The Meaning of Romans 12:17 Explained

Romans 12:17

KJV: Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

YLT: giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men.

Darby: recompensing to no one evil for evil: providing things honest before all men:

ASV: Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Recompense  to no man  evil  for  evil.  Provide  things honest  in the sight  of all  men. 

What does Romans 12:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The second exhortation probably means that we should give thought to how we do what is right so our witness may be most effective to believers and unbelievers alike (cf. Colossians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:7).

Context Summary

Romans 12:9-21 - Living As A Christian
In this section the Apostle shows how the great principle of consecration must affect the details of conduct. It is most necessary to insist on these practical issues. At some impressive religious convention, where the vision of a surrendered and transfigured life is presented, sensitive souls are led to make the vows and claim the plane of life which have been presented; but on their return to the commonplaces, there is no perceptible improvement in their speech, or tone, or attitude. This induces shame and contempt. Hence the great wisdom of the Apostle's particular teaching in this and the following chapters.
The lumbering wagon must be hitched to a star. We must not be star-gazers only. God has endowed us with faith as the receptive faculty, through which we may receive His blessed help. In the power of the Holy Spirit let us set ourselves to our common tasks, thinking humbly and soberly of ourselves, lovingly of our associates, and reverently of God. We are inspired to fulfill the obligations of our position, whether in giving money or in teaching the ignorant; whether in showing mercy or in exercising authority, because all is done as under the eye of the great Master of the household. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 12

1  God's mercies must move us to offer ourselves
3  No man must think too well of himself;
6  but everyone attend to the calling wherein he is placed
9  Love, and many other duties are required of us
19  Revenge is especially forbidden

Greek Commentary for Romans 12:17

Render to no man [μηδενι αποδιδοντες]
“Giving back to no man.” Independent participle again. [source]
Evil for evil [κακον αντι κακου]
Directly opposite to the law of retaliation of the Pharisees as in Matthew 5:39; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 13:5. Take thought of (προνοουμενοι — pronooumenoi). “Taking thought beforehand.” Old word. See note on 2 Corinthians 8:21. [source]
Take thought of [προνοουμενοι]
“Taking thought beforehand.” Old word. See note on 2 Corinthians 8:21. [source]
Provide [προνοούμενοι]
The A.V. uses provide in its earlier and more literal meaning of taking thought in advance. This has been mostly merged in the later meaning of furnish, so that the translation conveys the sense of providing honestly for ourselves and our families. Better, as Rev., take thought for. The citation is from Proverbs 3:4, and varies from both Hebrew and Septuagint. Hebrew: And thou shalt find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man. Septuagint: And thou shalt find favor and devise excellent things in the sight of the Lord and of men. Compare 2 Corinthians 8:21. Construe in the sight of all men with the verb, not with honorable. Men's estimate of what is honorable is not the standard. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 12:17

2 Corinthians 8:21 We take thought [προνοούμενοι]
Beforehand ( πρό ). See on Romans 12:17. The words are from Proverbs 3:4, where the Septuagint reads, take thought for honorable things in the sight of the Lord and of men. [source]
2 Corinthians 8:21 We take thought [προνουμεν]
Old verb, to plan beforehand (προ — pro -) as in Romans 12:17; 1 Timothy 5:8. [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See to it that no one render unto any one evil for evil [ορατε μη τις κακον αντι κακου αποδωι]
Note μη — mē with the aorist subjunctive (negative purpose) αποδωι — apodōi from αποδιδωμι — apodidōmi to give back. Retaliation, condemned by Jesus (Matthew 5:38-42) and by Paul in Romans 12:17, usually takes the form of “evil for evil,” rather than “good for good” Note idea of exchange in αντι — anti [source]
1 Timothy 5:8 Provide [προνοεῖ]
See on Romans 12:17. [source]
1 Peter 3:9 Rendering evil, etc []
See Romans 12:17. [source]
1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil [μη αποδιδοντες κακον αντι κακου]
Μη — Mē and the present active participle of αποδιδωμι — apodidōmi to give back. The same phrase in Romans 12:17 and the same idea in 1 Thessalonians 5:15. Peter may have obtained it from Paul or both from Proverbs 17:13; Proverbs 20:22, “an approximation to Christ‘s repeal of the λεχ ταλιονις — lex talionis (Matthew 5:38.) which Plato first opposed among the Greeks” (Hart). Common use of αντι — anti for exchange. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 12:17 mean?

To no one evil for evil repaying providing right before all men
μηδενὶ κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ ἀποδιδόντες προνοούμενοι καλὰ ἐνώπιον πάντων ἀνθρώπων

μηδενὶ  To  no  one 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: μηδείς 
Sense: nobody, no one, nothing.
κακὸν  evil 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: κακός  
Sense: of a bad nature.
κακοῦ  evil 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: κακός  
Sense: of a bad nature.
ἀποδιδόντες  repaying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀποδίδωμι  
Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell.
προνοούμενοι  providing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: προνοέω  
Sense: to perceive before, foresee.
καλὰ  right 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: καλός  
Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
ἐνώπιον  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐνώπιον  
Sense: in the presence of, before.
ἀνθρώπων  men 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.