Quick Definition
θηριομαχέω v. I fight with wild beasts
Strong's Definition
from a compound of 2342 and 3164; to be a beast-fighter (in the gladiatorial show), i.e. (figuratively) to encounter (furious men)
KJV Usage: fight with wild beasts
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | θηρεύω + μάχομαι
39.28 · Hostility, Strife · Strife, Struggle
to be in a serious struggle with, to have to contend with (a figurative extension of meaning of θηριομαχέω ‘to be forced to fight with wild animals,’ not occurring in the NT) to be in conflict with forceful opposition Some persons have assumed that θηριομαχέω in 1CO 15:32 is to be understood in a literal sense, but this is very unlikely. One can, however, preserve something of the figurative force of this expression by rendering this question in 1CO 15:32 as “if I have, as it were, fought ‘wild beasts’ here in Ephesus simply from human motives, what have I gained?” (TEV). By making a metaphor into a simile one can preserve something of the figurative value of the phrase, while at the same time not introducing possible misunderstanding.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
θηριομαχέω, -ῶ: 1 aor. ἐθηριομάχησα; (Onpropayos); to Sight with wild beasts (Diod. 3,43, 7; Artem. oneir. 2, 54; 5, 49); ef ἐθηριομάχησα ἐν ᾿Εφέσῳ, 1 Co. xv. 32 —these words some take literally, supposing that Paul was condemned to fight with wild beasts; others explain them tropically of a fierce contest with brutal and ferocious men (so θηριομαχεῖν in Ignat. ad Rom. 5, [ete.]; οἵοις θηρίοις μαχόμεθα says Pompey, in App. bell. civ. 2, 61; see θηρίον). The former opinion encounters the objection that Paul would not have omitted this most terrible of all perils from the catalogue in 2 Co. xi. 23 sqq.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
θηριομαχέω thēriomacheō 1x
to fight with wild beasts; met. to be exposed to furious hostility, 1 Cor. 15:32*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† θηριομαχέω, -ῶ
(< θηρίον, μάχομαι),
to fight with wild beasts (Diod., al.): I Co 15:32.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
θηριομαχέω. The subst. θηρομαχία is found OGZS 5335} (i/B.c.) θηρομαχίαν ἔδωκεν. For the verb, see Vett. Val. p. 129°? ὃ τοιοῦτος ἐθηριομάχησεν, and similarly p. 130%. A close parallel to the Pauline usage (1 Cor 1535) occurs in Ignat. Rom. 5 ἀπὸ Συρίας μέχρι Ρώμης θηριομαχῶ. Though the verb used is different, we may compare the maiden’s lament in P Ryl I. 15? (ii/a.D. )—
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
θηριομαχέω (thēriomacheō) — to fight beasts. θηριο-μᾰχέω, fight with wild beasts, [NT+1st c.BC+]