Romans 13:11 kjv
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Romans 13:11 nkjv
And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11 niv
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11 esv
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11 nlt
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Romans 13 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 13:11 | "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep..." | Rom 13:11 |
| 1 Corinthians 15:34 | "Awake to righteousness, and sin not..." | 1 Cor 15:34 (Wakefulness) |
| Ephesians 5:14 | "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." | Eph 5:14 (Spiritual Awakening) |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:6 | "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch and be sober." | 1 Thes 5:6 (Watchfulness) |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:8 | "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love..." | 1 Thes 5:8 (Readiness) |
| Hebrews 10:25 | "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another..." | Heb 10:25 (Fellowship) |
| Mark 13:33 | "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." | Mk 13:33 (Watchfulness) |
| Acts 2:15 | "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day." | Acts 2:15 (Time context) |
| Revelation 22:12 | "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." | Rev 22:12 (Christ's Return) |
| Philippians 4:5 | "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." | Phil 4:5 (Lord is near) |
| Romans 13:12 | "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." | Rom 13:12 (Urgency) |
| 1 Peter 4:7 | "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." | 1 Pet 4:7 (Soberness/Prayer) |
| Colossians 3:2 | "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." | Col 3:2 (Focus) |
| Romans 13:13 | "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in riotting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." | Rom 13:13 (Conduct) |
| 2 Corinthians 6:2 | "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" | 2 Cor 6:2 (Accepted Time) |
| Luke 12:36 | "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding..." | Lk 12:36 (Waiting) |
| John 3:21 | "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." | Jn 3:21 (Practicing Truth) |
| Ephesians 5:16 | "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." | Eph 5:16 (Redeeming Time) |
| Matthew 24:42 | "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." | Mt 24:42 (Watchfulness) |
| Titus 2:13 | "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" | Tit 2:13 (Blessed Hope) |
Romans 13 verses
Romans 13 11 Meaning
This verse urges believers to live in the present moment with an awareness of Christ's imminent return. It emphasizes the urgency of spiritual readiness and actively living out one's faith because the "hour" of salvation and Christ's full revelation is nearer now than when they first believed. This is not a call to idleness but to active anticipation, characterized by righteous living.
Romans 13 11 Context
This verse is part of Paul's instruction to believers in Rome regarding their conduct as citizens and as followers of Christ. Chapter 13 begins with an exhortation to submit to governing authorities, based on their God-ordained role in maintaining order. This then transitions into practical ethical guidance, emphasizing the importance of living righteously in light of the advancing "day" of Christ's return. The immediate context is about the urgency of living in the present moment as redeemed individuals, shaking off spiritual lethargy and embracing active, holy living in anticipation of the Lord's coming.
Romans 13 11 Word analysis
kai (και): And. A common conjunction, linking clauses and indicating continuation or addition.
oida (οἴδα): knowing. Perfect tense of eido, implying a settled, present knowledge that has been acquired. It signifies a firm grasp of truth.
ton chronon (τὸν χρόνον): the time. Refers to the present opportunity, the opportune moment, and the specific historical period.
hoti (ὅτι): that. Introduces a subordinate clause explaining the content of the knowledge.
dioti (διότι): because, therefore. Here, functioning to emphasize the reason for the following imperative.
stigei (στυγέει): it is high time, it is incumbent. Denotes an opportune moment, a favorable time, or a pressing need. It's a critical juncture.
exupnoumen (ἐξυπνοῦμεν): to awake out of sleep. Present tense, imperative mood. The call is to be actively roused from a state of spiritual dormancy or unawareness. Sleep here symbolizes spiritual inaction and obliviousness.
eks tou hupnou (ἐκ τοῦ ὕπνου): out of sleep. The phrase highlights the need to break free from a state of slumber.
know the time, now is high time: This is a significant emphasis on temporal awareness and urgency. It suggests a realization that the period of salvation and the Lord's return is drawing nearer. The phrase "high time" conveys an immediate and pressing need to act.
awake out of sleep: This imagery contrasts the spiritual vitality expected of believers with a state of passive inactivity or spiritual ignorance. It calls for alertness and responsiveness to God's presence and purposes.
Romans 13 11 Bonus Section
The concept of "time" in the New Testament often carries eschatological weight, pointing to the culmination of God's redemptive plan. Paul's message here resonates with the broader biblical theme of living with an eternal perspective. The urgency conveyed is not to fear or paralysis, but a motivation for diligent service and watchful readiness. The imagery of "waking" is deeply rooted in Old Testament prophetic calls and echoed throughout the New Testament epistles and Gospels, consistently linking spiritual vigilance with ethical conduct. The "hour" can also refer to the specific times and seasons ordained by God for His purposes to unfold.
Romans 13 11 Commentary
Paul compels the Roman believers to recognize the present hour as a critical time for spiritual wakefulness and action. This is not a vague encouragement but a direct summons to emerge from spiritual lethargy, mirroring the urgency of being fully awake when dawn breaks. The believer’s knowledge of the "time"—the era of salvation, the presence of the Kingdom, and the proximity of Christ's return—should provoke them to shed any complacency. It means being actively engaged in living a life that reflects their identity in Christ, characterized by sobriety, righteousness, and love, rather than succumbing to the dormant state associated with spiritual darkness. The emphasis is on proactive anticipation, translating awareness of the times into intentional, holy living.