Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
νικη
The noun νικη (nike) means victory (hence the sport brand Nike), and only occurs once in the New Testament (although its alternative, νικος, nikos, see below, occurs four more time).
The form νικη (nike) used marvelously in John's first letter, where John writes, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith" (1 John 5:4; and see our article on the word πιστις, pistis, meaning faith, for more on this).
This noun's derivatives occur more often:
- The verb νικαω (nikao) means to be victorious, to prevail or overcome. It is used 28 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn yields:
- Together with the preposition υπερ (huper), meaning over or beyond: the verb υπερνικαω (hupernikao), meaning to be more than victorious. This verb was probably designed to indicate the consequences of a complete military victory: utter destruction or perhaps annexation and conversion of the conquered party. In the Bible this verb occurs only in Romans 8:37.
- The noun νικος (nikos), which is the same word as νικη (nike), meaning victory, but of a more modern spelling. It's employed 4 times; see full concordance.