ROM 12:21 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Μή
2. mē
3. Not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. S
10. Y60
11. 111034
1. νικῶ
2. nikaō
3. be being overcome
4. be overcome
5. 35280
6. VMPP2··S
7. ˓be_being˒ overcome
8. ˓be_being˒ overcome
9. -
10. Y60; R110993
11. 111035
1. ὑπό
2. hupo
3. by
4. by
5. 52590
6. P·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111036
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GNS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111037
1. κακοῦ
2. kakos
3. evil
4. evil
5. 25560
6. S····GNS
7. evil
8. evil
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111038
1. ἀλλά
2. alla
3. but
4. but
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111039
1. νίκα
2. nikaō
3. be overcoming
4. overcome
5. 35280
6. VMPA2··S
7. ˓be˒ overcoming
8. ˓be˒ overcoming
9. -
10. Y60; R110993
11. 111040
1. ἐν
2. en
3. with
4. with
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111041
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DNS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111042
1. ἀγαθῷ
2. agathos
3. good
4. good
5. 180
6. S····DNS
7. good
8. good
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111043
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111044
1. κακόν
2. kakos
3. evil
4. -
5. 25560
6. S····ANS
7. evil
8. evil
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111045

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

In this section, Paul taught that believers should use their bodies in ways that are holy and acceptable to God. Our thinking must change so that it follows the will of God and not the thinking of the people of this world.

Paul also taught that believers should not be more proud of themselves than what is right before God. We all have different gifts from the Holy Spirit, and we should use them.

Believers should love in a genuine way, avoid evil deeds, honor others, be full of eagerness to serve the Lord. They should rejoice, be patient, pray, help others, and show hospitality.

Believers should bless the people who persecute them, and live in sympathy and harmony with other believers. They are not to be proud such that they avoid people with no status in society. They are not to think of themselves as wise.

Believers are not to take revenge, but leave that for God to do something about the evil done to them. They are to do things that are honorable and live at peace with others, if they can. They are to bless their enemies by doing good to them.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The New Life in Christ (NRSV)

Our bodies, thinking, and deeds must be holy and good

12:21a

Do not be overcome by evil,

Evil must not be victorious over you^(sing),
When someone does harm to you, do not allow that to defeat you^(plur).

Do not be overcome by evil: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

Evil must not overcome you

Do not let evil defeat you (GNT)

overcome: This word refers to winning a fight or contest. Here it indicates that evil could become the ruler over our deeds and words, and so we do and say evil things. Here are other ways to translate this word:

conquered (NABRE)

gain victory

evil: The Greek word here refers to harm that someone has done to you. See how you translated this word at 12:17.

12:21b

but overcome evil with good.

but/and you^(sing) must be victorious over evil by doing and saying good things.
Do^(plur) good deeds and say good things, and in that way you will overcome the harm done to you.

but: Some languages will not see “overcome evil with good” as contrasting with “do not be overcome by evil.” For example, the Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation omits this word.

overcome evil with good: The believer is to do and say good things. That defeats the evil that tries to rule his life.

evil: The Greek word here refers to harm that someone has done to you, as in 12:21a.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή νικῶ ὑπό τοῦ κακοῦ ἀλλά νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τό κακόν)

Paul describes evil as if it were a person who could conquer someone or be conquered by someone. He is referring to someone doing evil in response to someone doing evil to that person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Do not let evil cause you to do evil, but use good to prevent evil from influencing you]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τοῦ κακοῦ & τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν

¬the evil & ¬the good (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή νικῶ ὑπό τοῦ κακοῦ ἀλλά νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τό κακόν)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of evil and good, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [evil things … evil things … good things]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή νικῶ ὑπό τοῦ κακοῦ ἀλλά νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τό κακόν)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Do not let evil overcome you]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Not
2. -
3. 33610
4. S
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. S
10. Y60
11. 111034
1. be being overcome
2. be overcome
3. 35280
5. nikaō
6. V-MPP2··S
7. ˓be_being˒ overcome
8. ˓be_being˒ overcome
9. -
10. Y60; R110993
11. 111035
1. by
2. by
3. 52590
5. hupo
6. P-·······
7. by
8. by
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111036
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GNS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111037
1. evil
2. evil
3. 25560
5. kakos
6. S-····GNS
7. evil
8. evil
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111038
1. but
2. but
3. 2350
5. alla
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111039
1. be overcoming
2. overcome
3. 35280
5. nikaō
6. V-MPA2··S
7. ˓be˒ overcoming
8. ˓be˒ overcoming
9. -
10. Y60; R110993
11. 111040
1. with
2. with
3. 17220
5. en
6. P-·······
7. with
8. with
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111041
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····DNS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111042
1. good
2. good
3. 180
5. agathos
6. S-····DNS
7. good
8. good
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111043
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111044
1. evil
2. -
3. 25560
5. kakos
6. S-····ANS
7. evil
8. evil
9. -
10. Y60
11. 111045

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear ROM 12:21

SR Greek word order

Section 12:1–21: Paul taught about our body, love, and revenge

12:21a

12:21b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)