Romans 2:4

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?
• English Standard Version (ESV)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?
• 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

2Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 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? 5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

Romans 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? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
• Psalms 10:11He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”
• Ecclesiastes 8:11When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
• Jeremiah 7:10and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?
• Ezekiel 12:22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?
• Matthew 24:48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’
• 2 Peter 3:3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
• Romans 9:23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—
• Romans 10:12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
• Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
• Psalms 86:5You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
• Psalms 104:24How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
• Ephesians 1:7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
• Ephesians 2:4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
• Ephesians 3:8Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
• Philippians 4:19And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his 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

• Blindness
• Gentiles
• God
• God Continued...
• Impenitence
• Obligation
• Repentance
• Thankfulness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Goodness of God
• Accuse
• Boast
• Continuance
• Doer
• Excuse
• Fall of man
• Forbearance

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