1 Thessalonians 5:15

Bible in Basic English (1941)

Let no one give evil for evil; but ever go after what is good, for one another and for all.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὁρᾶτε μή τις κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ τινι ἀποδῷ· ἀλλὰ πάντοτε τὸ ἀγαθὸν διώκετε, καὶ εἰς ἀλλήλους, καὶ εἰς πάντας.

Transliteration

Horate mē tis kakon anti kakou tini apodō; alla pantote to agathon diōkete, and eis allēlous, and eis pantas.

Grammar Details

• *Horate*: present, active, imperative, 2nd person plural - see/take heed
• *mē*: negative particle - not
• *tis*: nominative, masculine, singular, indefinite - anyone
• *kakon*: accusative, neuter, singular - evil/bad
• *anti*: preposition + genitive - instead of/in place of
• *kakou*: genitive, neuter, singular - of evil/bad
• *tini*: dative, masculine, singular, indefinite - to anyone
• *apodō*: aorist, active, subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might render/repay
• *alla*: adversative conjunction - but
• *pantote*: adverb - always
• *to agathon*: accusative, neuter, singular with article - the good
• *diōkete*: present, active, imperative, 2nd person plural - pursue/follow after
• *eis*: preposition + accusative - toward
• *allēlous*: accusative, masculine, plural - one another
• *pantas*: accusative, masculine, plural - all

Word Meanings

• *Horate*: see/take heed/beware
• *kakon*: evil/bad/harmful
• *apodō*: might render/repay/return
• *agathon*: good/beneficial/upright
• *diōkete*: pursue/follow after/seek eagerly

Referenced Verses

• 1 Pet 3:9 : 9 Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing.
• Gal 6:10 : 10 So then, as we have the chance, let us do good to all men, and specially to those who are of the family of the faith.
• 1 Pet 2:22-23 : 22 Who did no evil, and there was no deceit in his mouth: 23 To sharp words he gave no sharp answer; when he was undergoing pain, no angry word came from his lips; but he put himself into the hands of the judge of righteousness:
• Eph 5:15 : 15 Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise;
• 1 Pet 3:11-13 : 11 And let him be turned from evil and do good; searching for peace and going after it with all his heart. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the upright, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 13 Who will do you any damage if you keep your minds fixed on what is good?
• 3 John 1:11 : 11 My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God: he who does evil has not seen God.
• 1 Thess 2:12 : 12 So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.
• 1 Tim 6:11 : 11 But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour.
• 2 Tim 2:24 : 24 For it is not right for the Lord's servant to make trouble, but he is to be gentle to all, ready in teaching, putting up with wrong,
• Titus 3:2 : 2 To say no evil of any man, not to be fighters, to give way to others, to be gentle in behaviour to all men.
• Heb 12:14 : 14 Let your desire be for peace with all men, and to be made holy, without which no man may see the Lord;
• 1 Pet 1:22 : 22 And as you have made your souls clean, being ruled by what is true, and loving one another without deceit, see that your love is warm and from the heart:
• Gen 45:24 : 24 And he sent his brothers on their way, and said to them, See that you have no argument on the road.
• Exod 23:4-5 : 4 If you come across the ox or the ass of one who is no friend to you wandering from its way, you are to take it back to him. 5 If you see the ass of one who has no love for you bent down to the earth under the weight which is put on it, you are to come to its help, even against your desire.
• Lev 19:18 : 18 Do not make attempts to get equal with one who has done you wrong, or keep hard feelings against the children of your people, but have love for your neighbour as for yourself: I am the Lord.
• Deut 16:20 : 20 Let righteousness be your guide, so that you may have life, and take for your heritage the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
• 1 Sam 24:13 : 13 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
• Ps 7:4 : 4 If I have given back evil to him who did evil to me, or have taken anything from him who was against me without cause;
• Ps 38:20 : 20 They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.
• Prov 17:13 : 13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
• Prov 20:22 : 22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
• Prov 24:17 : 17 Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not your heart have joy at his downfall:
• Prov 24:29 : 29 Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will give the man the reward of his work.
• Prov 25:21 : 21 If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and if he is in need of drink, give him water:
• Matt 5:39 : 39 But I say to you, Do not make use of force against an evil man; but to him who gives you a blow on the right side of your face let the left be turned.
• Matt 5:44-45 : 44 But I say to you, Have love for those who are against you, and make prayer for those who are cruel to you; 45 So that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven; for his sun gives light to the evil and to the good, and he sends rain on the upright man and on the sinner.
• Luke 6:35 : 35 But be loving to those who are against you and do them good, and give them your money, not giving up hope, and your reward will be great and you will be the sons of the Most High: for he is kind to evil men, and to those who have hard hearts.
• Rom 12:9 : 9 Let love be without deceit. Be haters of what is evil; keep your minds fixed on what is good.
• Rom 12:17-21 : 17 Do not give evil for evil to any man. Let all your business be well ordered in the eyes of all men. 18 As far as it is possible for you be at peace with all men. 19 Do not give punishment for wrongs done to you, dear brothers, but give way to the wrath of God; for it is said in the holy Writings, Punishment is mine, I will give reward, says the Lord. 20 But if one who has hate for you is in need of food or of drink, give it to him, for in so doing you will put coals of fire on his head. 21 Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good.
• Rom 14:19 : 19 So then, let us go after the things which make peace, and the things by which we may be a help to one another.
• 1 Cor 6:7 : 7 More than this, it is not to your credit to have causes at law with one another at all. Why not put up with wrong? why not undergo loss?
• 1 Cor 14:1 : 1 Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power.
• 1 Cor 16:10 : 10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear; because he is doing the Lord's work, even as I am:
• 1 Pet 2:17 : 17 Have respect for all, loving the brothers, fearing God, honouring the king.
• Rev 19:10 : 10 And I went on my face before his feet to give him worship. And he said to me, See you do it not: I am a brother-servant with you and with your brothers who keep the witness of Jesus: give worship to God: for the witness of Jesus is the spirit of the prophet's word.
• Rev 22:9 : 9 And he said to me, See you do it not; I am a brother-servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book: give worship to God.
• Eph 5:33 : 33 But do you, everyone, have love for his wife, even as for himself; and let the wife see that she has respect for her husband.