"to speak against, contradict; to gainsay, deny, Lk. 20:27; to oppose, Jn. 19:12; Acts 13:45; 28:19; Rom. 10:21; Tit. 1:9; 2:9; pass. to be spoken against, decried, Lk. 2:34; Acts 28:22*"
Definition and meaning
to speak against, contradict; to gainsay, deny, Lk. 20:27; to oppose, Jn. 19:12; Acts 13:45; 28:19; Rom. 10:21; Tit. 1:9; 2:9; pass. to be spoken against, decried, Lk. 2:34; Acts 28:22*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀντιλέγω
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of antilego (G471) across the King James Bible.
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
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Common questions
Strong's G471 (antilego) is a Greek word that means: to speak against, contradict; to gainsay, deny, Lk. 20:27; to oppose, Jn. 19:12; Acts 13:45; 28:19; Rom. 10:21; Tit. 1:9; 2:9; pass. to be spoken against, decried, Lk. 2:34; Acts 28:22* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word antilego (G471) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G471 is antilego, a Greek word defined as: to speak against, contradict; to gainsay, deny, Lk. 20:27; to oppose, Jn. 19:12; Acts 13:45; 28:19; Rom. 10:21; Tit. 1:9; 2:9; pass. to be spoken agai. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
antilego is a Greek word found in the New Testament.