What does νικάω (nikáō) mean in the Bible?
G3528 describes prevailing over an opponent, obstacle, claim, or hostile power. Its twenty-eight governed forms do not all describe Christian victory.
Greek · G3528
νικάω
To subdue (literally or figuratively)
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νικάω G3528
Pronunciation nikáō
What does νικάω (nikáō) mean in the Bible?
G3528 describes prevailing over an opponent, obstacle, claim, or hostile power. Its twenty-eight governed forms do not all describe Christian victory.
Reader summary
Full entry for νικάω (G3528) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G3528?
The BSB source-word alignment has 28 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include overcomes (10), have overcome (2), you have overcome (2), [and] overpowers (1), be overcome (1).
Where does νικάω (nikáō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 11:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (17), 1 John (6), Romans (3), John (1).
Are there verse guides for νικάω (nikáō)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
G3528 describes prevailing over an opponent, obstacle, claim, or hostile power. Its twenty-eight governed forms do not all describe Christian victory. In Luke 11:22 a stronger man overpowers another; Romans 3:4 cites a judicial setting in which God is victorious when judged; and Romans 12:21 gives both the danger of being overcome by evil and the command to overcome evil with good.
Jesus tells His disciples in John 16:33 that He has overcome the world while also telling them they will have tribulation. First John says believers have overcome false teachers or spirits because the One in them is greater, and it identifies faith in Jesus as the Son of God with overcoming the world. Revelation uses the verb for Christ, for congregations called to persevere, for saints who conquer through the Lamb's blood and faithful testimony, and also for hostile agents: the beast is permitted to conquer witnesses and saints, and the rider in Revelation 6 goes out conquering.
The verb therefore names successful prevailing without deciding whether the agent or method is righteous. Passage, agent, object, and outcome supply the moral and theological meaning.
Lexical sourcePassage contextBook context
How the Bible Uses It
Twenty-eight forms span ordinary overpowering, legal vindication, good resisting evil, Christ's victory, faith-filled endurance, and temporary hostile conquest.
- John.16.33
In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!
Jesus places real tribulation inside His accomplished victory and the peace found in Him.
- Rom.12.21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The paired passive and active forms make good, not retaliation, the commanded response.
- 1John.5.5
Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
First John locates overcoming in faith's confession rather than self-generated superiority.
- Rev.13.7
Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them.
The hostile use distinguishes temporal violence from God's final verdict and prevents moral meaning from being read out of the verb alone.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It overcomes 10× 1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:5, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:11
have overcome 2× John 16:33, 1 John 4:4
you have overcome 2× 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14
[and] overpowers 1× Luke 11:22
be overcome 1× Romans 12:21
conquer 1× Revelation 6:2
had conquered 1× Revelation 15:2
has overcome 1× 1 John 5:4
has triumphed 1× Revelation 5:5
have conquered 1× Revelation 12:11
overcame 1× Revelation 3:21
overcome 1× Romans 12:21
to conquer 1× Revelation 13:7
to overcome 1× Revelation 6:2
victorious 1× Romans 3:4
will overpower 1× Revelation 11:7
will triumph over 1× Revelation 17:14
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 11:22 νικήσῃ to [and] overpowers Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular John 16:33 νενίκηκα to have overcome Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Romans 3:4 νικήσεις to victorious Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Romans 12:21 νικῶ to be overcome Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular Romans 12:21 νίκα to overcome Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular 1 John 2:13 νενικήκατε to you have overcome Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural 1 John 2:14 νενικήκατε to you have overcome Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural 1 John 4:4 νενικήκατε to have overcome Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural 1 John 5:4 νικᾷ to overcomes Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 1 John 5:4 νικήσασα to has overcome Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Luke 11:22
Aligned rows 28
Books represented 5
Luke 1 John 1 Romans 3 1 John 6 Revelation 17
Source forms
νικῶν 8x nikōn 1 John 5:5, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5
νενικήκατε 3x nenikēkate 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14, 1 John 4:4
νικήσει 2x nikēsei Revelation 11:7, Revelation 17:14
νικήσῃ 2x nikēsē Luke 11:22, Revelation 6:2
νικῶντι 2x nikōnti Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:17
ἐνίκησα 1x enikēsa Revelation 3:21
ἐνίκησαν 1x enikēsan Revelation 12:11
ἐνίκησεν 1x enikēsen Revelation 5:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 8x 1 John 5:5, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:26, Revelation 3:5
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural 3x 1 John 2:13, 1 John 2:14, 1 John 4:4
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular 2x Luke 11:22, Revelation 6:2
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 2x Revelation 11:7, Revelation 17:14
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular 2x Revelation 2:7, Revelation 2:17
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular 1x Revelation 3:21
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural 1x Revelation 12:11
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 1x Revelation 5:5
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Test the agent, means, object, and final outcome before celebrating something as biblical victory.
