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

2Whosoever therefore resisteth the authority, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 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. 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon 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

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the ministerδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• to theeσύsu · youG4771
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• goodὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• thou doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• that which is evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• be afraidφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• he bearethφορέωphoreō · to wearG5409
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the swordμάχαιραmachaira · swordG3162
• in vainεἰκῇeikē · in vainG1500
• a revengerἔκδικοςekdikos · avengingG1558
• wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
• upon him that doethπράσσωprassō · to do/requireG4238

Cross-references for Romans 13:4

• Romans 13:6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
• 1 Kings 10:9Blessed be Yhwh thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because Yhwh loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
• 2 Chronicles 19:6And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Yhwh, who is with you in the judgment.
• Psalms 82:2How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
• Proverbs 24:23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
• Proverbs 31:8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
• Ecclesiastes 8:2I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
• Isaiah 1:17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
• Jeremiah 5:28They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
• Ezekiel 22:27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
• Micah 3:1And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?
• Proverbs 16:14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
• Proverbs 20:2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
• Romans 12:19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
• Numbers 35:19The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.
• Joshua 20:5And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

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