisanship, factionalism, rivalry, intrigue, canvassing for advantage, factious spirit

Root / Etymology

Likely derived from ἐριθεύω ('to work for hire, to serve for selfish gain'), itself from the noun ἴριθος ('day laborer, hireling'), although ultimate etymology uncertain. The form ἐριθεία is not directly connected to ἐρεθίζω ('to provoke'), despite superficial similarity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐριθεία originally referred to work done for hire, and thus a 'mercenary' or 'self-seeking labor.' By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, notably in Koine literature, the term shifted to signify self-serving ambition or contentious rivalry—particularly the kind found in political or religious factions. In the New Testament (see Paul, e.g., Philippians 1:17 and Galatians 5:20), it denotes factiousness or selfish ambition that disrupts communal harmony. English translations often flatten the sense to 'strife' or 'selfish ambition,' but the nuance involves self-serving motivated rivalry and partisan spirit, not mere argumentativeness. The sense of 'canvassing for office' develops in later Greek political contexts and does not always apply to biblical usage. In the LXX, usage is rare but when present maintains this negative sense.

Translation Consistency

primary "self-seeking" 6 occurrences

Matches the dominant English rendering in the data and conveys the typical negative, advantage-seeking/factional spirit of ἐριθεία. It captures selfish ambition, partisanship, and rivalry in natural, concise English and works as a single consistent headword across all forms.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"self-serving ambition" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps as the same as ἐρεθίζω; properly, intrigue, i.e. (by implication) faction:--contention(-ious), strife.

Root Family

ἐριθ- (erethízō) — to stir up, to provoke, to incite

Root ἐριθ- to serve for hire, to pursue personal advantage, to act out of selfish motives
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2042 ἐρεθίζω stirred up

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2052-02 ἐριθεῖαι eritheiai N NOM F PL selfish ambition self-seeking rivalries self-seeking rivalries 2
G2052-03 ἐριθείαν eritheian N ACC F SG selfish ambition self-seeking ambition self-seeking ambition 2
G2052-04 ἐριθείας eritheias N GEN F SG selfish ambition of self-seeking ambition of self-seeking ambition 2
G2052-01 ἐριθεία eritheia N NOM F SG selfish ambition self-serving ambition self-serving ambition 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2052-04 Romans 2:8 ἐριθείας eritheias N GEN F SG selfish ambition of self-seeking ambition of self-seeking ambition
G2052-02 2 Corinthians 12:20 ἐριθεῖαι eritheiai N NOM F PL selfish ambition self-seeking rivalries self-seeking rivalries
G2052-02 Galatians 5:20 ἐριθεῖαι eritheiai N NOM F PL selfish ambitions self-seeking rivalries self-seeking rivalries
G2052-04 Philippians 1:17 ἐριθείας eritheias N GEN F SG selfish ambition of self-seeking ambition of self-seeking ambition
G2052-03 Philippians 2:3 ἐριθείαν eritheian N ACC F SG strife self-seeking ambition self-seeking ambition
G2052-03 James 3:14 ἐριθείαν eritheian N ACC F SG selfish ambition self-seeking ambition self-seeking ambition
G2052-01 James 3:16 ἐριθεία eritheia N NOM F SG selfish ambition self-serving ambition self-serving ambition
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