Romans 13:4 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.
Romans 13:4 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.
Romans 13:4 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.
Romans 13:4 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.
Romans 13:4 nlt
The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
Romans 13 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 13:4 | "For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for no reason." | Explicit statement of the verse. |
| Genesis 9:6 | "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed..." | Establishes capital punishment. |
| Exodus 22:2-3 | "If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. But if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him." | Law regarding self-defense. |
| Deuteronomy 19:10-13 | "so that innocent blood may not be shed in your land..." | Civil law to prevent bloodshed. |
| Deuteronomy 21:22-23 | "...for a hung man is accursed by God." | Law concerning judicial execution. |
| 2 Samuel 23:3 | "The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has told me: ‘Whoever rules justly over people, ruling in the fear of God..." | Ideal of righteous rule. |
| 1 Kings 3:9 | "Grant me your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil..." | Solomon's request for wisdom. |
| Proverbs 8:15-16 | "By me kings reign, and rulers make decisions for righteousness; by me princes rule, and nobles, and all who govern justly." | Wisdom's role in governance. |
| Proverbs 24:11-12 | "Rescue those who are being taken away to be put to death..." | Duty to intervene against injustice. |
| Isaiah 5:20 | "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil..." | Condemnation of misgovernance. |
| Jeremiah 22:3 | "Execute justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who is robbed..." | Command for just rule. |
| Acts 4:19 | "But Peter and John said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge...'" | Prioritizing God's authority. |
| Acts 5:29 | "But Peter said, 'We must obey God rather than men.'" | Obedience to God paramount. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:6 | "...brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers." | Church conflicts. |
| Ephesians 6:4 | "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." | Parental authority. |
| Colossians 3:20-21 | "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." | Household authority. |
| 1 Peter 2:13-14 | "Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor, as supreme, or to governors, as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good." | Subject to governing authorities. |
| 1 Peter 4:14-15 | "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed..." | Suffering for righteousness. |
| Revelation 12:11 | "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." | Victory through testimony. |
| Revelation 19:15 | "From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron." | Christ's authority and judgment. |
| Matthew 22:21 | "He said to them, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’" | Dual citizenship. |
| John 19:11 | "Jesus answered him, 'You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.'" | Divine origin of authority. |
| Romans 13:1 | "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." | Foundation for submission. |
Romans 13 verses
Romans 13 4 Meaning
The verse states that the governing authority bears the sword not in vain, signifying its God-ordained power to enforce justice and punish wrongdoing. It is the instrument of God's wrath against evil.
Romans 13 4 Context
This verse is part of Romans 13:1-7, a passage discussing submission to governing authorities. Paul is writing to the Roman church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, likely around 57-58 AD. The context is a general instruction on Christian living within society, emphasizing order and peace. Paul instructs believers to obey and respect government leaders because their authority is derived from God and they serve God's purposes.
Romans 13 4 Word Analysis
- γὰρ (gar): "for" - a conjunction introducing a reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- οὐκ (ouk): "not" - a strong negation.
- εἰκῇ (eikē): "in vain," "without cause," "idly." It suggests that the power wielded by the authority has a legitimate purpose and is not arbitrary.
- φορεῖ (phorei): "he bears," "he carries." The present tense indicates a continuous reality of the authority's power.
- γὰρ (gar): "for" - reiterating the reason.
- θεοῦ (theou): "of God" - genitive case, indicating possession or origin; the authority is God's servant.
- διάκονος (diakonos): "servant," "minister." It highlights the official function of the ruler as an agent serving God's interests.
- εἰς (eis): "for," "unto" - preposition indicating purpose or goal.
- τὸ (to): "the" - definite article.
- σὸν (son): "your" - possessive pronoun.
- ἀγαθόν (agathon): "good," "well-being." The purpose of the authority's bearing the sword is for the populace's good.
- δὲ (de): "but," "and" - a particle connecting clauses, often contrasting or adding information.
- ἐὰν (ean): "if" - a conditional particle.
- τὸ (to): "the" - definite article.
- φαῦλον (phaulon): "evil," "wrong," "bad." Refers to wrongdoing or a bad deed.
- πράσσῃς (prassē): "you do," "you practice." The present tense implies continuous action or habit.
- φόβου (phobou): "fear" - indicates a response of apprehension or respect.
- ἔχε (eche): "have," "hold" - imperative form, instructing the reader to possess or experience fear.
- οὐ (ou): "not" - negation.
- γὰρ (gar): "for" - introducing the reason for the fear.
- εἰκῇ (eikē): "in vain," "without cause," "meaninglessly." The authority's power to punish is not empty; it has substance and intent.
- τὴν (tēn): "the" - definite article.
- μάχαιραν (machairan): "sword" - the symbolic implement of execution and punishment.
- ἀνακείμενος (anakeimenos): "to bear," "to be placed." This Greek word (related to the root used here) often signifies holding something that is officially conferred, like a weapon given for a specific duty. Here, it implies the authority is equipped with and holds the sword as part of its designated role.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "God's servant for your good": Emphasizes the divinely appointed role of the state, whose legitimate function is to promote the welfare of its citizens by upholding justice.
- "he does not bear the sword for no reason": The sword symbolizes the government's coercive power, including the authority to punish evildoers, even with death. This power is not to be wielded arbitrarily but justly, in accordance with God's will.
Romans 13 4 Bonus Section
The concept of the "sword" (Greek: machaira) symbolizes the ultimate coercive power of the state, including capital punishment, as understood in the ancient world and supported by Old Testament laws regarding capital offenses. Paul's argument in Romans 13 builds upon a trajectory from the Old Testament laws about justice and governance to Jesus' own teachings on rendering unto Caesar, and Peter's admonition to submit to every human institution. The authorities' role as a "terror to bad conduct" is intrinsic to their God-ordained mandate, distinguishing them from mere lawlessness and establishing their legitimacy within God's providential ordering of society. The verse doesn't necessarily imply that every ruler personally wields a sword, but rather that the authority vested in the government has the power to do so.
Romans 13 4 Commentary
The government acts as God's agent, possessing legitimate authority to enforce law and order. This authority is backed by the power to punish those who violate the law, represented by the "sword." This power is not held ineffectively but is intended for a crucial purpose: to deter and punish wrongdoing, thereby protecting society and upholding justice. Believers are thus called to respect and submit to this God-ordained authority, understanding that obedience to lawful government ultimately honors God. However, this submission has a limit when government commands conflict with divine law (Acts 5:29). The authority's responsibility is to be a force for good, reflecting God's justice.
- Practical application: Christians should respect laws, pay taxes, and pray for their leaders, recognizing their God-given role. When confronted with unjust laws or rulers that contradict biblical principles, believers must prioritize obedience to God.