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

2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

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

• for it is a servantδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• to you for goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• But ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• you doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• whatκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• beφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• for it does not bearφορέωphoreō · to wearG5409
• the swordμάχαιραmachaira · swordG3162
• for nothingεἰκῇeikē · in vainG1500
• avengerἔκδικοςekdikos · avengingG1558
• who brings wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
• on the one who practicesπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238

Cross-references for Romans 13:4

• Romans 13:6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
• 1 Kings 10:9Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to put you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loves Israel forever, He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
• 2 Chronicles 19:6He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for mankind but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment.
• Psalms 82:2How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
• Proverbs 24:23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
• Proverbs 31:8Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak, For the rights of all the unfortunate.
• Ecclesiastes 8:2I say, “Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God.
• Isaiah 1:17Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case.
• Jeremiah 5:28They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, so that they may be successful; And they do not defend the rights of the poor.
• Ezekiel 22:27Her leaders within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to make dishonest profit.
• Micah 3:1And I said, “Hear now, you leaders of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice?
• Proverbs 16:14The fury of a king is like messengers of death; But a wise person will appease it.
• Proverbs 20:2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
• Romans 12:19Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
• Numbers 35:19The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he himself shall put him to death when he meets him.
• Joshua 20:5Now if the avenger of blood pursues him, then they are not to hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him, since he struck his neighbor without premeditation and did not hate him previously.

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