Bible Dictionary
Enmity
Enmity is deep hostility or hatred. Scripture describes enmity between the serpent and the woman, between sinful humanity and God, and the hostility between Jew and Gentile that Christ removes through His cross.
Definition
Enmity is deep-rooted hatred or hostility. It describes opposition between persons or groups and, in Scripture, opposition directed against God.
Biblical Usage
Genesis speaks of enmity between the serpent and the woman and between their offspring. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God, and friendship with the world is enmity with God. Through Christ’s cross, the enmity between Jew and Gentile was abolished and the two were made one.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Deep-rooted hatred. “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed” (Gen. 3:15). The friendship of the world is “enmity with God” (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15, 16). The “carnal mind” is “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). By the abrogation of the Mosaic institutes the “enmity” between Jew and Gentile is removed. They are reconciled, are “made one” (Eph. 2:15, 16).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>en'-mi-ti ('ebhah; echthra):</p><p>"Enmity" (hate) occurs as the translation of 'ebhah in Ge 3:15, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed," and in Nu 35:21,22, where the absence of enmity on the part of the man-slayer modifies the judgment to be passed on him.</p><p>In the New Testament "enmity" is the translation of echthra: Lu 23:12; Ro 8:7, "The mind of the flesh is enmity against God." Jas 4:4, "The friendship of the world is enmity with God" (because "the world" is preferred to God); in Eph 2:15,16, Christ is said to have "abolished in his flesh the enmity," by His cross to have "slain the enmity," that is, the opposition between Jew and Gentile, creating in Himself "one new man, (so) making peace."</p><p>See also ABOLISH; HATE.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>