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.

Old Words

minister a servant; an attendant Webster’s 1828 · Minister

What these words meant when the King James Bible was translated.

Matthew Henry

The duty of subjection to governorsThe grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons...

Thompson Chains

King's FavorSee the chain from Proverbs 16:15 · 4 links
King's WrathSee the chain from Proverbs 16:14 · 4 links
Evildoers (1)See the chain from Psalms 34:16 · 6 links

Cross References

2 Chronicles 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.
Romans 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.
Proverbs 24:23–24 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. …
1 Thessalonians 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.
Numbers 35:19–27 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. …
Joshua 20:9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
1 Kings 10:9 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
Psalms 82:2–4 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. …
Proverbs 16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
Proverbs 20:2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Proverbs 20:8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Proverbs 31:8–9 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. …
Ecclesiastes 8:2–5 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. …
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Jeremiah 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.
Ezekiel 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.
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 mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
Micah 3:1–4 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? …
Micah 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.
Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

From OpenBible.info, most relevant first.

Topics

Government Duty of citizens to
Rome To obey magistrates
Rulers Character and qualifications of

Timeline

Timeline of the BibleAbout AD 60 · The Epistle to the Romans

Bible Dictionary

God(A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew ’El, from a word meaning...

Greek and Strong’s

For γὰρ gar γάρ Conjunction
he is ἐστίν estin Verb · present active indicative, third person singular ἐστί estí
the minister διάκονός diakonos διάκονος Noun · nominative masculine singular
of God Θεοῦ Theou θεός Noun · genitive masculine singular
to thee σοι soi Pronoun · second person, dative singular σοί soí
for εἰς eis εἰς Preposition
good τὸ to Article · accusative neuter singular ἀγαθόν agathon ἀγαθός Adjective · accusative neuter singular
But δὲ de δέ Conjunction
if Ἐὰν Ean ἐάν Conjunction
thou do ποιῇς poiēs ποιέω Verb · present active subjunctive, second person singular
that which is evil τὸ to Article · accusative neuter singular κακὸν kakon κακός Adjective · accusative neuter singular
be afraid φοβοῦ phobou φοβέω Verb · present middle imperative, second person singular
for γὰρ gar γάρ Conjunction
he beareth φορεῖ phorei φορέω Verb · present active indicative, third person singular
not οὐ ou οὐ Adverb
the sword τὴν tēn Article · accusative feminine singular μάχαιραν machairan μάχαιρα Noun · accusative feminine singular
in vain εἰκῆ eikē εἰκῆ Adverb
for γὰρ gar γάρ Conjunction
he is ἐστιν estin Verb · present active indicative, third person singular ἐστί estí
the minister διάκονός diakonos διάκονος Noun · nominative masculine singular
of God Θεοῦ Theou θεός Noun · genitive masculine singular
a revenger ἔκδικος ekdikos ἔκδικος Adjective · nominative masculine singular
to execute wrath ὀργὴν orgēn ὀργή Noun · accusative feminine singular
upon εἰς eis εἰς Preposition
him that doeth τῷ tō Pronoun · dative masculine singular πράσσοντι prassonti πράσσω Verb · present active participle, dative masculine singular
evil τὸ to Article · accusative neuter singular κακὸν kakon κακός Adjective · accusative neuter singular

Greek: KJTR, Alan Bunning, CNTR · CC BY 4.0

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