Romans 13:4

Romans 13:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
• New International Version (NIV)For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Context of Romans 13:4

2So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. 6And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.

Romans 13:4 word by word

θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ. θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the ministerδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• to theeσύsu · youG4771
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• goodὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• thou doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• that which is evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• be afraidφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• he bearethφορέωphoreō · to wearG5409
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the swordμάχαιραmachaira · swordG3162
• in vainεἰκῇeikē · in vainG1500
• a revengerἔκδικοςekdikos · avengingG1558
• wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
• upon him that doethπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238

Cross-references for Romans 13:4

• Romans 13:6And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.
• 1 Kings 10:9Blessed be the Lord your God! He delighted in you and put you on the throne of Israel, because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel. He has made you king to carry out justice and righteousness.”
• 2 Chronicles 19:6Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.
• Psalms 82:2“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?Selah
• Proverbs 24:23These sayings also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
• Proverbs 31:8Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed.
• Ecclesiastes 8:2Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God.
• Isaiah 1:17Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
• Jeremiah 5:28They have become fat and sleek. They have also excelled in evil matters. They have not taken up cases, such as the case of the fatherless, so they might prosper, and they have not defended the rights of the needy.
• Ezekiel 22:27“Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives in order to make profit dishonestly.
• Micah 3:1Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?
• Proverbs 16:14A king’s fury is a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.
• Proverbs 20:2A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.
• Romans 12:19Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
• Numbers 35:19The avenger of blood himself is to kill the murderer; when he finds him, he is to kill him.
• Joshua 20:5And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him, for he killed his neighbor accidentally and did not hate him beforehand.

Commentaries on Romans 13:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good - Here the apostle puts the character of the ruler in the strongest possible light. He is the minister of God - the office is by Divine appointment: the man who is worthy of the office will act in conformity to the will of God: and as the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears open to their cry, consequently the ruler will be the minister of God to them for good. He beareth not the sword in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The minister of God - The “servant” of God he is appointed by God to do his will, and to execute his purposes. “To thee.” For your benefit. For good - That is, to protect you in your rights; to vindicate your name, person, or property; and to guard your liberty, and secure to you the results of your industry. The magistrate is not appointed directly to “reward” people, but they “practically” furnish a reward by protecting and defending them, and securing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Servant: The New Testament often uses this Greek word (diakonos) to describe Christians serving God in different roles. In non-religious Greek, diakonos can also refer to a city official. A government and its leaders serve God by administering justice, whether they realize it or not. he does not carry the sword in vain: Here, the sword might be a metaphor for any punishment. Some interpreters believe it means human governments, under God's authority, have…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-43-4. For rulers are not a terror to good works--"to the good work," as the true reading appears to be but to the evil.Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 13:4

• Government
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Chamber
• Chambering
• Comprehend
• Custom
• Fear
• Near
• Owe
• Sword

Commentaries on Romans 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings