Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
• New International Version (NIV)Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Context of Romans 13:1

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

Romans 13:1 word by word

Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω. οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ θεοῦ, αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ὑπὸ θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Letὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• soulψυχήpsuchē · soul: personG5590
• the higherὑπερέχωhuperechō · be higherG5242
• powersἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• there isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• noοὐou · noG3756
• ·εἰei · if: notG1487
• butμήmē · notG3361
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• ordainedτάσσωtassō · to appointG5021
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259

Cross-references for Romans 13:1

• Deuteronomy 17:12Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the Lord your God must die. In this way you will purge the evil from Israel.
• Ephesians 5:21And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
• 1 Peter 2:13For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state,
• 2 Peter 2:10He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.
• Jude 1:8In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.
• 1 Samuel 2:8He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.
• 1 Chronicles 28:4“Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel.
• Psalms 62:11God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you;
• Proverbs 8:15Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.
• Jeremiah 27:5With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose.
• Daniel 2:21He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
• Daniel 4:32You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’
• Daniel 5:18Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar.
• Matthew 6:13And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
• John 19:11Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
• Revelation 1:5and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.

Commentaries on Romans 13:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers - This is a very strong saying, and most solemnly introduced; and we must consider the apostle as speaking, not from his own private judgment, or teaching a doctrine of present expediency, but declaring the mind of God on a subject of the utmost importance to the peace of the world; a doctrine which does not exclusively belong to any class of people, order of the community, or official situations, but to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Let every soul - Every person. In the seven first verses of this chapter, the apostle discusses the subject of the duty which Christians owe to civil government; a subject which is extremely important, and at the same time exceedingly difficult. There is no doubt that he had express reference to the special situation of the Christians at Rome; but the subject was of so much importance that he gives it a “general” bearing, and states the great principles…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The duty of subjection to governors. (1-7) Exhortations to mutual love. (8-10) To temperance and sobriety. (11-14) Verses 1-7 The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2The main command in 13:1–7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, people are accountable to those who hold positions of authority. This submission usually takes the form of obedience. However, God stands above all governments. For this reason, submission to governing authorities is always shaped by our ultimate obedience to God (see Acts 4:19–20). Some Christians in Rome may have been resisting the government. They may have…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141-2. Let every soul--every man of you be subject unto the higher powers--or, "submit himself to the authorities that are above him." For there is no power--"no authority" but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God--"have been ordained of God."Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 13:1

• Citizens
• Government
• Loyalty
• 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