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.
Θεοῦ | Of God |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
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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. |
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ἐστιν | he is |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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σοὶ | to you |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Singular Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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τὸ | - |
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ἀγαθόν | good |
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ἀγαθός Sense: of good constitution or nature. |
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δὲ | however |
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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κακὸν | evil |
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: κακός Sense: of a bad nature. |
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ποιῇς | you do |
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: ποιέω Sense: to make. |
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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). |
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εἰκῇ | in vain |
Parse: Adverb Root: εἰκῇ Sense: inconsiderably, without purpose, without just cause. |
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μάχαιραν | sword |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: μάχαιρα Sense: a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh. |
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φορεῖ | he bears |
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: φορέω Sense: to bear constantly, wear. |
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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. |
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ἔκδικος | an avenger |
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἔκδικος Sense: without law and justice. |
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ὀργὴν | wrath |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὀργή Sense: anger, the natural disposition, temper, character. |
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τῷ | to the [one] |
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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πράσσοντι | doing |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular Root: ἀναπράσσω Sense: to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on. |
Greek Commentary for Romans 13:4
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]
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]
Condition of third class, εαν ean and present active subjunctive of ποιεω poieō “if thou continue to do.” [source]
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]
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 and weareth. A frequentative form of φέρω tobear. [source]
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
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]
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]
“From it” (εχουσια exousia personified in Romans 13:4). [source]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]