Romans
Romans 13:2–7
2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
5Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority , not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
Romans 13:2
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consequently | ὥστε | hōste | Conjunction | G5620 so that, therefore |
| whoever | ὁ | ho | Article - Nominative Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| resists | ἀντιτασσόμενος | antitassomenos | Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular | G498 I set myself against, resist |
| authority | ἐξουσίᾳ | exousia | Noun - Dative Feminine Singular | G1849 power, authority, weight |
| is opposing | ἀνθέστηκεν | anthestēken | Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G436 I take a stand against, oppose, resist |
| what | τῇ | tē | Article - Dative Feminine Singular | G3588 the |
| God | Θεοῦ | Theou | Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular | G2316 God, a god |
| has set in place | διαταγῇ | diatagē | Noun - Dative Feminine Singular | G1296 ordaining, ordinance, disposition |
| and | δὲ | de | Conjunction | G1161 but, on the other hand, and |
| those who | οἱ | hoi | Article - Nominative Masculine Plural | G3588 the |
| will bring | λήμψονται | lēmpsontai | Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural | G2983 I receive, take |
| judgment | κρίμα | krima | Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular | G2917 a judgment, verdict, lawsuit |
| on themselves | ἑαυτοῖς | heautois | Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural | G1438 himself, herself, itself |
Romans 13:3
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | γὰρ | gar | Conjunction | G1063 for |
| rulers | ἄρχοντες | archontes | Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural | G758 a ruler, prince, leader |
| are | εἰσὶν | eisin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural | G1510 I am, exist |
| not | οὐκ | ouk | Adverb | G3756 no, not |
| a terror | φόβος | phobos | Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular | G5401 fear, terror, reverence |
| to good | ἀγαθῷ | agathō | Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular | G18 good |
| conduct | ἔργῳ | ergō | Noun - Dative Neuter Singular | G2041 work, labor, action, deed |
| but | ἀλλὰ | alla | Conjunction | G235 but, except |
| to bad | κακῷ | kakō | Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular | G2556 bad, evil |
| Do you want | θέλεις | theleis | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G2309 I will, wish, desire |
| to be unafraid | φοβεῖσθαι | phobeisthai | Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive | G5399 I fear, am terrified |
| of the | τὴν | tēn | Article - Accusative Feminine Singular | G3588 the |
| one in authority | ἐξουσίαν | exousian | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G1849 power, authority, weight |
| do | ποίει | poiei | Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G4160 I do, make |
| what | τὸ | to | Article - Accusative Neuter Singular | G3588 the |
| right | ἀγαθὸν | agathon | Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular | G18 good |
| and | καὶ | kai | Conjunction | G2532 and, even, also, namely |
| you will have | ἕξεις | hexeis | Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G2192 I have, hold, possess |
| his | αὐτῆς | autēs | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
| approval | ἔπαινον | epainon | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G1868 commendation, praise |
Romans 13:4
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | γὰρ | gar | Conjunction | G1063 for |
| he is | ἐστιν | estin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G1510 I am, exist |
| God’s | Θεοῦ | Theou | Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular | G2316 God, a god |
| servant | διάκονός | diakonos | Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular | G1249 a waiter, servant, administrator |
| for | εἰς | eis | Preposition | G1519 into, in, among, till, for |
| your | σοὶ | soi | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular | G4771 you |
| good | ἀγαθόν | agathon | Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular | G18 good |
| But | δὲ | de | Conjunction | G1161 but, on the other hand, and |
| if | ἐὰν | ean | Conjunction | G1437 if |
| you do | ποιῇς | poiēs | Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular | G4160 I do, make |
| wrong | κακὸν | kakon | Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular | G2556 bad, evil |
| be afraid | φοβοῦ | phobou | Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular | G5399 I fear, am terrified |
| for | γὰρ | gar | Conjunction | G1063 for |
| he does not carry | φορεῖ | phorei | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G5409 I carry, wear |
| the | τὴν | tēn | Article - Accusative Feminine Singular | G3588 the |
| sword | μάχαιραν | machairan | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G3162 a sword |
| in vain | εἰκῇ | eikē | Adverb | G1500 without purpose, in vain |
| He is | ἐστιν | estin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G1510 I am, exist |
| God’s | Θεοῦ | Theou | Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular | G2316 God, a god |
| servant | διάκονός | diakonos | Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular | G1249 a waiter, servant, administrator |
