Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "conquer" in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions. It is often associated with God's deliverance, the triumph of His people, and the ultimate victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of conquering is frequently linked to the Israelites' military victories as they entered the Promised Land. God commanded the Israelites to conquer the land of Canaan, promising them victory over their enemies. In
Deuteronomy 7:1-2 , God instructs, "When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations... you must devote them to complete destruction." This conquest was not merely for territorial expansion but was a divine mandate to establish a holy nation set apart for God.
The account of Joshua is a prime example of conquest under divine guidance.
Joshua 1:5 states, "No man shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." This assurance underscores that the Israelites' ability to conquer was rooted in God's presence and promise.
Spiritual ConquestBeyond physical battles, the Old Testament also presents a spiritual dimension of conquest.
Proverbs 16:32 highlights the value of self-control and spiritual victory: "He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city." This verse suggests that conquering one's own spirit is a significant and commendable achievement.
New Testament FulfillmentIn the New Testament, the theme of conquest takes on a profound spiritual significance through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is portrayed as the ultimate conqueror who triumphs over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. In
John 16:33 , Jesus declares, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world."
The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this victory in
Romans 8:37 , stating, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Believers are assured of their victory in Christ, not through their own strength, but through His love and power.
Eschatological ConquestThe Book of Revelation presents the ultimate conquest in the eschatological vision of Christ's return.
Revelation 6:2 describes a rider on a white horse, symbolizing Christ, who "went out conquering and to conquer." This imagery points to the final victory of Christ over all evil and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Revelation 17:14 further affirms this victory: "They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers."
ConclusionThe biblical theme of conquest is deeply rooted in the narrative of God's redemptive plan. It encompasses the physical victories of God's people, the spiritual triumphs over sin and self, and the ultimate victory of Christ over all creation. Through faith in Jesus, believers are invited to share in this victory, becoming "more than conquerors" in their spiritual journey.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To gain or acquire by force; to take possession of by violent means; to gain dominion over; to subdue by physical means; to reduce; to overcome by force of arms; to cause to yield; to vanquish.
2. (v. t.) To subdue or overcome by mental or moral power; to surmount; as, to conquer difficulties, temptation, etc.
3. (v. t.) To gain or obtain, overcoming obstacles in the way; to win; as, to conquer freedom; to conquer a peace.
4. (v. i.) To gain the victory; to overcome; to prevail.
Greek
3528. nikao -- toconquer, prevail... to
conquer, prevail. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: nikao Phonetic Spelling:
(nik-ah'-o) Short Definition: I
conquer, overcome Definition: I
conquer, am
...5245. hupernikao -- to be more than conqueror
... 5245 (from 5228 , "beyond" and 3528 , "conquer") -- properly,conquer, being ","
ie "-conqueror" who is "completely and overwhelmingly victorious" (, 1, 39.58...
2610. katagonizomai -- to struggle against
... katagonizomai Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I subdue
Definition: I subdue (in warfare); I struggle against,conquer, overcome....
355. analisko -- to expend, consume
... Word Origin from ana and halisko (toconquer) Definition to expend, consume
NASB Word Usage consume (1), consumed (1). consume, destroy....
1375. diogmos -- persecution
... See 1377 (). 1375 (" persecution") literally refers to those seeking to -- like
a trying toconquer (obliterate) someone as their "catch."....
2358. thriambeuo -- to triumph
... throeo; and a derivative of haptomai (meaning a noisy iambus, sung in honor of Bacchus);
to make an acclamatory procession, ie (figuratively) toconquer or (by...
Strong's Hebrew
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen... hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure,
help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain,
conquer -- aid, amend
...7857. shataph -- to overflow, rinse or wash off
... A primitive root; to gush; by implication, to inundate, cleanse; by analogy, to
gallop,conquer -- drown, (over-)flow(- whelm, rinse, run, rush, (throughly...
6808. tsaah -- to stoop, bend, incline
... primitive root; to tip over (for the purpose of spilling or pouring out), ie
(figuratively) depopulate; by implication, to imprison orconquer; (reflexive) to...
3533. kabash -- to subdue, bring into bondage
... A primitive root; to tread down; hence, negatively, to disregard; positively, to
conquer, subjugate, violate -- bring into bondage, force, keep under, subdue...
1986. halam -- to smite, hammer, strike down
... A primitive root; to strike down; by implication, to hammer, stamp,conquer, disband --
beat (down), break (down), overcome, smite (with the hammer)....
