Romans 13:4

HCSB

Romans 13:4

Parallel Verses

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 that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

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 avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

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.

International Standard Version

For they are God's servants, working for your good.

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.

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

Swords » Illustrative » Of judicial authority

Tribute » Rendering tribute

Tribute » Why you should pay tribute

Topics

Bad Influence

Authority, of human institutions

Civil authorities

Government

Ministry, Nature Of

Punishment, Nature Of

Retribution

Magistrates

Human Authority, Instituted By God

People Possibly Doing Evil

Punishment

Respecting Authority

wrath

Interlinear

English(KJV)

Strong's

Root Form

Definition

Usage

For

G1063

γάρ
Gar

for, , not tr

Usage: 825

he is

G2076
G2076

ἐστί
Esti
ἐστί
Esti

is, are, was, be, have, not tr, , vr is
is, are, was, be, have, not tr, , vr is

Usage: 585
Usage: 585

the minister

G1249
G1249

διάκονος
Diakonos
διάκονος
Diakonos

minister, servant, deacon
minister, servant, deacon

Usage: 24
Usage: 24

of God

G2316
G2316

θεός
theos
θεός
theos

God, god, godly, God-ward ,
God, god, godly, God-ward ,

Usage: 1151
Usage: 1151

to thee

G4671

σοί
Soi

thee, thou, thy, thine own, not tr

Usage: 113

for

G1519
G1063
G1063

εἰς
Eis
γάρ
Gar
γάρ
Gar

into, to, unto, for, in, on, toward, against,
for, , not tr
for, , not tr

Usage: 1267
Usage: 825
Usage: 825

good

G18

ἀγαθός
Agathos

good, good thing, that which is good , the thing which is good , well, benefit

Usage: 70

But

G1161

δέ
De

but, and, now, then, also, yet, yea, so, moreover, nevertheless, for, even, , not tr

Usage: 2184

G1437

ἐάν
Ean

if, whosoever 9, whatsoever 9, though,

Usage: 155

thou do

G4160

ποιέω
Poieo

do, make, bring forth, commit, cause, work, show, bear, keep, fulfil, deal, perform, not tr, , vr do

Usage: 372

that which is evil

G2556

κακός
Kakos

evil, evil things, harm, that which is evil , wicked, ill, bad, noisome

Usage: 46

be afraid

G5399

φοβέω
Phobeo

fear, be afraid, be afraid of, reverence,

Usage: 68

he beareth

G5409

φορέω
Phoreo

bear, wear

Usage: 5

not

G3756

οὐ
Ou

not, no, cannot ,

Usage: 1032

the sword

G3162

μάχαιρα
Machaira

sword

Usage: 19

in vain

G1500

εἰκῆ
Eike

in vain, without a cause, vainly

Usage: 6

a revenger

G1558

ἔκδικος
Ekdikos

avenger, revenger

Usage: 2

G1519

εἰς
Eis

into, to, unto, for, in, on, toward, against,

Usage: 1267

execute wrath

G3709

ὀργή
Orge

wrath, anger, vengeance, indignation

Usage: 35

upon him that doeth

G4238

πράσσω
Prasso

do, commit, exact, require, deed, keep, use arts

Usage: 35

References

Word Count of 37 Translations in Romans 13:4

Images Romans 13:4

Verse Info

Bible Rank: 2660
Romans Rank: 163
18 Topics
12 Themes
22 Cross References
1 Reading
Interlinear
6 Phrases
1 Name
11 References

Context Readings

Obedience To The Governing Authorities

³ For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. ⁴ 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 that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. ⁵ Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience.