Enmity
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:
Enmity refers to a state of hostility, opposition, or antagonism between individuals or groups. In the biblical context, enmity often signifies the deep-seated animosity that exists as a result of sin, both between humans and between humanity and God.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 3:15 · The concept of enmity is first introduced in the Bible in the context of the fall of man. After Adam and Eve's disobedience, God declares to the serpent: "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel." This verse is often interpreted as the first messianic prophecy, indicating the ongoing spiritual battle between the forces of evil and the coming Savior, Jesus Christ.

2. Romans 8:7 · The Apostle Paul speaks of the enmity between the sinful nature of humanity and God: "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so." This enmity is inherent in the fallen human condition, which is naturally opposed to God's holiness and righteousness.

3. Ephesians 2:14-16 · Paul addresses the reconciliation brought by Christ, who breaks down the enmity between Jews and Gentiles, and between humanity and God: "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility." Here, enmity is overcome through the sacrificial work of Christ, uniting believers in Him.

4. James 4:4 · James warns against friendship with the world, which creates enmity with God: "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God." This passage highlights the incompatibility between worldly values and God's kingdom, urging believers to remain faithful to God.

Theological Significance:

Enmity in the Bible underscores the profound impact of sin on human relationships and the relationship between humanity and God. It illustrates the spiritual warfare that exists as a result of the fall and the need for divine intervention to restore peace and reconciliation. The enmity between humanity and God is ultimately addressed through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who provides the means for reconciliation and peace.

Practical Implications:

Believers are called to recognize the enmity that sin creates and to seek reconciliation through Christ. This involves turning away from worldly values and embracing the peace that comes from a restored relationship with God. Christians are also encouraged to pursue peace and unity within the body of Christ, reflecting the reconciliation that Jesus has accomplished.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Deep-rooted hatred. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed" (Genesis 3:15). The friendship of the world is "enmity with God" (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15, 16). The "carnal mind" is "enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). By the abrogation of the Mosaic institutes the "enmity" between Jew and Gentile is removed. They are reconciled, are "made one" (Ephesians 2:15, 16).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) Hatred; hostility; unfriendly disposition.

2. (n.) A state of opposition; hostility.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ENMITY

en'-mi-ti ('ebhah; echthra):

"Enmity" (hate) occurs as the translation of 'ebhah in Genesis 3:15, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed," and in Numbers 35:21, 22, where the absence of enmity on the part of the man-slayer modifies the judgment to be passed on him.

In the New Testament "enmity" is the translation of echthra: Luke 23:12 Romans 8:7, "The mind of the flesh is enmity against God." James 4:4, "The friendship of the world is enmity with God" (because "the world" is preferred to God); in Ephesians 2:15, 16, Christ is said to have "abolished in his flesh the enmity," by His cross to have "slain the enmity," that is, the opposition between Jew and Gentile, creating in Himself "one new man, (so) making peace."

See also ABOLISH; HATE.

W. L. Walker

Greek
2189b. echthra -- enmity
... 2189a, 2189b. echthra. 2190 . enmity. Transliteration: echthra Short
Definition: enmity. Word Origin from echthros Definition enmity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2189b.htm - 5k

2189. echthra -- yesterday
... yesterday. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: echthra Phonetic Spelling:
(ekh'-thrah) Short Definition: enmity, hostility Definition: enmity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2189.htm - 6k

2644. katallasso -- to reconcile
... [2644 () was originally used for the exchange of coins; "properly, (especially
of money); hence, of persons, from enmity to friendship, " (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2644.htm - 8k

1259. diallasso -- change, exchange
... dee-al-las'-so) Short Definition: I become reconciled to, reconcile myself with
Definition: I change, exchange; I reconcile, change enmity for friendship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1259.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
342. ebah -- enmity
... enmity. Transliteration: ebah Phonetic Spelling: (ay-baw') Short Definition: enmity.
Word Origin from ayab Definition enmity NASB Word Usage enmity (5). ...
/hebrew/342.htm - 6k

6340. pazar -- to scatter
... disperse, scatter abroad. A primitive root; to scatter, whether in enmity or bounty --
disperse, scatter (abroad). 6339, 6340. pazar. 6341 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6340.htm - 5k

8569. tenuah -- opposition
... breach of promise, occasion. From nuw'; alienation; by implication, enmity -- breach
of promise, occasion. see HEBREW nuw'. 8568, 8569. tenuah. 8570 . ...
/hebrew/8569.htm - 6k

8130. sane -- to hate
... root Definition to hate NASB Word Usage detest (1), enemy (3), enmity (1), foes
(1), hate (78), hated (28), hated her intensely (1), hates (19), hating (2 ...
/hebrew/8130.htm - 6k

4895. mastemah -- animosity
... Word Origin from satam Definition animosity NASB Word Usage hostility (2). hatred.
From the same as shotet; enmity -- hatred. see HEBREW shotet. 4894b, 4895. ...
/hebrew/4895.htm - 6k

Library

Enmity Between Man and Satan.
... 30. ENMITY BETWEEN MAN AND SATAN. [Illustration: Chapter header.] ... God declares,
"I will put enmity." This enmity is not naturally entertained. ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /30 enmity between man and.htm

Enmity Between Man and Satan
... Chapter 30 Enmity Between Man and Satan. "I will ... earth. God declares: "I will
put enmity." This enmity is not naturally entertained. When ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 30 enmity between man.htm

The Carnal Mind Enmity against God
... The Carnal Mind Enmity Against God. A Sermon (No.20). ... REV. CH SPURGEON. At Exeter
Hall, Strand. "The carnal mind is enmity against God""Romans 8:7. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the carnal mind enmity against.htm

