Romans 13:7

Romans 13:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Context of Romans 13:7

5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Romans 13:7 word by word

ἀπόδοτε πᾶσιν τὰς ὀφειλάς, τῷ τὸν φόρον τὸν φόρον, τῷ τὸ τέλος τὸ τέλος, τῷ τὸν φόβον τὸν φόβον, τῷ τὴν τιμὴν τὴν τιμήν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Renderἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• to allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• their duesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• their duesὀφειλήopheilē · debtG3782
• tributeφόροςphoros · taxG5411
• customτέλοςtelos · goal/taxG5056
• fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
• honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092

Cross-references for Romans 13:7

• Luke 20:25He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
• Leviticus 19:3“ ‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
• 1 Samuel 12:18Then Samuel called on the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel.
• Proverbs 24:21Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials,
• Ephesians 5:33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
• Ephesians 6:5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
• 1 Peter 2:18Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
• Exodus 20:12“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
• Leviticus 19:32“ ‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
• Ephesians 6:2“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
• 1 Timothy 5:13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.
• 1 Timothy 6:1All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
• 1 Peter 2:17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
• 1 Peter 3:7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Commentaries on Romans 13:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Render therefore to all their dues - This is an extensive command. Be rigidly just; withhold neither from the king nor his ministers, nor his officers of justice and revenue, nor from even the lowest of the community, what the laws of God and your country require you to pay. Tribute to whom tribute - · This word probably means such taxes as were levied on persons and estates. Custom to whom custom - · This word probably means such duties as were laid upon…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Render therefore … - This injunction is often repeated in the Bible; see the notes at Matthew 22:21; see also Matthew 17:25-27; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Proverbs 24:21. It is one of the most lovely and obvious of the duties of religion. Christianity is not designed to break in upon the proper order of society, but rather to establish and confirm that order. It does not rudely assail existing institutions: but it comes to put them on a proper footing, to diffuse a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14This section of Romans explains the moral and ethical demands of the gospel. God’s gift of salvation in Christ calls for a response from believers. God not only forgives sin. He also wants to transform how people live. Much of what Paul teaches here about the moral duties of believers also appears in his other letters. However, Paul also addresses issues that were especially important for the church in Rome. One key issue was the disagreement between…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-76-7. For, for this cause pay ye--rather, "ye pay" tribute also--that is, "This is the reason why ye pay the contributions requisite for maintaining the civil government." for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing--"to this very thing."Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 13:7

• Citizens
• Government
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Chamber
• Chambering
• Comprehend
• Custom
• Fear
• Near
• Owe
• Sword
• Taxes
• Terror

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