Bible Strands
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church in the closing ethical section of Romans (12:1–21), immediately after commanding them to feed a hungry enemy (v. 20). The moment is one of active hostility toward believers, not abstract moralizing.
The words — νικάω (nikāō, "to conquer, overcome") appears twice: once in the negative imperative (μὴ νικῶ) and once in the positive imperative (νίκα), framing the verse as a military reversal of roles. The same verb that describes being defeated by evil is turned into the means of defeating it.
The thread — 1 Peter 3:9 repeats the "do not repay evil with evil" structure; Luke 6:27 commands doing good to those who hate; Proverbs 16:32 ranks self-control above military conquest.
Why it lands — It demands that the reader refuse the reflex of retaliation and instead act—feeding, blessing, serving—the very person doing harm. The command is active, not stoic: "overcome" is a verb of force, redirected.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- Luke 6:27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.