ἀντοφθαλμέω
I face, resist
Definition
The verb ἀντοφθαλμέω literally means 'to look in the eye' or 'to face directly.' In its primary sense, it describes the act of facing or resisting something head-on, implying a direct confrontation or opposition. In its only New Testament occurrence in Acts 27:15, it is used as a nautical term, describing a ship that could not 'bear up' or 'face into' a strong wind, forcing it to be driven along. This specific usage highlights the inability to resist a powerful, opposing force. Thus, the word encompasses both the general idea of resistance and the specific technical action of a ship steering against the wind.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 27:15, within the narrative of Paul's shipwreck. The context is entirely nautical, describing the ship's inability to withstand a violent storm wind called 'Euraquilo.' The usage is technical and descriptive, with no figurative or theological application in the biblical text. It serves to vividly illustrate the helplessness of the vessel against the overwhelming power of the storm.
Etymology
Derived from the combination of ἀντί (anti), meaning 'against' or 'opposite,' and ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmos), meaning 'eye.' The compound thus literally means 'to present the eye against' or 'to look directly at.' This vivid imagery of facing something eye-to-eye naturally extended to meanings of resistance and confrontation, and was adopted into nautical vocabulary for sailing against the wind.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Greco-Roman world, seamanship was a vital part of travel and commerce. The nautical use of ἀντοφθαλμέω would have been readily understood by Luke's original audience, many of whom were familiar with Mediterranean travel. The term paints a precise picture of a sailing vessel's struggle against a headwind, a dangerous and skill-demanding situation. This cultural context makes the peril described in Acts 27:15 more immediate and tangible for the first readers.
ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi, G436) — a more general term for resisting or opposing, often used in spiritual or moral conflicts (e.g., Ephesians 6:13).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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