ἀντίδικος
antídikos
G476 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A legal opponent, one who brings a case against another or opposes someone in a judicial context; by extension, a personal adversary or opponent in a dispute. While primarily denoting an adversary in legal matters—such as a plaintiff or prosecuting party—it is sometimes used metaphorically for any hostile opponent, including the figure of Satan as the adversary in certain New Testament contexts.
Semantic Range
legal opponent, adversary in court, accuser, general opponent, metaphorical adversary (esp. of Satan)
Root / Etymology
From ἀντί (against) + δίκη (justice, lawsuit, legal case), forming a compound meaning 'one who is against in a legal case'. The term is transparently a legal compound and not directly borrowed from another language.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The primary use of ἀντίδικος in classical and Hellenistic Greek is in legal contexts, where it refers to one’s opponent in a lawsuit, comparable to 'plaintiff' or 'accuser', but could also designate any party in opposition, including the defendant depending on perspective. In the New Testament (e.g., Matt 5:25; Luke 12:58; 1 Pet 5:8), the term can retain this judicial sense—the adversary in a dispute or lawsuit. Notably, in 1 Peter 5:8, the term is applied to the figure commonly called 'Satan', emphasizing his role as accuser or hostile opponent, rather than denoting 'Satan' as a personal name; this reflects an extension of the forensic meaning into the realm of spiritual conflict. The standard English translation 'adversary' captures the basic sense, though in legal settings more precise terms like 'opponent in court' or 'accuser' may be warranted. ἀντίδικος differs from ἐχθρός (enemy) and διώκτης (persecutor) in that its primary sphere is juridical rather than general enmity or hostility.
Translation Consistency
Neutral, natural English that covers the primary legal sense (a party opposing or prosecuting another) and the broader/metaphorical sense (a personal adversary or Satan as adversary). More common and flexible than narrower terms like 'accuser' or 'prosecutor.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀντί and δίκη; an opponent (in a lawsuit); specially, Satan (as the arch-enemy):--adversary.
Root Family
ἀντίδικος (antidikos) — legal opponent, adversary in court, accuser, opponent in dispute
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G476-03 |
ἀντιδίκου | antidikou | N GEN M SG |
adversary | of the legal adversary | of the legal opponent | 2 |
G476-02 |
ἀντίδικος | antidikos | N NOM M SG |
adversary | legal adversary | legal adversary | 2 |
G476-01 |
ἀντιδίκῳ | antidiko | N DAT M SG |
your adversary | to a legal adversary | legal adversary | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G476-01 |
Matthew 5:25 | ἀντιδίκῳ | antidiko | N DAT M SG |
your adversary | to a legal adversary | legal adversary |
G476-02 |
Matthew 5:25 | ἀντίδικος | antidikos | N NOM M SG |
adversary | legal adversary | legal adversary |
G476-03 |
Luke 12:58 | ἀντιδίκου | antidikou | N GEN M SG |
adversary | of the legal adversary | of the legal opponent |
G476-03 |
Luke 18:3 | ἀντιδίκου | antidikou | N GEN M SG |
adversary | of the legal adversary | of the legal opponent |
G476-02 |
1 Peter 5:8 | ἀντίδικος | antidikos | N NOM M SG |
adversary | legal adversary | legal adversary |