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νικάω

nikáō

G3528 verb

SILEX Entry

Root νικ- to win, to be victorious, to overcome

Definition

To be victorious, to conquer or overcome an opponent or obstacle; more broadly, to achieve mastery, prevail in contest or struggle, or gain victory. In various contexts, can refer to both military, athletic, legal, and metaphorical triumphs over enemies, difficulties, evil, or adversity. In extended and figurative usage, includes spiritual overcoming or faithful endurance resulting in triumph.

Semantic Range

to conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to be victorious, to gain mastery, to be triumphant (literally and figuratively); to win in battle, athletic competition, legal arguments, moral or spiritual struggle

Root / Etymology

From the noun νίκη (victory), itself of uncertain and debated origin; νικάω is the denominative (verb-forming) derivative meaning 'to achieve victory.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, νικάω primarily signified literal victory in physical contest, battle, or athletic competition, used for both military conquest and games (e.g., Homer, Herodotus). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its semantic range broadened to include victory in arguments, legal disputes, and broader metaphoric senses (e.g., overcoming evil, hardship, or temptation). In the Septuagint, it often translates Hebrew roots relating to overcoming or prevailing (not solely martial). In the New Testament, νικάω frequently describes overcoming hostile forces, adversaries, or the world (e.g., John, Revelation), with an added layer of moral or spiritual triumph. Modern English translations often use 'conquer,' 'overcome,' or 'prevail,' but these may not capture the nuance of endurance or faithful resistance in some passages. νικάω is distinct from κρατέω (to seize, take hold of, often with implication of force), as νικάω emphasizes successful outcome rather than method.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from νίκη; to subdue (literally or figuratively):--conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.

Root Family

νικάω (nikaō) — to win, to be victorious, to overcome

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3528-13 νικῶν nikon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG overcomes the one overcoming 8
G3528-05 νενικήκατε nenikekate V PRF ACT IND 2P PL you have overcome you have been victorious 3
G3528-06 νίκα nika V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG overcome Keep conquering 2
G3528-09 νικήσῃ nikese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG and overcomes he/she/it might conquer 2
G3528-10 νικήσει nikesei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will overcome will overcome 2
G3528-15 νικῶντι nikonti V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG to the one overcoming 2
G3528-14 νικῶντας nikontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who had gotten the victory those overcoming 1
G3528-01 ἐνίκησα enikesa V AOR ACT IND 1P SG I overcame 1
G3528-07 νικῆσαι nikesai V AOR ACT INF to overcome to conquer 1
G3528-03 ἐνίκησεν enikesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he conquered 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3528-09 Luke 11:22 νικήσῃ nikese V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG and overcomes he/she/it might conquer
G3528-04 John 16:33 νενίκηκα nenikeka V PRF ACT IND 1P SG have overcome I have overcome
G3528-11 Romans 3:4 νικήσεις nikeseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you will conquer
G3528-12 Romans 12:21 νικῶ niko V PRS PASS IMP 2P SG be overcome be overcome
G3528-06 Romans 12:21 νίκα nika V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG overcome Keep conquering
G3528-05 1 John 2:13 νενικήκατε nenikekate V PRF ACT IND 2P PL you have overcome you have been victorious
G3528-05 1 John 2:14 νενικήκατε nenikekate V PRF ACT IND 2P PL you have overcome you have been victorious
G3528-05 1 John 4:4 νενικήκατε nenikekate V PRF ACT IND 2P PL have overcome you have been victorious
G3528-06 1 John 5:4 νικᾷ nika V PRS ACT IND 3P SG overcomes Keep conquering
G3528-08 1 John 5:4 νικήσασα nikesasa V AOR ACT PTCP NOM F SG that has overcome she who overcame
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