| an agent | ἔκδικος | ekdikos | Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular | G1558 avenging, an avenger |
| of | εἰς | eis | Preposition | G1519 into, in, among, till, for |
| retribution | ὀργὴν | orgēn | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G3709 anger, wrath, passion |
| to the | τῷ | tō | Article - Dative Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| wrongdoer | κακὸν | kakon | Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular | G2556 bad, evil |
Romans 13:5
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therefore | Διὸ | Dio | Conjunction | G1352 wherefore |
| necessary | ἀνάγκη | anankē | Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular | G318 necessity, constraint, compulsion |
| to submit | ὑποτάσσεσθαι | hypotassesthai | Verb - Present Infinitive Passive | G5293 I place under, subject to |
| not | οὐ | ou | Adverb | G3756 no, not |
| only | μόνον | monon | Adverb | G3440 alone, but, only |
| to avoid | διὰ | dia | Preposition | G1223 through, on account of |
| punishment | ὀργὴν | orgēn | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G3709 anger, wrath, passion |
| but | ἀλλὰ | alla | Conjunction | G235 but, except |
| also | καὶ | kai | Conjunction | G2532 and, even, also, namely |
| as a matter of | διὰ | dia | Preposition | G1223 through, on account of |
| conscience | συνείδησιν | syneidēsin | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G4893 the conscience |
Romans 13:6
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| This is also why | διὰ | dia | Preposition | G1223 through, on account of |
| you pay | τελεῖτε | teleite | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural | G5055 I end, accomplish, pay |
| taxes | φόρους | phorous | Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural | G5411 a tax, tribute |
| For | γὰρ | gar | Conjunction | G1063 for |
| are | εἰσιν | eisin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural | G1510 I am, exist |
| God’s | Θεοῦ | Theou | Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular | G2316 God, a god |
| servants | λειτουργοὶ | leitourgoi | Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural | G3011 a minister, servant |
| who devote themselves | προσκαρτεροῦντες | proskarterountes | Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural | G4342 I persist |
| to | εἰς | eis | Preposition | G1519 into, in, among, till, for |
Romans 13:7
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | ἀπόδοτε | apodote | Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural | G591 I give back, return, sell |
| everyone | πᾶσιν | pasin | Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural | G3956 all, the whole, every kind of |
| what | τὰς | tas | Article - Accusative Feminine Plural | G3588 the |
| you owe | ὀφειλάς | opheilas | Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural | G3782 a debt, duty |
| taxes | φόρον | phoron | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G5411 a tax, tribute |
| to whom | τῷ | tō | Article - Dative Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| taxes | φόρον | phoron | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G5411 a tax, tribute |
| revenue | τέλος | telos | Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular | G5056 an end, purpose, tax |
| to whom | τῷ | tō | Article - Dative Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| revenue | τέλος | telos | Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular | G5056 an end, purpose, tax |
| respect | φόβον | phobon | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G5401 fear, terror, reverence |
| to whom | τῷ | tō | Article - Dative Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| respect | φόβον | phobon | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G5401 fear, terror, reverence |
| honor | τιμήν | timēn | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G5092 a price, honor |
| to whom | τῷ | tō | Article - Dative Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| honor | τιμὴν | timēn | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G5092 a price, honor |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Romans 13:2 1 Peter 2:13 · Titus 3:1 · Romans 13:5 · James 3:1 · Luke 20:47 · Mark 12:40 · Matthew 23:13 · Jeremiah 44:14–17 · Jeremiah 23:8–17 · Isaiah 58:2
Romans 13:3 Ecclesiastes 10:4–6 · Proverbs 20:2 · Proverbs 14:35 · 1 Peter 2:13–14 · Deuteronomy 25:1 · Jeremiah 22:15–18 · 1 Peter 3:13–14 · Romans 13:4
Romans 13:4 Romans 12:19 · 2 Chronicles 19:6 · Proverbs 24:23–24 · Proverbs 20:2 · Proverbs 16:14 · 1 Thessalonians 4:6 · Romans 13:6 · Psalm 82:2–4 · Isaiah 1:17 · Micah 3:1–4 · Proverbs 31:8–9 · Micah 3:9
Romans 13:5 1 Peter 2:19 · Ecclesiastes 8:2 · Acts 24:16 · 1 Peter 2:13–15 · Titus 3:1–2 · 1 Samuel 24:5–6 · Hebrews 13:18 · 1 Peter 3:16
Romans 13:6 Matthew 22:17–21 · Luke 23:2 · Luke 20:21–26 · Mark 12:14–17 · Matthew 17:24–27 · 1 Chronicles 18:14 · Ezra 4:13 · Ezra 4:20 · Exodus 18:13–27 · Ezra 6:8 · Nehemiah 5:4 · Job 29:7–17
Romans 13:7 Luke 20:25 · Proverbs 24:21 · 1 Peter 2:17–18 · Matthew 17:25 · Matthew 22:21 · 1 Timothy 5:17 · Ephesians 6:5 · 1 Peter 3:7 · Leviticus 19:32 · Ephesians 6:2–3 · Leviticus 19:3 · Luke 23:2
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.