"to conquer, overcome, vanquish, subdue, Lk. 1:22; Jn. 16:33; absol. to overcome, prevail, Rev. 5:5; to come off superior in a judicial cause, Rom. 3:4"
Definition and meaning
to conquer, overcome, vanquish, subdue, Lk. 1:22; Jn. 16:33; absol. to overcome, prevail, Rev. 5:5; to come off superior in a judicial cause, Rom. 3:4
In the original Greek the word is written: νικάω
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of nikao (G3528) across the King James Bible.
But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
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Common questions
Strong's G3528 (nikao) is a Greek word that means: to conquer, overcome, vanquish, subdue, Lk. 1:22; Jn. 16:33; absol. to overcome, prevail, Rev. 5:5; to come off superior in a judicial cause, Rom. 3:4 It appears 24 times in the King James Bible.
The word nikao (G3528) appears 24 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3528 is nikao, a Greek word defined as: to conquer, overcome, vanquish, subdue, Lk. 1:22; Jn. 16:33; absol. to overcome, prevail, Rev. 5:5; to come off superior in a judicial cause, Rom. 3:4. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
nikao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.