Romans 12:14
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Romans 12:14 in other translations
| BSB | Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. |
|---|---|
| WEB | Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse. |
| ASV | Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. |
| YLT | Bless those persecuting you; bless, and curse not; |
| DARBY | Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. |
| BBE | Give blessing and not curses to those who are cruel to you. |
| Webster | Bless them who persecute you; bless, and curse not. |
What does Romans 12:14 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Bless, and curse not. Bless only; or continue to bless, however long or aggravated may be the injury. Do not be provoked to anger, or to cursing, by any injury, persecution, or reviling. This is one of the most severe and difficult duties of the Christian religion; and it is a duty which nothing else but religion will enable men to perform. To curse denotes, properly, to devote to destruction. Where there is power to do it, it implies the destruction of the object. Thus the fig-tree that was cursed by the Saviour soon withered away, Mk 11:21. Thus those whom God curses will be certainly destroyed, Mt 25:41. Where there is not power to do it, to curse implies the invoking of the aid of God to devote to destruction. Hence it means, to imprecate; to implore a curse from God to rest on others; to pray that God would destroy them. In a larger sense still, it means to abuse by reproachful words; to calumniate; or to express one's self in a violent, profane, and outrageous manner. In this passage it seems to have especial reference to this.
(h) "Bless them which persecute you" Mt 5:44
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 12:9-16
The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This denotes the love of parents to their…
Romans 12:14 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Romans 12:14
- 1 Peter 3:9
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
- 1 Corinthians 4:12-13
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
- Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Luke 6:28
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
- James 3:10
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
- Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- 1 Peter 2:21-23
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
- Acts 7:60
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Job 31:29-30
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Romans 12:13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
- Romans 12:14
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- Romans 12:15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Romans 12:14 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Bendecid á los que os persiguen: bendecid, y no maldigáis. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Bénissez ceux qui vous persécutent; bénissez et ne maudissez pas. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Segnet, die euch verfolgen; segnet, und fluchet nicht. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Benedicite persequentibus vos: benedicite, et nolite maledicere. |