Romans

Romans 13:3–4

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.

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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 13:3

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

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

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

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.