Parallel Verses
A Conservative Version
For he is a helper of God to thee for what is good. But if thou do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is a helper of God, vengeful for wrath to the man who commits evil.
New American Standard Bible
for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an
King James Version
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.
Holman Bible
For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger
International Standard Version
For they are God's servants, working for your good.
American Standard Version
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.
Amplified
For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, [you should] be afraid; for he does not carry the [executioner’s] sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer.
An Understandable Version
For they are servants of God for your good. But you should be afraid if you do what is evil, because they do not carry the sword [i.e., for executing criminals] for nothing. For they are servants of God who take revenge [on wrongdoing] by punishing the person who does evil.
Anderson New Testament
For he is the minister of God to you for that which is good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God to inflict punishment on him that does evil.
Bible in Basic English
For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer.
Common New Testament
For he is God's servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is God's servant, an avenger to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.
Daniel Mace New Testament
for his administration is appointed by God for your good. but if you do wrong, you have reason to be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: he being the minister of God, to execute punishment upon malefactors.
Darby Translation
for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.
Godbey New Testament
for he is the minister of God for you for good. But if you do evil, fear; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, executing judgment unto wrath unto the one doing evil.
Goodspeed New Testament
for they are God's agents to do you good. But if you do wrong you may well be afraid, for they do not carry swords for nothing. They are God's servants, to execute his wrath upon wrongdoers.
John Wesley New Testament
But if thou dost that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the servant of God, an avenger for wrath against him that doth evil.
Julia Smith Translation
For he is servant of God to thee for good. And if thou do evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword without order: for he is servant of God, avenging for anger to him doing evil.
King James 2000
For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.
Lexham Expanded Bible
for it is God's servant to you for what [is] good. But if you do what [is] bad, be afraid, because it does not bear the sword to no purpose. For it is God's servant, the one who avenges for punishment on the one who does [what is] bad.
Modern King James verseion
For it is a servant of God to you for good. For if you practice evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, a revenger for wrath on him who does evil.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
For he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But and if thou do evil, then fear: for he beareth not a sword for nought; but is the minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil.
Moffatt New Testament
the magistrate is God's servant for your benefit. But if you do wrong, you may well be alarmed; a magistrate does not wield the power of the sword for nothing, he is God's servant for the infliction of divine vengeance upon evil-doers.
Montgomery New Testament
For the ruler is God's minister appointed for your good. But if you are a wrong-doer, be afraid; he does not carry the sword to no purpose; he is God's servant, appointed to vengeance upon the guilty.
NET Bible
for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer.
New Heart English Bible
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
Noyes New Testament
for the ruler is Gods servant to thee for good. But if thou doest evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is Gods servant, an avenger to inflict wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Sawyer New Testament
for [the power] is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister of justice for punishment to him that does evil.
The Emphasized Bible
For, God's minister, is he unto thee for that which is good. But, if, that which is evil, thou be doing, be afraid! For, not in vain, the sword he beareth; for, God's minister, he is, - an avenger, unto anger, to him who practiseth what is evil.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou doest that which is evil, tremble! for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to inflict wrath on him that practises what is evil.
Twentieth Century New Testament
For they are God's servants appointed for your good. But, if you do what is wrong, you may well be afraid; for the sword they carry is not without meaning! They are God's servants to inflict his punishments on those who do wrong.
Webster
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou doest that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Weymouth New Testament
For he is God's servant for your benefit. But if you do what is wrong, be afraid. He does not wear the sword to no purpose: he is God's servant--an administrator to inflict punishment upon evil-doers.
Williams New Testament
For the civil authorities are God's servants to do you good. But if you practice doing wrong, you should dread them, for they do not wield the sword for nothing. Indeed, they are God's servants to inflict punishment upon people who do wrong.
World English Bible
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
Worrell New Testament
for he is God's minister to you for good. But, if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.
Worsley New Testament
for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou dost evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is also the minister of God, as an avenger to execute his wrath upon the malefactor.
Youngs Literal Translation
for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.
Themes
Christian conduct » Submitting to authorities
Courts of justice » Have authority from God
Evil » The reward for doing evil
Government » Duty of citizens to
Government » The purpose of government
Magistrates » Purpose of their appointment
Magistrates » Are ministers of God
Ministry » Who is a minister of God
Punishments » Power of inflicting, given to magistrates
Interlinear
Esti
ἐστί
Esti
Usage: 585
Eis
γάρ
Gar
γάρ
Gar
Usage: 825
Usage: 825
Agathos
De
Poieo
Kakos
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in Romans 13:4
Images Romans 13:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
Obedience To The Governing Authorities
3 For rulers are not a source of fear to the good works, but to the evil. And do thou desire not to fear the office of authority? Do what is good, and thou will have praise from it. 4 For he is a helper of God to thee for what is good. But if thou do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is a helper of God, vengeful for wrath to the man who commits evil. 5 Therefore there is a need to be subordinate, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience.
Phrases
Names
Cross References
2 Chronicles 19:6
and said to the judges, Consider what ye do. For ye judge not for man, but for LORD, and [he is] with you in the judgment.
Romans 12:19
not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is for me, I will repay, says Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:6
not to transgress and to cheat his brother in the affair, because the Lord is vengeful about all these things, as also we forewarned you and solemnly testified.
Numbers 35:19-27
The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death.
Joshua 20:5
And if the avenger of blood pursues after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand, because he smote his neighbor unawares, and did not hate him formerly.
Joshua 20:9
These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any soul unwittingly might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood befo
1 Kings 10:9
Blessed be LORD thy God, who delighted in thee to set thee on the throne of Israel. Because LORD loved Israel forever, therefore he made thee king, to do justice and righteousness.
Psalm 82:2-4
How long will ye judge unjustly, and respect the persons of the wicked? Selah.
Proverbs 16:14
The wrath of a king is messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Proverbs 20:2
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins [against] his own life.
Proverbs 20:8
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:26
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
Proverbs 24:23-24
These also are from the wise: To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
Proverbs 31:8-9
Open thy mouth for the mute, in the cause of all such as are left desolate.
Ecclesiastes 8:2-5
I [say], Keep the king's command, and that because of the oath of God.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do good. Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Jeremiah 5:28
They have grown fat. They shine. Yea, they overflow in deeds of wickedness. They do not plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper. And they do not judge the right of the needy.
Ezekiel 22:27
Her rulers in the midst of it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.
Ezekiel 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 my anger and according to my wrath. And they shall know my vengeance, says lord LORD.
Micah 3:1-4
And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice?
Micah 3:9
Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity.
Romans 13:6
For because of this ye also fulfill taxes, for they are servants of God being devoted to this same thing.