ROM 13:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Let every soul be subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the existing authorities are appointed by God.

UST Every one of you must submit yourselves to those whom God has authorized to govern you. This is because no one can govern unless God authorizes them to do so. God has instituted the existing governments.

BSB Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except [that which is from] God. [The authorities] that exist have been appointed by God.

MSB Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except [that which is from] God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

BLB Let every soul be subject to the authorities being above him. For there is no authority except by God; but those existing are having been instituted by God.

AICNT Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those [[authorities]][fn] that exist have been ordained by God.

13:1, authorities: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB Let everyone obey the supreme authorities. For no authority exists except by the will of God, and the existing authorities have been appointed by God.

WEBBE Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.

LSV Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,

FBV Everyone should obey government authorities, because no one has the power to rule unless God gives permission. These authorities have been put there by God.

TCNT Every person must be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and [fn]the authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

13:1 the authorities ¦ those CT

T4T Every believer must be subject to the authorities. Remember that God is the only one who gives officials their authority. Furthermore, those officials that exist are ones who have been appointed by God {God has appointed}.

LEB Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except by God, and those that exist are put in place by God.

BBE Let everyone put himself under the authority of the higher powers, because there is no power which is not of God, and all powers are ordered by God.

Moff Every subject must obey the government-authorities, for no authority exists apart from God; the existing authorities have been constituted by God.

Wymth Let every individual be obedient to those who rule over him; for no one is a ruler except by God's permission, and our present rulers have had their rank and power assigned to them by Him.

ASV Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.

DRA Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power but from God: and those that are, are ordained of God.

YLT Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,

Drby Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above [him]. For there is no authority except from [fn]God; and those that exist are set up by [fn]God.

13.1 Elohim

RV Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.

SLT Let every soul be placed under the protecting powers. For there is no power except from God: and the powers being, were ordered by God.

Wbstr Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but from God: the powers that are, are ordained by God.

KJB-1769 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

KJB-1611 ¶ Let euery soule bee subiect vnto the higher powers: For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are [fn]ordeined of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

13:1 Or, ordered.

Bshps Let euery soule be subiect vnto the hyer powers: For there is no power but of god. The powers that be, are ordeyned of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva Let euery soule be subiect vnto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are ordeined of God.
(Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are ordained of God. )

Cvdl Let euery soule submytte himselfe to the auctorite off the hyer powers. For there is no power but of God.
(Let every soul submitte himself to the authority off the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.)

TNT Let every soule submit him selfe vnto the auctorite of the hyer powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordeyned of God.
(Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. )

Wycl Euery soule be suget to heiyere powers. For ther is no power but of God, and tho thingis that ben of God, ben ordeyned.
(Every soul be subject to heiyere powers. For there is no power but of God, and those things that been of God, been ordained.)

Luth Jedermann sei untertan der Obrigkeit, die Gewalt über ihn hat. Denn es ist keine Obrigkeit ohne von GOtt; wo aber Obrigkeit ist, die ist von GOtt verordnet.
(Yedermann be subject/subservient the/of_the Obrigkeit, the violence above him/it has. Because it is no Obrigkeit without from God; where but Obrigkeit is, the is from God prescribed.)

ClVg Omnis anima potestatibus sublimioribus subdita sit: non est enim potestas nisi a Deo: quæ autem sunt, a Deo ordinatæ sunt.[fn]
(Everyone the_soul powerbus sublimioribus I_submita be: not/no it_is because power except from to_God: which however are, from to_God ordinatæ are. )

13.1 Omnis anima. AUG. Expositio prop. 720 ex epist. ad Rom. Quod ait Apostolus hic rectissime admonet, etc., usque ad tamen omnis homo subditus sit superiori se. Non est enim potestas. Potestas est a Deo; sed quæ a Deo sunt, ordinata sunt; ergo potestas est ordinata. Itaque qui resistit potestati, Dei ordinationi resistit, de bona potestate patet, quod eam perfecit Deus. Rationabiliter de mala videri potest, dum et boni per eam purgantur, et mali damnantur, et ipsa in deterius præcipitatur. Et scias, quod nomine potestatis interdum accipitur potestas ipsa, quæ datur alicui a Deo, aliquando ipse homo habens potestatem; quod diligens lector distinguat. Quæ autem sunt, a Deo ordinata sunt. Id est, rationabiliter a Deo disposita, unde: Deus potentes non abjicit, cum et ipse potens sit Job. 36.. GREG. Deum quippe imitari desiderat, qui fastigium potentiæ, etc., usque ad quia nequaquam justa potentia, sed actio prava damnatur.

13.1 Everyone soul. AUG. Expositio prop. 720 from letter. to Rom. That he_said Apostolus this/here straightsime reminds, etc., until to nevertheless everyone human I_submitus be superior himself. Not/No it_is because canas. Canas it_is from to_God; but which from to_God are, organized are; therefore power it_is organized. Itaque who/which resistit power, of_God ordinationi resistit, from/about good(s) power clear, that her completed God. Rationabiliter from/about evil to_seem can, while and good through her purgantur, and evil damnantur, and herself in/into/on worse commandsatur. And know, that by_name powers sometimes accepted power herself, which given alicui from to_God, sometimes exactly_that/himself human having power; that diligens bedr distinguat. Which however are, from to_God organized are. That it_is, rationabiliter from to_God disposita, from_where/who: God powerful not/no abyicit, when/with and exactly_that/himself powerful sit Yob. 36.. GREG. God indeed/sure to_imitate desires, who/which fastigium of_power, etc., until to because by_no_means just power, but action wicked damnatur.

