New King James Version
Romans 2:4
4Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads 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?
- 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 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
2But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
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? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
- Psalms 10:11He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”
- Ecclesiastes 8:11Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them 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 to do all these abominations’?
- Ezekiel 12:22“Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?
- Matthew 24:48But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’
- 2 Peter 3:3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
- Romans 9:23and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
- Romans 10:12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
- Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
- Psalms 86:5For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
- Psalms 104:24O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—
- Ephesians 1:7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
- Ephesians 2:4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
- Ephesians 3:8To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- Philippians 4:19And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries