The Meaning of Romans 13:4 Explained

Romans 13:4

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.

Darby: 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  he is  the minister  of God  to thee  for  good.  But  if  thou do  that which is evil,  be afraid  {5737}; 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. 

What does Romans 13:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God will use government, good and bad, to bring the submissive Christian what is good from His perspective (cf. Romans 8:28). Christians who are not submissive should fear because government has received its power to punish evildoers from God.

Context Summary

Romans 13:1-7 - Rendering "to All Their Dues"
Human government, like the existence of the family relationship, is a divine institution. It is part of the order of the world and rooted in the original conception of the race. It was never intended that we should live as individual units, but as members of family and state. It is evident, therefore, that the authority which is wielded by the ruler expresses, generally speaking, a divine principle. The comfort and well-being of society are better attained in that way than in any other, and the recognition of this principle carries with it the assent of our intuitive convictions. We must render therefore to all their dues.
But it must be acknowledged, also, that there are limits beyond which imperial or legislative authority may not go. When Nero, according to tradition, bade the Apostle to abandon his faith as the condition of liberty, Paul did not hesitate to say that the emperor was intruding on a province to which he had no claim, and that he must obey God rather than man. So far as our life in a community goes, there must be some form of government, which may be modeled according to the varying opinions of men, whether monarchical or republican, autocratic or socialistic; but when once it has been agreed upon, it must be obeyed, unless it forfeits confidence, in which case a new order becomes necessary. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 13

1  Subjection, and many other duties, we owe to the authorities
8  Love is the fulfillment of the law
11  The acts of darkness are out of season in the time of the Gospel

Greek Commentary for Romans 13:4

A minister of God [τεου διακονος]
General sense of διακονος — diakonos Of course even Nero was God‘s minister “to thee (σοι — soi ethical dative) for good (εις το αγατον — eis to agathon for the good).” That is the ideal, the goal. [source]
Beareth [πορει]
Present active indicative of πορεω — phoreō old frequentative form of περω — pherō to bear, to wear. But if thou do (εαν δε ποιηις — ean de poiēis). Condition of third class, εαν — ean and present active subjunctive of ποιεω — poieō “if thou continue to do.” Sword Symbol of authority as to-day policemen carry clubs or pistols. “The Emperor Trajan presented to a provincial governor on starting for his province, a dagger, with the words, ‹For me. If I deserve it, in me‘” (Vincent). An avenger (εκδικος — ekdikos). Old adjective from εκ — ek and δικη — dikē (right), “outside of penalty,” unjust, then in later Greek “exacting penalty from one,” in N.T. only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:6. [source]
But if thou do [εαν δε ποιηις]
Condition of third class, εαν — ean and present active subjunctive of ποιεω — poieō “if thou continue to do.” [source]
Sword [μαχαιραν]
Symbol of authority as to-day policemen carry clubs or pistols. “The Emperor Trajan presented to a provincial governor on starting for his province, a dagger, with the words, ‹For me. If I deserve it, in me‘” (Vincent). An avenger (εκδικος — ekdikos). Old adjective from εκ — ek and δικη — dikē (right), “outside of penalty,” unjust, then in later Greek “exacting penalty from one,” in N.T. only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:6. [source]
An avenger [εκδικος]
Old adjective from εκ — ek and δικη — dikē (right), “outside of penalty,” unjust, then in later Greek “exacting penalty from one,” in N.T. only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:6. [source]
Beareth [φορεῖ]
Beareth and weareth. A frequentative form of φέρω tobear. [source]
Sword [μάχαιραν]
See on Revelation 6:4. Borne as the symbol of the magistrate's right to inflict capital punishment. Thus Ulpian: “They who rule whole provinces have the right of the sword (jus gladii ).” The Emperor Trajan presented to a provincial governor, on starting for his province, a dagger, with the words, “For me. If I deserve it, in me.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 13:4

