1 Thessalonians 5:15

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue 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 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.
• Gal 6:10 : 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.
• 1 Pet 2:22-23 : 22 He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.
• Eph 5:15 : 15 Live Wisely Therefore consider carefully how you live– not as unwise but as wise,
• 1 Pet 3:11-13 : 11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil. 13 For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
• 3 John 1:11 : 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.
• 1 Thess 2:12 : 12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.
• 1 Tim 6:11 : 11 But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
• 2 Tim 2:24 : 24 And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,
• Titus 3:2 : 2 They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people.
• Heb 12:14 : 14 Do Not Reject God’s Warning Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.
• 1 Pet 1:22 : 22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
• Gen 45:24 : 24 Then he sent his brothers on their way and they left. He said to them,“As you travel don’t be overcome with fear.”
• Exod 23:4-5 : 4 “If you encounter your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return it to him. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, you must not ignore him, but be sure to help him with it.
• Lev 19:18 : 18 You must not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people, but you must love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
• Deut 16:20 : 20 You must pursue justice alone so that you may live and inherit the land the LORD your God is giving you.
• 1 Sam 24:13 : 13 It’s like the old proverb says:‘From evil people evil proceeds.’ But my hand will not be against you.
• Ps 7:4 : 4 or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,
• Ps 38:20 : 20 They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.
• Prov 17:13 : 13 As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.
• Prov 20:22 : 22 Do not say,“I will pay back evil!” Wait for the LORD, so that he may vindicate you.
• Prov 24:17 : 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,
• Prov 24:29 : 29 Do not say,“I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done.”
• Prov 25:21 : 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
• Matt 5:39 : 39 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.
• Matt 5:44-45 : 44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
• Luke 6:35 : 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.
• Rom 12:9 : 9 Conduct in Love Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.
• Rom 12:17-21 : 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written,“Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Rom 14:19 : 19 So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.
• 1 Cor 6:7 : 7 The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
• 1 Cor 14:1 : 1 Prophecy and Tongues Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
• 1 Cor 16:10 : 10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I am too.
• 1 Pet 2:17 : 17 Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.
• Rev 19:10 : 10 So I threw myself down at his feet to worship him, but he said,“Do not do this! I am only a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
• Rev 22:9 : 9 But he said to me,“Do not do this! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. Worship God!”
• Eph 5:33 : 33 Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.