- Seek safety and lawful protection when needed while refusing retaliatory evil.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that every G3528 use describes Christ, believers, or righteous action.
- Do not claim that overcoming guarantees freedom from tribulation, loss, illness, or persecution.
- Do not claim that the beast's temporary conquest proves the saints have failed spiritually.
- Do not claim that Romans 12:21 forbids boundaries, reporting crime, or civil justice.
- Do not claim that overcomer promises create an elite class beyond ordinary believers called to faithfulness.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Evidence Summary
FaithMessiah
Greek word. To overcome or conquer through decisive victory, often with eschatological significance in Revelation and John's epistles.
Source Gloss
to subdue (literally or figuratively)
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 28 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Luke 11:22 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Subjunctive
νικήσῃ nikhsh
I conquer, overcome
Read verse John 16:33 Verb First Person Singular Perfect Active Indicative
νενίκηκα nenikhka
I conquer, overcome
Read verse nikhshv
I conquer, overcome
Read verse Romans 12:21 Verb Second Person Singular Present Passive Imperative
νικῶ nikw
I conquer, overcome
Read verse Romans 12:21 Verb Second Person Singular Present Active Imperative
νίκα nika
I conquer, overcome
Read verse 1 John 2:13 Verb Second Person Plural Perfect Active Indicative
νενικήκατε nenikhkate
I conquer, overcome
Read verse 1 John 2:14 Verb Second Person Plural Perfect Active Indicative
νενικήκατε nenikhkate
I conquer, overcome
Read verse 1 John 4:4 Verb Second Person Plural Perfect Active Indicative
νενικήκατε nenikhkate
I conquer, overcome
Read verse 1 John 5:4 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
νικᾷ nika
I conquer, overcome
Read verse 1 John 5:4 Verb Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Feminine
νικήσασα nikhsasa
I conquer, overcome
Read verse 1 John 5:5 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
νικῶν nikwn
I conquer, overcome
Read verse Revelation 2:7 Verb Present Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine
νικῶντι nikwnti
I conquer, overcome
Read verse Revelation 2:11 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
νικῶν nikwn
I conquer, overcome
Read verse Revelation 2:17 Verb Present Active Participle Dative Singular Masculine
νικῶντι nikwnti
I conquer, overcome
Read verse Revelation 2:26 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
νικῶν nikwn
I conquer, overcome
Read verse Revelation 3:5 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
νικῶν, nikwn
I conquer, overcome
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 28 Tenses Present, Perfect, Aorist, Future Voices Active, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 12×
Present Active 1 John 5:5 · Rev 2:11 · Rev 2:26 · Rev 3:5 · Rev 3:12 · Rev 3:21 · Rev 6:2 · Rev 21:7 · Rev 2:7 · Rev 2:17 · Rev 15:2 11×
Aorist Active 1 John 5:4 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 11×
Perfect Active 1 John 2:13 · 1 John 2:14 · 1 John 4:4 · John 16:33 4×
Future Active Rev 11:7 · Rev 17:14 · Rom 3:4 3×
Aorist Active Rev 3:21 · Rev 5:5 · Rev 12:11 3×
Present Active 1 John 5:4 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 2×
Aorist Active Luke 11:22 · Rev 6:2 2×
Imperative command or strong request 2×
Present Passive Rom 12:21 1×
Present Active Rom 12:21 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 1×
Aorist Active Rev 13:7 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 28 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 14 aorist 7 perfect 4 future 3
Voice
active 27 passive 1
Mood
