BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.
GREEK · G73
agōn — fight
ἀγών, -ῶνος, ὁ (ἄγω), [in LXX: Isa.7:13 (לאה), Est.4:17, Wis.4:2 10:12, II Mac.6, 4Mac .5 * ;] 1. a gathering, esp. for games. 2. a place of assembly. 3. a contest, struggle, trial; metaphorically (MM, VGT, see word), (a) of the Christian life as a contest and struggle: Php.1:30, 1Th.2:2, 1Ti.6:12, 2Ti.4:7 Heb.12:1; (b) solicitude, anxiety: Col.2:1. † (AS)
6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G1017
brabeion — prize
βραβεῖον, -ου, τό (βραβεύς, an umpire), a prize in the games: 1Co.9:24; metaphorically, of the Christian's reward, Php.3:14.† (AS)
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G118
athleō — to compete
ἀθλέω, -ῶ (in cl. also ἀθλεύω, ἆθλος, a contest, in war or in sport), to contend in games, wrestle, combat: 2Ti.2:5.† (AS)
1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →GREEK · G775
Asiarchēs — Asiarch
Ἀσιάρχης, -ου, ὁ an Asiarch, one of ten officers elected by the various cities in the province of Asia whose duty it was to celebrate at their own charges the public games and festivals: Act.19:31 (Strab., Inscr.; DB, see word).† (AS)
1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →GREEK · G7633
hēniochos — a charioteer
1. one who holds the reins, a driver, charioteer , opposite to παραιβάτης (the warrior by his side), (Iliad by Homer) 2. generally a chariot-driver , as in the games, (Pindar), attic:—;in (Theognis Elegiacus), a rider. 3. metaphorically a guide, governor , (Pindar) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G7663
thesmos — a rule
1. like θέμις, that which is laid down and established, a law, ordinance , Lat. institutum, λέκτροιο θεσμὸν ἵκοντο, i. e. they fulfilled the established law of wedlock, (Odyssey by Homer); so in (Herdotus Historicus) and attic 2. at Athens, Draco's laws were called θεσμοί, because each began with the word θεσμός (compare θεσμοθέτης); while (Solon Lyricus)'s laws were named νόμοι. 3. an institution, ordinance , as the court of Areopagus, (Aeschulus Tragicus); of the great games, (Pindar) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G8333
mitra — a mitre
1. a belt or girdle , worn round the waist beneath the cuirass (whereas the ζωστήρ went over it), (Iliad by Homer) 2. = ζώνη, the maiden-zone , (Theocritus Poeta Bucolicus), etc. 3. a girdle worn by wrestlers , [variant datesAnthology Palantina 4. a head-band worn by Greek women to tie up their hair, a snood , (Euripides) 5. the victor's chaplet at the games, (Pindar); Λυδία μίτρα a Lydian garland (i. e. an ode in Lydian measure), (Pindar) 6. a Persian head-dress, turban , (Herdotus Historicus) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G9145
spondē — a libation
1. a drink-offering , i. e. the wine poured out to the gods before drinking, Lat. libatio, (Hesiod); σπονδὰς θεοῖς λείβειν, σπένδειν (Aeschulus Tragicus) 2. in plural, σπονδαί was a solemn treaty or truce , (because solemn drink-offerings were made on concluding them); σπονδαὶ ἄκρητοι the truce made by pouring unmixed wine, (Iliad by Homer); αἱ Λακεδαιμονίων σπ. the truce with them. (Thucydides); σπονδὰς παραδιδόναι (Aristophanes Comicus); δέχεσθαι (Thucydides); τυχεῖν (Xenophon Historicus); σπ. ποιεῖσθαί τινι to make a truce with one, (Herdotus Historicus); πρός τινα (Aristophanes Comicus); σπ. τέμνειν (like ὅρκια τέμνειν); (Euripides); σπ. ἄγειν πρός τινας (Thucydides) 3. αἱ Ὀλυμπικαὶ σπ. the solemn truce or armistice during the Olympic games, (Thucydides) 4. the treaty itself , εἴρηται ἐν ταῖς σπ. (Thucydides) (ML)
0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →(1.) Of children (Zech. 8:5; Matt. 11:16). The Jewish youth were also apparently instructed in the use of the bow and the sling (Judg. 20:16; 1 Chr. 12:2). (2.) Public games, such as were common among the Greeks and Romans, were foreign to the Jewish institutions and customs. Reference, however, is made to such games in two passages (Ps. 19:5; Eccl. 9:11). (3.) Among the Greeks and Romans games entered largely into their social life. (a) Reference in the New Testament is made to gladiatorial shows and fights with wild beasts (1 Cor. 15:32). These were common among the Romans, and sometimes on a large scale. (b) Allusion is frequently made to the Grecian gymnastic contests (Gal. 2:2; 5:7; Phil. 2:16; 3:14; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 12:1, 4, 12). These were very numerous. The Olympic, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian games were esteemed as of great national importance, and the victors at any of these games of wrestling, racing, etc., were esteemed as the noblest and the happiest of mortals.
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.