October 13. "The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God" (Rom. viii. 7) ...
... OCTOBER 13. "The carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. viii. 7). "The carnal
mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). The flesh is incurably bad. ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /october 13 the carnal mind.htm

Concerning the Enmity Between Herod and Pheroras; How Herod Sent ...
... CHAPTER 3. Concerning The Enmity Between Herod And Pheroras; How Herod
Sent Antipater To Caesar; And Of The Death Of Pheroras. 1 ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 concerning the enmity.htm

"The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to ...
... "The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.". ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxi the carnal mind.htm

"Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not ...
... "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be.". Rom. viii. 7.""Because ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xx because the carnal.htm

Obstinancy of Theophilus. Enmity Between the Egyptians and the ...
... Book VIII. Chapter XIX."Obstinancy of Theophilus. Enmity between the Egyptians
and the Citizens of Constantinople. Flight of Theophilus. ...
/.../chapter xix obstinancy of theophilus enmity.htm

The Fall and Recovery of Man; Or, Christ and Satan at Enmity. Gen. ...
... HYMN 107 The fall and recovery of man; or, Christ and Satan at enmity. Gen.
3:1,15,17; Gal. ... LM The fall and recovery of man; or, Christ and Satan at enmity. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 107 the fall and.htm

The Fall and Recovery of Man; Or, Christ and Satan at Enmity, Gen. ...
... Hymns. Book 1. Hymn 1:107. The fall and recovery of man; or, Christ and
Satan at enmity, Gen. 3 1 15 17 Gal. 4. 4. Col. 2. 15. 1 ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 115972222 the fall and.htm

Thesaurus
Enmity (23 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Deep-rooted hatred. "I will put enmity between thee
and the woman, between thy seed and her seed" (Genesis 3:15). ...
/e/enmity.htm - 15k

Reconcilation
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A change from enmity to friendship. It is mutual, ie,
it is a change wrought in both parties who have been at enmity. ...
/r/reconcilation.htm - 8k

Carnal (11 Occurrences)
... Unconverted men are so called (1 Corinthians 3:3). They are represented as of a
"carnal mind, which is enmity against God" (Romans 8:6, 7). Enjoyments that ...
/c/carnal.htm - 13k

Samaritans (9 Occurrences)
... from the Captivity, the Jews in Jerusalem refused to allow them to take part with
them in rebuilding the temple, and hence sprang up an open enmity between them ...
/s/samaritans.htm - 16k

Reconciliation (11 Occurrences)
... Some maintain that it is only a change in the sinner that is intended, a laying
aside of his enmity, and coming into peaceful relations with God. ...
/r/reconciliation.htm - 30k

Reconcile (10 Occurrences)
... Some maintain that it is only a change in the sinner that is intended, a laying
aside of his enmity, and coming into peaceful relations with God. ...
/r/reconcile.htm - 29k

Sitnah (1 Occurrence)
... sit'-na (siTnah, "hatred," "hostility"; echthria): The name of the second of the
two wells dug by the herdsmen of Isaac, the cause of further "enmity" with the ...
/s/sitnah.htm - 7k

Silas (22 Occurrences)
... of purple, was converted, and with her they made their abode; but the exorcism of
an evil spirit from a sorceress brought upon Silas and Paul the enmity of her ...
/s/silas.htm - 21k

Malice (24 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Enmity of heart; malevolence; ill will; a spirit delighting in harm or
misfortune to another; a disposition to injure another; a malignant design of ...
/m/malice.htm - 15k

Hatred (30 Occurrences)
... See ENMITY. James Orr. Multi-Version Concordance ... James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses!
have ye not known that friendship of the world is enmity with God? ...
/h/hatred.htm - 17k

Resources
What is the definition of enmity? | GotQuestions.org

What does Genesis 3:15 mean that “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”? | GotQuestions.org

What is the protoevangelium? | GotQuestions.org

Enmity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Enmity (23 Occurrences)

Luke 23:12
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Galatians 5:20
enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, intrigues, dissensions, factions, envyings;
(WEY RSV)

Ephesians 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Ephesians 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

James 4:4
You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 23:22
for, if thou diligently hearken to his voice, and hast done all that which I speak, then I have been at enmity with thine enemies, and have distressed those distressing thee.
(YLT)

Numbers 35:21
or in enmity struck him with his hand, so that he died; he who struck him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meets him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Numbers 35:22
"'But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 2:9
And Jehovah said unto me, Vex not Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
(See JPS)

Deuteronomy 4:42
that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unawares, and didn't hate him in time past; and that fleeing to one of these cities he might live:
(See NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 19:4
This is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee there and live: whoever kills his neighbor unawares, and didn't hate him in time past;
(See RSV)

Deuteronomy 19:6
lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he didn't hate him in time past.
(See RSV)

Joshua 20:5
If the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, and didn't hate him before.
(See RSV)

Job 24:12
Because of enmity men do groan, And the soul of pierced ones doth cry, And God doth not give praise.
(YLT)

Psalms 55:3
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
(See RSV)

Psalms 81:12
And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 25:15
Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with despite of soul to destroy with perpetual enmity;
(WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 35:5
Because you have had a perpetual enmity, and have given over the children of Israel to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end;
(WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV)

Hosea 9:7
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the man that hath the spirit is mad, for the abundance of thine iniquity, and because the enmity is great.
(ASV DBY JPS)

Hosea 9:8
Ephraim was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler's snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.
(ASV DBY JPS)

Hosea 11:9
I do not the fierceness of My anger, I turn not back to destroy Ephraim, For God I 'am', and not a man. In thy midst the Holy One, and I enter not in enmity,
(YLT)

Subtopics

Enmity

Related Terms

Enoch (18 Occurrences)

Enmity (23 Occurrences)

Eunatan

Enmities
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