English Standard Version
Romans 13:4
4for 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
Context of Romans 13:4
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, 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. 5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
Read all of Romans 13Romans 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 13:6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
- 1 Kings 10:9Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness."
- 2 Chronicles 19:6and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment.
- Psalms 82:2"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Proverbs 24:23These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.
- Proverbs 31:8Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
- Ecclesiastes 8:2I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.
- Isaiah 1:17learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
- Jeremiah 5:28they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.
- Ezekiel 22:27Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
- Micah 3:1And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?—
- Proverbs 16:14A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it.
- Proverbs 20:2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
- Romans 12:19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
- Numbers 35:19The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.
- Joshua 20:5And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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