UGNT πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω; οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἐξουσία, εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ, αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ὑπὸ Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.
(pasa psuⱪaʸ exousiais hupereⱪousais hupotassesthō; ou gar estin exousia, ei maʸ hupo Theou, hai de ousai hupo Theou tetagmenai eisin.)

SBL-GNT Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω, οὐ γὰρ ἔστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ θεοῦ, αἱ δὲ ⸀οὖσαι ⸀ὑπὸ θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.
(Pasa psuⱪaʸ exousiais hupereⱪousais hupotassesthō, ou gar estin exousia ei maʸ hupo theou, hai de ⸀ousai ⸀hupo theou tetagmenai eisin.)

RP-GNT Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ θεοῦ, αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ἐξουσίαι ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.
(Pasa psuⱪaʸ exousiais hupereⱪousais hupotassesthō; ou gar estin exousia ei maʸ hupo theou, hai de ousai exousiai hupo tou theou tetagmenai eisin.)

TC-GNT Πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐξουσία εἰ μὴ [fn]ὑπὸ Θεοῦ, αἱ δὲ οὖσαι [fn]ἐξουσίαι ὑπὸ [fn]τοῦ Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν.
(Pasa psuⱪaʸ exousiais hupereⱪousais hupotassesthō; ou gar estin exousia ei maʸ hupo Theou, hai de ousai exousiai hupo tou Theou tetagmenai eisin. )

13:1 υπο ¦ απο TR

13:1 εξουσιαι ¦ — CT

13:1 του ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:1–7: Paul taught about government officials/leaders

In this section, Paul told believers that they must submit to government officials, because God gave the officials the authority to rule. Fighting the government is fighting the thing that God put in place. Only people who do evil need to fear the government. The believer must do good. The government will approve those deeds. But if the believer does what is wrong, he or she should fear the government. It makes happen God’s anger against those who do evil. Submitting to the government helps avoid God’s anger and keeps our conscience clear.

Believers also should pay government taxes and fees. They should respect and honor the leaders.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Our attitude toward the government

Our relationship with the government

13:1a

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities,

¶ Everyone must submit to government authorities.
¶ You should all submit to anyone with authority in the government,

Everyone must submit himself to: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as submit…to:

It means to submit here. (BSB, RSV, NIV, NASB, KJV, NABRE, ESV, NLT, NET, REB, NCV)
It means to obey here. For example:
Everyone must obey (GNT) (GNT, NJB, GW, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the scholars clearly indicate the Greek word means “to submit” here.All the scholars this author has follow interpretation (1); only Lenski (page 785) speaks of “proper subjection and obedience.” His translation has “range himself under,” which has the sense of submitting here. While obedience is implied when one submits to authorities, obedience is not the focus of the meaning.

Everyone must submit himself: This is a third person (as in “he” or “she”) command to submit to governing authorities as their leaders. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Every person must submit (REB)

Everyone must be underneath

This last example is a figure of speech in some languages for being in submission to someone.

Everyone: Paul wrote to the believers in Rome. This phrase refers to them.Cranfield (page 656). Some scholars want to include non-believers here, but that seems to go beyond the purpose of this letter. In general, all governments expect all its people to submit, but Paul did not write to all people, only to believers. If possible, avoid a phrase that purposely indicates all the people of a country, such as “all people.”

must submit: This refers to being under the authority of someone. He or she has the power to tell us what we should do. See the examples above.

the governing authorities: The Greek is more literally “superior/higher authorities.” It refers in general to people in the government who have the power to tell you what to do or what not to do. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

higher authorities (NABRE)

those with authority in the government

13:1b

for there is no authority except that which is from God.

For no authority exists except authority that God gives,
because all authority comes from God.

for: Here this word introduces a reason for submitting to governing authorities.

there is no authority except that which is from God: The words there is introduce something that exists. No authority exists except (authority that comes) from God. Some languages cannot introduce such things with there is. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

no authority exists without God giving it

all authority comes from God (NLT)

Only God can give authority to anyone (CEV)

13:1c

The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

and the authority that exists has been put in place by God.
And God has caused that authority to exist.

The authorities that exist have been appointed by God: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

God has instituted those that exist

The authorities that exist: The Greek is more literally “the existing ones.” It refers to the authorities that Paul mentioned in 13:1a. For example:

the existing authorities (GNT)

This verse is true at any time, not just when Paul wrote it. Your translation should not limit it to only “at that time.”

appointed: This word refers to putting something in its place. In this case it refers to causing the authority to exist. Here are other ways to translate this word:

established (NIV)

put there (GNT)

instituted (ESV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

πᾶσα ψυχὴ ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πάσα ψυχή ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω οὒ γάρ ἐστίν ἐξουσία εἰ μή ὑπό Θεοῦ αἱ δέ οὖσαι ὑπό Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Let every soul subject itself to governing authorities] or [Let everyone subject themselves to governing authorities]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

πᾶσα ψυχὴ

Paul uses soul here to refer to the whole life of a person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [every human being]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐξουσίαις & ἐξουσία & οὖσαι

˱to˲_˓the˒_authorities & authority & being

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of authorities and authority, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [to those who are authorized to govern … authorized person … existing ones who are authorized]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐ & ἔστιν ἐξουσία, εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ

If your readers would misunderstand this double negative, you could translate it as a positive statement. Alternate translation: [all authority comes from God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ὑπὸ Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν

the_‹authorities› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πάσα ψυχή ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις ὑποτασσέσθω οὒ γάρ ἐστίν ἐξουσία εἰ μή ὑπό Θεοῦ αἱ δέ οὖσαι ὑπό Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [and God appointed the existing authorities]

Parallel ROM 13:1

Section 13:1–7: Paul taught about government officials/leaders

13:1a

13:1b

13:1c