Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
Parallel translations
- KJV Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- BSB Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
- NKJV Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- NASB Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- NLT Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Bless those who persecute you; do not curse them.
Overview
Echoing Jesus' teaching (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28), Paul calls believers to respond to persecution with blessing rather than cursing. This radical, Christlike love refuses retaliation and seeks the good even of enemies. It introduces the theme of overcoming evil with good that runs through the rest of the chapter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Pet 3:9not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
- Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
- 1 Th 5:15See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.
- 1 Cor 4:12–13We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
- Rom 12:21Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Luke 6:28bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.
- Jas 3:10Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
- Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
- 1 Pet 2:21–23For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
- Acts 7:60He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Job 31:29–30“If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 12:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.