"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."
— Romans 12:14 (NIV)
Romans 12:14 is the "bless those who persecute you" verse, a short line in Paul's list of what sincere love looks like. This page gives the verse, what the key words mean, where it sits in Romans 12, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about loving your enemies, Bible verses about persecution, and Bible verses about blessings.
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The verse
The King James reads: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
"Bless" is eulogeō (G2127), literally to speak well of someone and to ask God's good for them. It appears twice in the verse. "Persecute" is diōkō (G1377), to pursue or harass. "Curse" is kataraomai (G2672), to call down harm on someone.
Where it sits in Romans 12
Romans 12:9 opens the section: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." What follows is a run of short commands about everyday love. Right after this verse comes, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15), and "Live in harmony with one another" (Romans 12:16).
Later in the chapter Paul returns to people who do you wrong: "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18), and "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
What the verse is saying
When someone treats you badly, the natural response is to speak badly of them, or to wish them harm. Paul closes that door: bless, and do not curse. Blessing here is words and prayer, asking God to do good to the person who is hurting you.
Paul is echoing Jesus, who said, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44), and "bless those who curse you" (Luke 6:27-28). Peter teaches the same thing: "repay evil with blessing" (1 Peter 3:9).
Questions people ask
What does Romans 12:14 say?
In the NIV it says, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." The KJV says, "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."
What does it mean to bless those who persecute you?
It means speaking well of them and asking God to do them good, instead of insulting them or wishing them harm. It is a choice about your words and prayers, not a feeling you have to manufacture first.
Does blessing someone mean agreeing with what they did?
No. Blessing a person is not approving of the wrong. Paul says in the same chapter to "hate what is evil" (Romans 12:9). You can name a wrong honestly and still refuse to curse the person who did it.
Where did Paul get "bless those who persecute you"?
It closely matches Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:27-28 and Matthew 5:44, where he tells his followers to bless those who curse them and pray for those who mistreat them.
What verses go with Romans 12:14?
Luke 6:27-28 (love your enemies, bless those who curse you), 1 Peter 3:9 (repay evil with blessing), and Romans 12:21 (overcome evil with good) are close companions.