Romans 13:6 God's ministers [λειτουργοὶ Θεοῦ]
See on ministration, Luke 1:23, and see on ministered, Acts 13:2. In Romans 13:4, διάκονος is used for minister. The word here brings out more fully the fact that the ruler, like the priest, discharges a divinely ordained service. Government is thus elevated into the sphere of religion. Hence Rev., ministers of God's service. [source]
Romans 12:19 Avenge not [μη εκδικουντες]
Independent participle again of late verb εκδικεω — ekdikeō from εκδικος — ekdikos exacting justice (Romans 13:4). See already Luke 18:5; 2 Corinthians 10:6. [source]
Romans 13:3 From the same [εχ αυτης]
“From it” (εχουσια — exousia personified in Romans 13:4). [source]
Romans 13:6 Tribute [πορους]
Old word from περω — pherō to bring, especially the annual tax on lands, etc. (Luke 20:22; Luke 23:1). Paying taxes recognizes authority over us. Ministers of God‘s service (λειτουργοι τεου — leitourgoi theou). Late word for public servant (unused λειτος — leitos from Attic λεως — leōs people, and εργω — ergō to work). Often used of military servants, servants of the king, and temple servants (Hebrews 8:2). Paul uses it also of himself as Christ‘s λειτουργος — leitourgos (Romans 15:16) and of Epaphroditus as a minister to him (Philemon 2:25). See τεου διακονος — theou diakonos in Romans 13:4. Attending continually Present active participle of the late verb προσκαρτερεω — proskartereō (προς — pros and καρτερεω — kartereō from καρτος — kartos or κρατος — kratos strength) to persevere. See note on Acts 2:42 and note on Acts 8:13. [source]
Romans 13:6 Ministers of God‘s service [λειτουργοι τεου]
Late word for public servant (unused λειτος — leitos from Attic λεως — leōs people, and εργω — ergō to work). Often used of military servants, servants of the king, and temple servants (Hebrews 8:2). Paul uses it also of himself as Christ‘s λειτουργος — leitourgos (Romans 15:16) and of Epaphroditus as a minister to him (Philemon 2:25). See τεου διακονος — theou diakonos in Romans 13:4. [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:6 Avenger [ἔκδικος]
PoHere and Romans 13:4. In lxx rarely, and in the same sense as here. In this sense it occurs only in late Greek. For the warning comp. Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; Romans 13:4; Galatians 5:21. [source]
1 Thessalonians 3:2 Minister [διάκονον]
See on Matthew 20:26; see on Mark 9:35. Not in the official sense of deacon which occurs only in the Pastorals. Διάκονος ministerand διακονία ministryor service are common expressions of service to Christ or to men. Paul habitually uses them in this way. See Acts 1:25; Acts 6:4. Διάκονοι is used of ministers of Satan, 2 Corinthians 11:15, and διάκονος of the civil magistrate, Romans 13:4. See Introduction to the Pastoral Epistles. [source]
1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons []
The office of Deacon appears in the Pastorals, but not in Paul's letters, with the single exception of Philemon 1:1, where the Deacons do not represent an ecclesiastical office, though they remark an advance toward it. Clement of Rome (ad Corinth. xlii., xliv.) asserts their apostolic appointment. But the evidence at our command does not bear out the view that the institution of the diaconate is described in Acts 6:1-6. The terms διάκονος and διακονία are, in the Pauline writings, common expressions of servants and service either to Christ or to others. Paul applies these terms to his own ministry and to that of his associates. Διακονία is used of the service of the apostles, Acts 1:25; Acts 6:4. Διάκονος is used of Paul and Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:5); of Christ (Galatians 2:17; Romans 15:8); of the civil ruler (Romans 13:4); of ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:15). The appointment of the seven grew out of a special emergency, and was made for a particular service; and the resemblance is not close between the duties and qualifications of deacons in the Pastorals and those of the seven. The word διάκονος does not appear in Acts; and when Paul and Barnabas brought to Jerusalem the collection for the poor saints, they handed it over to the elders. [source]
1 Timothy 1:12 Into the ministry [εἰς διακονίαν]
Better, appointing me to his service. The conventional phrase “the ministry” gives a wrong impression. The term is general, covering every mode of service, either to God or to men. Διάκονοι ministersis used of the secular ruler, Romans 13:4. See also 1 Corinthians 12:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 2 Corinthians 3:8; Ephesians 4:12, and on minister, Matthew 20:26. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 13:4 mean?

Of God for servant he is to you for - good If however evil you do be afraid not in vain the sword he bears a servant an avenger wrath to the [one] doing
Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν ἐὰν δὲ κακὸν ποιῇς φοβοῦ οὐ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ διάκονός ἔκδικος ὀργὴν τῷ πράσσοντι

Θεοῦ  Of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
διάκονός  servant 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διάκονος  
Sense: one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister.
ἐστιν  he  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
σοὶ  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀγαθόν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀγαθός 
Sense: of good constitution or nature.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
κακὸν  evil 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: κακός  
Sense: of a bad nature.
ποιῇς  you  do 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
φοβοῦ  be  afraid 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: φοβέομαι 
Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away).
εἰκῇ  in  vain 
Parse: Adverb
Root: εἰκῇ  
Sense: inconsiderably, without purpose, without just cause.
μάχαιραν  sword 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: μάχαιρα  
Sense: a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh.
φορεῖ  he  bears 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: φορέω  
Sense: to bear constantly, wear.
διάκονός  a  servant 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διάκονος  
Sense: one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister.
ἔκδικος  an  avenger 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔκδικος  
Sense: without law and justice.
ὀργὴν  wrath 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὀργή  
Sense: anger, the natural disposition, temper, character.
τῷ  to  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πράσσοντι  doing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀναπράσσω 
Sense: to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on.