from a primary (to hate); hateful (passively, odious, or actively, hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan):--enemy, foe.
Transliteration:echthrós
Pronunciation:ech-thros'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term `{{G2190}}` (echthrós) derives from a primary root signifying "to hate." Its semantic range encompasses both passive and active dimensions of enmity. Passively, it can describe that which is "hateful" or "odious" (e.g., something abhorrent to God). Actively, it denotes one who is "hostile," "antagonistic," or "an adversary." Most frequently, however, `{{G2190}}` functions as a noun, referring to an "enemy" or "foe." This broad application includes human adversaries, but notably extends to spiritual opposition, with a specific emphasis in the New Testament on Satan as the preeminent "enemy." The word fundamentally conveys a state of opposition, alienation, or active animosity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{G2190}}` appears frequently in the New Testament, revealing diverse applications:
* **Human Enemies:** Jesus' radical command to "love your enemies" ([[Matthew 5:44]], [[Luke 6:27]]) profoundly redefines ethical conduct, challenging the natural human inclination towards retaliation. This love is not sentimental but an active, benevolent will towards those who oppose or persecute. Similarly, Paul echoes this ethic in [[Romans 12:20]], urging believers to provide for their hungry or thirsty enemies, thereby "heaping burning coals on their head"—a phrase often interpreted as leading to repentance rather than inflicting harm.
* **Enemies of God/Christ:** Humanity, in its unredeemed state, is described as `{{G2190}}` to God. [[Romans 5:10]] states, "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." This highlights the profound alienation caused by sin and the gracious initiative of God in reconciliation. Paul also speaks of those whose "god is their stomach" and "glory in their shame" as "enemies of the cross of Christ" ([[Philippians 3:18]]), indicating opposition to the core message and redemptive work of the Gospel.
* **The Ultimate Spiritual Enemy:** Crucially, `{{G2190}}` is used to identify Satan as the primary adversary. In the parable of the weeds, Jesus explains that "the enemy who sowed them is the devil" ([[Matthew 13:39]]). Christ's authority extends over "all the power of the enemy" ([[Luke 10:19]]), signifying His triumph over demonic forces.
* **Death as the Last Enemy:** In a powerful eschatological statement, Paul declares that Christ "must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death" ([[1 Corinthians 15:25-26]]). This portrays death not merely as a natural process but as an antagonistic force, ultimately to be conquered by Christ's resurrection power.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of `{{G2190}}` is deeply interwoven with other biblical terms and theological ideas. Its Hebrew counterpart, `{{H341}}` ('oyeb), also translates as "enemy" and carries a similar range of meaning, from personal adversaries to national foes. The abstract noun form of `{{G2190}}` is `{{G2189}}` (echthra), meaning "enmity" or "hostility" (e.g., the enmity between the flesh and the Spirit in [[Romans 8:7]], or the "dividing wall of hostility" broken down by Christ in [[Ephesians 2:14]]).
The antithesis of `{{G2190}}` is `{{G5384}}` (philos), meaning "friend" or "beloved." The radical call to love one's `{{G2190}}` underscores the profound shift from a retaliatory mindset to one rooted in divine grace. Other related concepts include `{{G3404}}` (miseō - to hate), which describes the active posture of an `{{G2190}}`. The theological framework of sin, rebellion, spiritual warfare, reconciliation, and divine sovereignty are all illuminated through the lens of `{{G2190}}`.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G2190}}` is profound and multifaceted. It underscores the reality of opposition to God's kingdom, both human and supernatural. Humanity's natural state as "enemies" of God highlights the necessity of divine reconciliation, achieved solely through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. This reconciliation transforms former adversaries into beloved children of God, demonstrating the immense power of divine grace.
Furthermore, the identification of Satan as the primary `{{G2190}}` frames the cosmic conflict as a struggle between light and darkness, good and evil. Christ's victory over the devil and his forces is central to the Gospel message, assuring believers of His ultimate triumph. The declaration that death itself is the "last enemy" to be destroyed encapsulates the eschatological hope of the resurrection and the complete restoration of God's creation. Finally, the command to love one's `{{G2190}}` is a cornerstone of Christian ethics, reflecting the very character of God who loved humanity while it was still alienated from Him. It is a call to radical, transformative love that seeks the welfare and redemption of even those who oppose the believer.
### Summary
The Greek term `{{G2190}}` (echthrós) denotes an "enemy" or "adversary," stemming from a root meaning "to hate." Its usage in the New Testament spans human antagonists, those who oppose the Gospel, and most significantly, Satan as the ultimate spiritual foe. The concept of `{{G2190}}` highlights humanity's alienated state from God due to sin, underscoring the vital need for reconciliation through Christ. The term also powerfully conveys the eschatological reality of Christ's complete triumph over all opposing forces, culminating in the destruction of death itself. The radical command to love one's `{{G2190}}` encapsulates the transformative nature of Christian discipleship, mirroring God's own redemptive love for His alienated creation.
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