The Meaning of Romans 12:14 Explained

Romans 12:14

KJV: Bless them which 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.

ASV: Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Bless  them which persecute  you:  bless,  and  curse  not. 

What does Romans 12:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul repeated Jesus" instruction here ( Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). To persecute means to pursue. Blessing involves both wishing God"s best on people and praying for them.
"The principle of nonretaliation for personal injury permeates the entire New Testament." [1]

Context Summary

Romans 12:9-21 - Living As A Christian
In this section the Apostle shows how the great principle of consecration must affect the details of conduct. It is most necessary to insist on these practical issues. At some impressive religious convention, where the vision of a surrendered and transfigured life is presented, sensitive souls are led to make the vows and claim the plane of life which have been presented; but on their return to the commonplaces, there is no perceptible improvement in their speech, or tone, or attitude. This induces shame and contempt. Hence the great wisdom of the Apostle's particular teaching in this and the following chapters.
The lumbering wagon must be hitched to a star. We must not be star-gazers only. God has endowed us with faith as the receptive faculty, through which we may receive His blessed help. In the power of the Holy Spirit let us set ourselves to our common tasks, thinking humbly and soberly of ourselves, lovingly of our associates, and reverently of God. We are inspired to fulfill the obligations of our position, whether in giving money or in teaching the ignorant; whether in showing mercy or in exercising authority, because all is done as under the eye of the great Master of the household. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 12

1  God's mercies must move us to offer ourselves
3  No man must think too well of himself;
6  but everyone attend to the calling wherein he is placed
9  Love, and many other duties are required of us
19  Revenge is especially forbidden

Greek Commentary for Romans 12:14

And curse not [και μη καταραστε]
Present middle imperative with μη — mē Like Matthew 5:44 in spirit, not a quotation, but a reminiscence of the words of Jesus. The negative addition gives emphasis. See Luke 6:28 for the old verb καταραομαι — kataraomai from καταρα — katara (curse). [source]
Bless [εὐλογεῖτε]
See on blessed, 1 Peter 1:3. [source]
Them that persecute [τοὺς διώκοντας]
See on John 5:16. It has been suggested that the verb pursuing in Romans 12:13may have suggested the persecutors here. Pursue hospitality toward the brethren as the wicked pursue them. [source]
Curse not []
Plutarch relates that when a decree was issued that Alcibiades should be solemnly cursed by all the priests and priestesses, one of the latter declared that her holy office obliged her to make prayers, but not execrations (“Alcibiades”). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 12:14

John 3:21 Doeth the truth [ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν]
The phrase occurs only here and in 1 John 1:6. Note the contrasted phrase, doeth evil (John 3:20). There the plural is used: doeth evil things; evil being represented by a number of bad works. Here the singular, the truth, or truth; truth being regarded as one, and “including in a supreme unity all right deeds.” There is also to be noted the different words for doing in these two verses: doeth evil ( πράσσων ); doeth truth ( ποιῶν ). The latter verb contemplates the object and end of action; the former the means, with the idea of continuity and repetition. Πράσσων is the practice, while ποιῶν may be the doing once for all. Thus ποιεῖν is to conclude a peace: πράσσειν , to negotiate a peace. So Demosthenes: “He will do ( πράξει ) these things, and will accomplish them ( ποιήσει ).” In the New Testament a tendency is observable to use ποιεῖν in a good sense, and πράσσωιν in an evil sense. Compare the kindred word πρᾶξις , deed or work, which occurs six times, and in four out of the six of evil doing (Matthew 16:27; Luke 23:51; Acts 19:18; Romans 8:13; Romans 12:14; Colossians 3:9). With this passage compare especially John 5:29, where the two verbs are used with the two nouns as here. Also, Romans 7:15, Romans 7:19. Bengel says: “Evil is restless: it is busier than truth.” In Romans 1:32; Romans 2:3, both verbs are used of doing evil, but still with a distinction in that πράσσω is the more comprehensive term, designating the pursuit of evil as the aim of the activity. [source]
John 3:21 Doeth the truth [ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν]
The phrase occurs only here and in 1 John 1:6. Note the contrasted phrase, doeth evil (John 3:20). There the plural is used: doeth evil things; evil being represented by a number of bad works. Here the singular, the truth, or truth; truth being regarded as one, and “including in a supreme unity all right deeds.” There is also to be noted the different words for doing in these two verses: doeth evil ( πράσσων ); doeth truth ( ποιῶν ). The latter verb contemplates the object and end of action; the former the means, with the idea of continuity and repetition. Πράσσων is the practice, while ποιῶν may be the doing once for all. Thus ποιεῖν is to conclude a peace: πράσσειν , to negotiate a peace. So Demosthenes: “He will do ( πράξει ) these things, and will accomplish them ( ποιήσει ).” In the New Testament a tendency is observable to use ποιεῖν in a good sense, and πράσσωιν in an evil sense. Compare the kindred word πρᾶξις , deed or work, which occurs six times, and in four out of the six of evil doing (Matthew 16:27; Luke 23:51; Acts 19:18; Romans 8:13; Romans 12:14; Colossians 3:9). With this passage compare especially John 5:29, where the two verbs are used with the two nouns as here. Also, Romans 7:15, Romans 7:19. Bengel says: “Evil is restless: it is busier than truth.” In Romans 1:32; Romans 2:3, both verbs are used of doing evil, but still with a distinction in that πράσσω is the more comprehensive term, designating the pursuit of evil as the aim of the activity. [source]
1 Peter 3:9 Reviling for reviling [λοιδοριαν αντι λοιδοριας]
Allusion to 1 Peter 2:23 (Christ‘s own example).But contrariwise blessing (τουναντιον δε ευλογουντες — tounantion de eulogountes). Adverbial accusative and crasis (το εναντιον — to enantion) of the neuter article and the adjective εναντιος — enantios (εν αντιος — enευλογουντες — antios opposite, Matthew 14:24), “on the contrary.” For ευλογεω — eulogountes (present active participle of ευλογειτε — eulogeō) see Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14 (imperative οτι εις τουτο εκλητητε — eulogeite).For hereunto were ye called See note on 1 Peter 2:21 for this verb and use of ινα ευλογιαν κληρονομησητε — eis touto (pointing to the preceding argument).That ye should inherit a blessing (ινα — hina eulogian klēronomēsēte). Purpose clause with κληρονομεω — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive of klēronomeō a plain reference to Esau, who wanted “to inherit the blessing” (Hebrews 12:17) after he had sold his birthright. Christians are the new Israel (both Gentiles and Jews) and are the spiritual descendants of Isaac (Galatians 4:22.). [source]
1 Peter 3:9 But contrariwise blessing [τουναντιον δε ευλογουντες]
Adverbial accusative and crasis (το εναντιον — to enantion) of the neuter article and the adjective εναντιος — enantios (εν αντιος — enευλογουντες — antios opposite, Matthew 14:24), “on the contrary.” For ευλογεω — eulogountes (present active participle of ευλογειτε — eulogeō) see Luke 6:28; Romans 12:14 (imperative οτι εις τουτο εκλητητε — eulogeite). [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 12:14 mean?

Bless those persecuting you and not curse
Εὐλογεῖτε τοὺς διώκοντας [ὑμᾶς] καὶ μὴ καταρᾶσθε

Εὐλογεῖτε  Bless 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εὐλογέω 
Sense: to praise, celebrate with praises.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
διώκοντας  persecuting 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: διώκω  
Sense: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away.
καταρᾶσθε  curse 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: καταράομαι  
Sense: to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon.