Romans 13:4
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.
KJV
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.
Greek NT
Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Si autem malum feceris, time : non enim sine causa gladium portat. Dei enim minister est : vindex in iram ei qui malum agit.
Vulgate
for he is a 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 a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.
ASV
For he is God's minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God's minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
20 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
διάκονος
diakonos
noun · 30×
εἰκῆ
eike
adverb · 6×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
εἰς
eis
preposition · 1769×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
κακός
kakos
adjective · 50×
μάχαιρα
machaira
noun · 29×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
ποιέω
poieo
verb · 569×
πράσσω
prasso
verb · 39×
σύ
su
pronoun · 1071×
φοβέω
phobeo
verb · 95×
φορέω
phoreo
verb · 6×
ἀγαθός
agathos
adjective · 102×
ἐάν
ean
conditional · 333×
ἔκδικος
ekdikos
adjective · 2×
ὀργή
orge
noun · 36×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
Doctrines that cite this verse
Historic Christian voices
10 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
Of the constant falsehood of the devil, and of the powers and governments of the world, which we ought to obey, inasmuch as they are appointed of God, not of the devil. 1. As therefore the devil lied at the beginning, so did he also in the end, when he said, All these are delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give them. Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:6 For it is not he who has app…
2. They thought that He, thus speaking, did so with a view to the abrogation of the ancient institutions. This suspicion therefore He heals; nor here only does He so, but elsewhere also again. Thus, since they accounted Him no less than an adversary of God, from this sort of reason, namely, His not keeping the sabbath; He, to heal such their suspicion, there also again sets for…
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210223.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Calvin expounds the Christian's duty to civil government. The magistrate is God's minister — civil authority is ordained by God, and resistance to it is resistance to the ordinance of God. Yet Calvin carefully limits this: the magistrate's authority is not absolute but delegated, and obedience to God takes precedence. Love is th…
Q. What is God's will for you in the sixth commandment? A. I am not to belittle, insult, hate, or kill my neighbor — not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds — and I am not to be party to this in others; rather, I am to put away all desire for revenge. I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself either. Prevention of murder is also …
We believe that because of the depravity of the human race, our good God has ordained kings, princes, and civil officers. God wants the world to be governed by laws and policies so that human lawlessness may be restrained and that everything may be conducted in good order among human beings. For that purpose God has placed the sword in the hands of the government, to punish evi…
The magistracy of every nation is instituted by God himself, for the peace and tranquillity of his people, and thus it should be held in the highest honor. If the magistrate is opposed to the Church, he can hinder and disturb it very much; but if he is a friend and member of the Church, he is a most useful and excellent member thereof, and is able to benefit it very much. The d…
Cross-references
- 1Thess 4:6 — That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
- 1Thess 4:6 — That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
- 2Chr 19:6 — And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
- 2Sam 3:39 — And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
- Deut 32:35 — To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
- Ezek 22:27 — Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
- Ezek 25:14 — And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
- Gen 9:6 — Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
- Heb 10:30 — For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
- Isa 1:17 — Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
- Jer 5:28 — They 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.
- Jer 21:12 — O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench i
- Josh 4:14 — On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
- Mic 3:1 — And 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?
- Mic 3:9 — Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
- Nah 1:2 — God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
- Prov 16:14 — The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
- Prov 20:2 — The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
- Prov 24:23 — These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
- Ps 82:2 — How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
- Rom 12:19 — Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- Rom 12:19 — Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
- Rom 13:3 — For 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:
- Rom 13:6 — For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.