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ἀνθίστημι

anthístēmi

G436 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To set oneself against, to oppose, to withstand; to take a stand in opposition, whether physically, verbally, or metaphorically. The primary meaning is active resistance or opposition to someone or something, which can be military, legal, ethical, or interpersonal. In various contexts, it may also denote resisting authority, evil, accusations, or adversaries.

Semantic Range

to set oneself against, to oppose, to withstand, to resist actively (militarily, legally, morally, spiritually), to refuse compliance, to defy

Root / Etymology

From ἀντί (anti, 'against') + ἵστημι (histēmi, 'to stand'), meaning literally 'to stand against.' The compound construction intensifies the sense of opposition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀνθίστημι appears especially in military and civic contexts, denoting standing one's ground in battle or resisting pressure in political disputes. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek—including the Septuagint and New Testament—it retains this sense of open resistance or opposition, but also acquires legal and ethical nuances; for example, resisting evil (Matthew 5:39), defying leadership or divine authority (Acts 7:51), or withstanding accusations (Romans 9:19). The verb is often used with persons or concepts in the dative case as the object of resistance. English translations frequently render it as 'resist' or 'withstand,' but in some contexts, especially with reference to authorities or God, nuances of legal or moral opposition may be lost in translation. Unlike more general terms for disagreement, ἀνθίστημι implies active and often public opposition rather than mere passive noncompliance.

Translation Consistency

primary "resist" 6 occurrences

“Resist” best captures the primary, active sense of ἀνθίστημι — to set oneself against, withstand, or refuse compliance — and works naturally across military, legal, moral, spiritual, and interpersonal contexts. It conveys both opposing and withstanding more clearly than the more neutral “stand” and carries a stronger active sense than “oppose,” so it fits the typical usage across forms.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"stood against" (4x) "opposing" (1x) "having stood against" (1x) "opposed" (1x) "set themselves against" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀντί and ἵστημι; to stand against, i.e. oppose:--resist, withstand.

Root Family

ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi) — to stand against, to oppose, to set oneself against

Root ἵστημι to stand, to set, to establish

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G436-08 ἀντιστῆναι antistenai V AOR ACT INF to resist to stand against to resist 4
G436-09 ἀντίστητε antistete V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL resist Stand against Resist (plural) 2
G436-04 ἀνθέστηκεν anthesteken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG has opposed has stood against has stood against 2
G436-06 ἀνθίστανται anthistantai V PRS MID IND 3P PL resist they set themselves against they set themselves against 1
G436-07 ἀνθίστατο anthistato V IMPF MID IND 3P SG was opposing was setting himself against was opposing 1
G436-02 ἀντέστην antesten V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I opposed I stood against I opposed 1
G436-03 ἀντέστησαν antestesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL withstood they stood against they stood against 1
G436-05 ἀνθεστηκότες anthestekotes V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL have opposed having stood against having stood against 1
G436-01 ἀντέστη anteste V AOR ACT IND 3P SG opposed he stood against he stood against 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G436-08 Matthew 5:39 ἀντιστῆναι antistenai V AOR ACT INF resist to stand against to resist
G436-08 Luke 21:15 ἀντιστῆναι antistenai V AOR ACT INF to resist to stand against to resist
G436-08 Acts 6:10 ἀντιστῆναι antistenai V AOR ACT INF to resist to stand against to resist
G436-07 Acts 13:8 ἀνθίστατο anthistato V IMPF MID IND 3P SG was opposing was setting himself against was opposing
G436-04 Romans 9:19 ἀνθέστηκεν anthesteken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG has resisted has stood against has stood against
G436-04 Romans 13:2 ἀνθέστηκεν anthesteken V PRF ACT IND 3P SG has opposed has stood against has stood against
G436-05 Romans 13:2 ἀνθεστηκότες anthestekotes V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL have opposed having stood against having stood against
G436-02 Galatians 2:11 ἀντέστην antesten V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I opposed I stood against I opposed
G436-08 Ephesians 6:13 ἀντιστῆναι antistenai V AOR ACT INF to resist to stand against to resist
G436-03 2 Timothy 3:8 ἀντέστησαν antestesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL withstood they stood against they stood against
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