3898a. lacham -- to fight, do battle
... root Definition to fight, do battle NASB Word Usageconquer* (1), ever fight (1),
fight (77), fighting (15), fights (2), fought (59), made war (1), make war (5...
7286. radad -- to beat out, beat down, subdue
... spend, spread, subdue. A primitive root; to tread in pieces, ie (figuratively) to
conquer, or (specifically) to overlay -- spend, spread, subdue. 7285b, 7286...
5921. al -- upon, above, over
... 1), charge (31), charge* (1), command (1), committed (1), concerning (97), concerning*
(5), confront (1), confront* (1), connection (1),conquer* (1), consider...
Library
"Conquer the Child's Will"
... Chapter 4. Preaching Incidents; Wesley's Labor Colony; Dispute with Whitefield;
Curious Interruptions; The Mother of the Wesleys "Conquer the Child's Will"....
Death WillConquer.
... DEATH WILLCONQUER. Min vreude ist gar zergangen. My joy is wholly banished,.
Now listen to my sad complaint: The sins of days departed....
Come, Let us Hear How they Contend for victory: the Guilty Ones...
... Hymn LIII. Come, let us hear how they contend for victory: the guilty ones
who never have conquered, nor willconquer. 1. Come, let...
Of the Power Delegated to Demons for the Trial and Glorification...
... Book X. Chapter 21 ."Of the Power Delegated to Demons for the Trial and Glorification
of the Saints, WhoConquer Not by Propitiating the Spirits of the Air...
The Irksomeness and the Enemies of virginity.
... [328] If so be, then, that thou longest for all these things,conquer the body;
conquer the appetites of the flesh;conquer the world in the Spirit of God...
[Greek: En Toyto Nika]
... Christ who came in such awful glory as that, they would accept, and follow, and
look to him to lead them against the Romans, that they mightconquer them, and...
Out of the Deep of Suffering and Sorrow.
... Believe that the sun willconquer the clouds, warmth willconquer cold, calm will
conquer storm, fair willconquer foul, light willconquer darkness, joy will...
Among the Orderlies at the Castle was one David...
... He has learned self-control. And this new king of your faith, who, you tell me,
is toconquer the world"he is no better.".... "He is toconquer the world....
The Armour of God
... And St. Paul and his disciples wished toconquer the world likewise. The Roman soldier
had conquered it for Caesar: St. Paul wouldconquer it for Christ....
Consider the Lilies of the Field
... They saw that they were alive; and they loved life, and would fain see good days.
They saw, again, that they must die: but would deathconquer life in them?...
Thesaurus
Conquer (12 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To subdue or overcome by mental or moral power; to surmount; as, to
conquer difficulties, temptation, etc.
...Conquer (12 Occurrences).
...Conquered (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofConquer. Multi-Version Concordance
Conquered (20 Occurrences). Hebrews 11:33 men who, as...
Conquering (3 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) ofConquer. Multi-Version Concordance... A crown was given to him, and he
came forth conquering, and toconquer. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)....
Persians (6 Occurrences)
... this canal to Persia.' " Darius' expedition into Scythia, his success in subduing
the rebellion among the Asiatic Greeks, his attempts toconquer Greece itself...
Horse (62 Occurrences)
... conquering and toconquer," Revelation 6:2; Revelation 19:11, 14; compare Zechariah
1:8; Zechariah 6:3, 1). See REVELATION OF JOHN. RED HORSE....
Victor's (4 Occurrences)
... And I looked and a white horse appeared, and its rider carried a bow; and a victor's
wreath was given to him; and he went out conquering and in order toconquer...
Vanquish (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Toconquer, overcome, or subdue in battle,
as an enemy. 2. (vt) Hence, to defeat in any contest...
Overwhelmingly (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Overwhelmingly (1 Occurrence). Romans 8:37 but in all
these we more thanconquer, through him who loved us; (See NAS)....
Overturn (5 Occurrences)
... a carriage or a building. 2. (vt) To subvert; to destroy; to overthrow. 3.
(vt) To overpower; toconquer. 4. (n.) The act off overturning...
Overcome (300 Occurrences)
... 1. (pp) of Overcome. 2. (vt) To get the better of; to surmount; toconquer; to subdue;
as, to overcome enemies in battle. 3. (vt) To overflow; to surcharge....
Resources
Does the Bible say anything about holy war? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37)? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of Joshua - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgConquer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
