English Standard Version
Romans 2:4
4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Romans 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
- New International Version (NIV)Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Context of Romans 2:4
2We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6He will render to each one according to his works:
Read all of Romans 2Romans 2:4 word by word
ἢ τοῦ πλούτου τῆς χρηστότητος αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς ἀνοχῆς καὶ τῆς μακροθυμίας καταφρονεῖς ἀγνοῶν ὅτι τὸ χρηστὸν τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς μετάνοιάν σε ἄγει;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Orἤē · orG2228
- despisest thouκαταφρονέωkataphroneō · to despiseG2706
- the richesπλοῦτοςploutos · richesG4149
- of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- goodnessχρηστότηςchrēstotēs · kindnessG5544
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- forbearanceἀνοχήanochē · toleranceG463
- longsufferingμακροθυμίαmakrothumia · patienceG3115
- not knowingἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- the goodnessχρηστόςchrēstos · good/kindG5543
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- leadethἄγωagō · to bringG71
- theeσύsu · youG4771
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- repentanceμετάνοιαmetanoia · repentanceG3341
Cross-references for Romans 2:4
- Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
- Psalms 10:11He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it."
- Ecclesiastes 8:11Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
- Jeremiah 7:10and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 'We are delivered!'—only to go on doing all these abominations?
- Ezekiel 12:22"Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'?
- Matthew 24:48But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'
- 2 Peter 3:3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
- Romans 9:23in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
- Romans 10:12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
- Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
- Psalms 86:5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
- Psalms 104:24O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
- Ephesians 1:7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
- Ephesians 2:4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
- Ephesians 3:8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- Philippians 4:19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Commentaries on Romans 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness - Wilt thou render of none effect that marked benevolence of God towards thee which has given so many superior advantages, and that forbearance which has tolerated thy many miscarriages, and that long-suffering which, after repeated provocations, still continues to bear with thee? Not knowing - , not acknowledging that this goodness of God, which has so long manifested itself in forbearance and long-suffering…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Or despisest - This word properly means to contemn, or to treat with neglect. It does not mean here that they professedly treated God‘s goodness with neglect or contempt; but that they perverted and abused it; they did not make a proper use of it; they did not regard it as suited to lead them to repentance; but they derived a practical impression, that because God had not come forth in judgment and cut them off, but had continued to follow them with…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?: Jewish writings describe a common attitude of false security about judgment (for example, Wisdom of Solomon 12–15; compare Jeremiah 7:1–5; Amos 5:18–27). Paul uses this idea when he asks his question. Many Jews believed that because they were God’s people, they did not need to fear judgment. They thought their sins would not be punished in the same way as the sins of Gentiles. Paul makes clear…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29From those without, the apostle now turns to those within the pale of revealed religion, the self-righteous Jews, who looked down upon the uncovenanted heathen as beyond the pale of God's mercies, within which they deemed themselves secure, however inconsistent their life may be. Alas! what multitudes wrap themselves up in like fatal confidence, who occupy the corresponding position in the Christian Church! 4. the goodness of God leadeth thee to…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 2
- 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
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries