Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
• New International Version (NIV)Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Context of Romans 13:1

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

Romans 13:1 word by word

Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω. οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ θεοῦ, αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ὑπὸ θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Letὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• soulψυχήpsuchē · soul: personG5590
• the higherὑπερέχωhuperechō · be higherG5242
• powersἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• there isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• noοὐou · noG3756
• ·εἰei · if: notG1487
• butμήmē · notG3361
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• ordainedτάσσωtassō · to appointG5021
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259

Cross-references for Romans 13:1

• Deuteronomy 17:12The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
• Ephesians 5:21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• 1 Peter 2:13Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
• 2 Peter 2:10and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,
• Jude 1:8Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
• 1 Samuel 2:8He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.
• 1 Chronicles 28:4Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.
• Psalms 62:11Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,
• Proverbs 8:15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
• Jeremiah 27:5"It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
• Daniel 2:21He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
• Daniel 4:32and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
• Daniel 5:18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty.
• Matthew 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
• John 19:11Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."
• Revelation 1:5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Commentaries on Romans 13:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers - This is a very strong saying, and most solemnly introduced; and we must consider the apostle as speaking, not from his own private judgment, or teaching a doctrine of present expediency, but declaring the mind of God on a subject of the utmost importance to the peace of the world; a doctrine which does not exclusively belong to any class of people, order of the community, or official situations, but to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Let every soul - Every person. In the seven first verses of this chapter, the apostle discusses the subject of the duty which Christians owe to civil government; a subject which is extremely important, and at the same time exceedingly difficult. There is no doubt that he had express reference to the special situation of the Christians at Rome; but the subject was of so much importance that he gives it a “general” bearing, and states the great principles…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The duty of subjection to governors. (1-7) Exhortations to mutual love. (8-10) To temperance and sobriety. (11-14) Verses 1-7 The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2The main command in 13:1–7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, people are accountable to those who hold positions of authority. This submission usually takes the form of obedience. However, God stands above all governments. For this reason, submission to governing authorities is always shaped by our ultimate obedience to God (see Acts 4:19–20). Some Christians in Rome may have been resisting the government. They may have…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141-2. Let every soul--every man of you be subject unto the higher powers--or, "submit himself to the authorities that are above him." For there is no power--"no authority" but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God--"have been ordained of God."Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 13:1

• Citizens
• Government
• Loyalty
• 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