Against (Hastings' Dictionary)
- In its primitive meaning of 'oi'iiioite to' against is rarely found alone, usually 'over a.,' as Ul 1' 'in the plain over a. the Ked Sea'; but we lind Gn 15'" 'and laid each piece one a. another' (UV 'each half over a. the other); I Ch '25^ ' They cast lots, ward a. ward ' ; Kzk 3' ' I have made thy face strong a. their faces ' ; esp. .'Ju2o< 'Take all the heads (KV 'chiefs') of the people, and hang them up before the Lord a. the sun ' (KV ' unto the Lord before the sun ') ; and 1 S 2Sr" ' David and his men came do\vn a. her' (i.e. opposite her, so as to meet her). 2. Krom the meaning ' opposite to ' of place, easUy arises 'opposite to' of time, of which we have an example in Ro 2 ' treasurest up unto thyself wrath a. (Gr. iv, RV 'in') the day of wrath'; I Mac 5-''. Cf. Spenser, Prothnlamion — Against the Brj'dale day, which is not long.' 3. In this sense a. is found as a conjunction in three places, Gn 43^ ' they made ready the present a. Joseph came at noon ; Ex 7", 2 K 16". J. Hastings.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Against
Against a-genst' (kata; enantion; pros): Preposition expressing contrast. When used of direction, equivalent to "toward" (Mt 10:35; 12:14, etc.); when of position, meaning "opposite," "facing," "in front of" (1Ki 7:5; Ge 15:10, Ro 8:31); when of action, "opposed to" (Mt 5:11; 26:59; 1Co 4:6); "in resistance to" (Heb 12:4); "provision for" (Greek eis, literally, "unto, toward" (1Ti 6:19). Sometimes also applied to what breaks an established order as "customs" (Ac 28:17), "nature" (Ro 1:26). Peculiar shades of meaning may be traced by careful examination of the variety of prepositions in Hebrew and Greek employed in the Scriptures, that are translated into English by this one word. ⇒See the definition of against in the KJV Dictionary H. E. Jacobs
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia