Strivings

The word striving appears once in the new Testament in:

Titus 3:9 "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain."

It is from the Greek word mache which also appears in other verses.

2 Corinthians 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings <3163>, within were fears.

2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes <3163>.

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about <3163> the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings <3163> among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

We also see the word striving in several verses but from different Greek words:

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

In the Old testament

we the word strivings twice:

2 Samuel 22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

Psalms 18:43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

It is from the word riyb which is also translated strife 16 times, controversy 13 times and contention twice and a few other ways for a total of 62 times.

Genesis 13:7 And there was a strife <07379> between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding <07379> of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause <07379> to decline after many to wrest judgment:

Exodus 23:3 Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause <07379>.

Exodus 23:6 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause <07379>.

Deuteronomy 1:12 How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife <07379>?

Deuteronomy 17:8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy <07379> within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

Deuteronomy 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy <07379> is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

Deuteronomy 21:5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy <07379> and every stroke be tried:

Deuteronomy 25:1 If there be a controversy <07379> between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

Judges 12:2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife <07379> with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.

1 Samuel 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause <07379>, and deliver me out of thine hand.

1 Samuel 25:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause <07379> of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

2 Samuel 15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy <07379> came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

2 Samuel 15:4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit <07379> or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

2 Samuel 22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings <07379> of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

2 Chronicles 19:8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies <07379>, when they returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 19:10 And what cause <07379> soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.

Job 13:6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings <07379> of my lips.

Job 29:16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause <07379> which I knew not I searched out.

Job 31:13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended <07379> with me;

Job 31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary <07379> had written a book.

Job 33:19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude <07379> of his bones with strong pain:

Psalms 18:43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings <07379> of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

Psalms 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife <07379> of tongues.

Psalms 35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause <07379>, my God and my Lord.

Psalms 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause <07379> against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

Psalms 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife <07379> in the city.

Psalms 74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause <07379>: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

Psalms 119:154 Plead my cause <07379>, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife <07379>.

Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife <07379>.

Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention <07379>, before it be meddled with.

Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips enter into contention <07379>, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Proverbs 18:17 He that is first in his own cause <07379> seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

Proverbs 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife <07379>: but every fool will be meddling.

Proverbs 22:23 For the LORD will plead their cause <07379>, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Proverbs 23:11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause <07379> with thee.

Proverbs 25:9 Debate thy cause <07379> with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

Proverbs 26:17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife <07379> belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Proverbs 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife <07379>.

Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife <07379>.

Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause <07379> of the widow come unto them.

Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy <07379> of Zion.

Isaiah 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive <07379> with thee shall perish.

Isaiah 41:21 Produce your cause <07379>, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

Isaiah 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife <07379> and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

Jeremiah 11:20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause <07379>.

Jeremiah 15:10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife <07379> and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

Jeremiah 20:12 But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause <07379>.

Jeremiah 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy <07379> with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 50:34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause <07379>, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Jeremiah 51:36 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause <07379>, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

Lamentations 3:36 To subvert a man in his cause <07379>, the Lord approveth not.

Lamentations 3:58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes <07379> of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

Ezekiel 44:24 And in controversy <07379> they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy <07379> with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

Hosea 12:2 The LORD hath also a controversy <07379> with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

Micah 6:2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy <07379>, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy <07379> with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

Micah 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause <07379>, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

Habakkuk 1:3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife <07379> and contention.

== Footnotes ==