Strive

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἀγωνίζομαι (Strong'S #75 — Verb — agonizomai — ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee )

"to contend" (Eng., "agonize"), is rendered "to strive" in  Luke 13:24;  1—Corinthians 9:25;  Colossians 1:29;  4:12 , RV (AV, "laboring fervently"). In  1—Timothy 4:10 , the best texts have this verb (RV, "strive") for oneidizomai, "to suffer reproach," AV; see Fight , B, No. 1.

2: Μάχομαι (Strong'S #3164 — Verb — machomai — makh'-om-ahee )

"to fight, to quarrel, dispute," is rendered "to strive" in  John 6:52;  Acts 7:26;  2—Timothy 2:24 . See Fight , B, No. 3.

3: Διαμάχομαι (Strong'S #1264 — Verb — diamachomai — dee-am-akh'-om-ahee )

"to struggle against" (dia, intensive, and No. 2), is used of "contending" in an argument,  Acts 23:9 , "strove."

4: Ἐρίζω (Strong'S #2051 — Verb — erizo — er-id'-zo )

"to wrangle, strive" (eris, "strife"), is used in  Matthew 12:19 .

5: Λογομαχέω (Strong'S #3054 — Verb — logomacheo — log-om-akh-eh'-o )

"to strive about words" (logos, "a word," and No. 2), is used in  2—Timothy 2:14 .

6: Ἀνταγωνίζομαι (Strong'S #464 — Verb — antagonizomai — an-tag-o-nid'-zom-ahee )

"to struggle against" (anti), is used in  Hebrews 12:4 , "striving against."

7: Συναγωνίζομαι (Strong'S #4865 — Verb — sunagonizomai — soon-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee )

"to strive together with" (sun), is used in  Romans 15:30 .

8: Συναθλέω (Strong'S #4866 — Verb — sunathleo — soon-ath-leh'-o )

"to strive together,"  Philippians 1:27 : see Labor , B, No. 3.

 2—Timothy 2:5Contend.  Romans 15:20Aim.

King James Dictionary

STRIVE, pret. strove pp. striven. G. This word coincides in elements with drive, and the primary sense is nearly the same. See Rival.

1. To make efforts to use exertions to endeavor with earnestness to labor hard applicable to exertions of body or mind. A workman strives to perform his task before another a student strives to excel his fellows in improvement.

Was it for this that his ambition strove to equal Cesar first, and after Jove?

Strive with me in your prayers to God for me.  Romans 15 .

Strive to enter in at the strait gate.  Luke 8 .

2. To contend to contest to struggle in opposition to another to be in contention or dispute followed by against or with before the person or thing opposed as, strive against temptation strive for the truth.

My spirit shall not always strive with man.  Genesis 6 .

3. To oppose by contrariety of qualities.

Now private pity strove with public hate, reason with rage, and eloquence with fate.

4. To vie to be comparable to to emulate to contend in excellence.

Not that sweet grove of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspird Castalian spring, might with this paradise of Eden strive.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) An effort; a striving.

(2): ( n.) Strife; contention.

(3): ( v. i.) To make efforts; to use exertions; to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard.

(4): ( v. i.) To vie; to compete; to be a rival.

(5): ( v. i.) To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest; - followed by against or with before the person or thing opposed; as, strive against temptation; strive for the truth.