Bible Encyclopedias
Contrary

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kon´tra -ri ( קרי , ḳerı̄ ; ἐναντίος , enantı́os ): In the Old Testament it has the sense of antagonistic, as one person opposed or hostile to the other, especially in Leviticus 26:21 , Leviticus 26:23 , Leviticus 26:14 , Leviticus 26:27 , Leviticus 26:28 , Leviticus 26:40 , Leviticus 26:41 , where Yahweh declares His attitude toward the people in such phrases as: "If ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; then I will walk contrary unto you in wrath."

In the New Testament it has a more varied significance and is applied to both material and human relations as simply opposite, set over against an object or thing. Used of the wind as in Matthew 14:24; Mark 6:48; Acts 27:4 , where it is spoken of as contrary. Refers also to conflicting doctrines, customs or beliefs, as 1 Timothy 1:10 , "and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine." Several other Greek words are translated with almost an identical meaning. Occasionally a prefix gives a slightly different shade of meaning.