participle 12 indicative 11 subjunctive 2 imperative 2 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Luke 11:22 νικήσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 16:33 νενίκηκα perfect active indicative resultant Romans 3:4 νικήσεις future active indicative prospective Romans 12:21 νικῶ present passive imperative imperative Romans 12:21 νίκα present active imperative imperative 1 John 2:13 νενικήκατε perfect active indicative resultant 1 John 2:14 νενικήκατε perfect active indicative resultant 1 John 4:4 νενικήκατε perfect active indicative resultant 1 John 5:4 νικᾷ present active indicative ongoing 1 John 5:4 νικήσασα aorist active participle participle 1 John 5:5 νικῶν present active participle participle Revelation 2:11 νικῶν present active participle participle Revelation 2:17 νικῶντι present active participle participle Revelation 2:26 νικῶν present active participle participle Revelation 2:7 νικῶντι present active participle participle Revelation 3:12 νικῶν present active participle participle Revelation 3:21 νικῶν present active participle participle Revelation 3:21 ἐνίκησα aorist active indicative completed Revelation 3:5 νικῶν present active participle participle Revelation 5:5 ἐνίκησεν aorist active indicative completed Revelation 6:2 νικῶν present active participle participle Revelation 6:2 νικήσῃ aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Revelation 11:7 νικήσει future active indicative prospective Revelation 12:11 ἐνίκησαν aorist active indicative completed Revelation 13:7 νικῆσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Revelation 15:2 νικῶντας present active participle participle Revelation 17:14 νικήσει future active indicative prospective Revelation 21:7 νικῶν present active participle participle
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
To achieve decisive victory.
To prevail against opposition.
To conquer, overcome.
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 28 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
νικάω is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Shows that good triumphs over evil through faithful obedience. 1 John 2:12-14
Believers participate in Christ’s triumph over Satan, reinforcing confidence amid spiritual conflict. 1 John 5:1-5
Victory over the world is tied directly to faith in Christ. Romans 12:9-21
Canonical Themes
Faith Messiah
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
G3528 is not a promise that faithful people always win visibly. Revelation uses the same verb for a beast killing saints and for saints conquering through the Lamb's blood and their testimony. The difference lies in allegiance, means, and final judgment, not in a bare successful outcome. Jesus has overcome the world, yet He tells disciples to expect tribulation.
Romans calls believers to resist evil actively with good, but that command does not prohibit escape, reporting harm, protective boundaries, or lawful civil accountability. First John grounds confidence in God's presence and faith in His Son rather than moral swagger. Preaching should therefore reject prosperity claims, militarized domination, and pressure on sufferers to remain available to an abuser.
Christian overcoming may include endurance, truthful witness, non-retaliation, seeking safety, and receiving help. Its hope rests in the Lord who finally triumphs, not in a person's ability to control every present circumstance.
Anchor passage
John.16.33
Doctrinal connections
- Romans 3:1-8 uses the judicial citation to defend God's truthfulness rather than teach personal conquest.
- Romans 12:14-21 frames overcoming evil with good through blessing, peace where possible, non-retaliation, and care for an enemy.
- John 16:25-33 places Jesus' overcoming beside peace in Him, scattering, trouble, and the Father's presence.
- First John 4:1-6 grounds overcoming false spirits in belonging to God and hearing the apostolic witness.
- First John 5:1-5 connects new birth, love, obedience, faith, and confession of Jesus as God's Son.
- Revelation 5 and 12 portray the conquering Lamb and His people's testimony, while chapters 11 and 13 expose temporary beastly conquest.
The twenty-eight forms include perfect, present, aorist, and future verbs in active and middle or passive patterns. Four verses contain two forms. Grammar can mark completed victory, ongoing identity, command, prediction, or being overcome, but tense and voice do not identify the moral quality of the agent.
From Old to New Testament
The Psalms speak of God's vindication in judgment and of the faithful king, while prophetic texts hold together suffering witness and God's final rule. Revelation gathers royal and sacrificial imagery in the Lamb. Those canonical themes shape Christian hope but do not erase the verb's morally neutral capacity to describe hostile success.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain