ROM 13:4 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. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. 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=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) because they’re God’s servants for your good. But if you’re doing evil, then you should rightly be afraid because the authorities aren’t armed without reason—they’re God’s servants to dispense severe anger to those doing evil.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT for he is a servant of God to you for the good. But if you do the evil, fear; for he does not carry the sword in vain, for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath on the one practicing the evil.

UST This is because the people whom God authorizes to rule serve God for your benefit. But if you do what is evil, you should be afraid, because God has authorized those people who rule to punish people for a good reason. Indeed, those people who rule serve God by avenging what is evil in order to punish anyone who practices what is evil.

BSB For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

BLB For he is God's servant to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For He is God's servant, an avenger for wrath to the one doing evil.

AICNT for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, an avenger to execute wrath on the one who practices evil.

OEB 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.

WEBBE 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.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET 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.

LSV for it is a servant of God to you for good; and if you may do that which is evil, be fearing, for it does not bear the sword in vain; for it is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.

FBV Those in power are God's servants, put there for your own good. If you do wrong, you should be frightened—it's not without reason that authorities have the power to punish! They are God's servants, punishing offenders.

TCNT For he is God's servant for your good. But if yoʋ do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. As God's servant, he is an avenger who executes wrath on the one who does evil.

T4T It is in order to serve God by doing their work that every official exists, in order that they may benefit each of you. If any of you does what is evil, you (sg) will rightfully have reason to be afraid, because the authority that they have to punish people [MTY] is very real [LIT]! The officials exist to serve God. That is, they act as God’s agents as they punish those who do evil.

LEB 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.

BBE 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.

Moff No Moff ROM book available

Wymth 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.

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.

DRA For he is God’s minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God’s minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth 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.

Drby for it is [fn]God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is [fn]God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.

13.4 Elohim

RV 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.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.
(For he is the minister of God to thee/you for good. But if thou/you 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. )

KJB-1611 For hee is the minister of God to thee for good: but if thou do that which is euill, be afraid: for he beareth not the sword in vaine: for he is the minister of God, a reuenger to execute wrath vpon him that doeth euill.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But yf thou do euyll, feare: For he beareth not the sworde in vayne, for he is the minister of God, reuenger of wrath on hym that doth euyll.
(For he is the minister of God for thy/your wealth. But if thou/you do evil, feare: For he beareth not the sword in vain, for he is the minister of God, revenger of wrath on him that doth evil.)

Gnva For he is ye minister of God for thy wealth, but if thou do euill, feare: for he beareth not the sworde for nought: for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doeth euill.
(For he is ye/you_all minister of God for thy/your wealth, but if thou/you do evil, feare: for he beareth not the sword for naught/nothing: for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doeth evil. )

Cvdl for he is the minister off God for thy wealth. But yff thou do euell, then feare, for he beareth not the swerde for naughte. For he is the mynister of God, a taker of vengeaunce, to punyshe him that doth euell.
(for he is the minister off God for thy/your wealth. But if thou/you do evil, then fear, for he beareth not the sword for naught/nothinge. For he is the minister of God, a taker of vengeaunce, to punyshe him that doth evil.)

TNT For he is the minister of God for thy welth. But and yf thou do evyll then feare: for he beareth not a swearde for nought: but is the minister of God to take vengeaunce on them that do evyll.
(For he is the minister of God for thy/your welth. But and if thou/you do evil then feare: for he beareth not a swearde for naught/nothing: but is the minister of God to take vengeaunce on them that do evil. )

Wycl for he is the mynystre of God to thee in to good. But if thou doist yuel, drede thou; for not with outen cause he berith the swerd, for he is the mynystre of God, vengere in to wraththe to hym that doith yuel.
(for he is the minister of God to thee/you in to good. But if thou/you dost/do evil, dread thou; for not without cause he beareth the sword, for he is the minister of God, vengere in to wraththe to him that doith evil.)

Luth denn sie ist Gottes Dienerin dir zu gut. Tust du aber Böses, so fürchte dich; denn sie trägt das Schwert nicht umsonst; sie ist Gottes Dienerin, eine Rächerin zur Strafe über den, der Böses tut.
(denn they/she/them is God’s Dienerin you/to_you to gut. Tust you but Böses, so fear dich; because they/she/them trägt the sword not umsonst; they/she/them is God’s Dienerin, one Rächerin to Strafe above den, the/of_the Böses tut.)

ClVg Dei enim minister est tibi in bonum. Si autem malum feceris, time: non enim sine causa gladium portat. Dei enim minister est: vindex in iram ei qui malum agit.[fn]
(of_God because minister it_is to_you in bonum. When/But_if however evil feceris, time: not/no because without causa gladium portat. of_God because minister it_is: vindex in iram to_him who evil agit. )

13.4 Dei enim minister. Ideo dati sunt rectores, ne mala fiant. Vindex in iram. Id est, propter iram Dei vindicandam, vel vindex in iram Dei ostendendam; quia hæc punitio indicat persistentes in malo gravius puniendos.

13.4 of_God because minister. Ideo dati are rectores, not evil fiant. Vindex in iram. That it_is, propter iram of_God vindicandam, or vindex in iram of_God ostendendam; because these_things punitio inlet_him_say persistentes in malo gravius puniendos.

UGNT Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ; οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ; Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν, ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι.
(Theou gar diakonos estin soi eis to agathon. ean de to kakon poiaʸs, fobou; ou gar eikaʸ taʸn maⱪairan forei; Theou gar diakonos estin, ekdikos eis orgaʸn tōi to kakon prassonti.)

SBL-GNT θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν σοὶ εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ· θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν, ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι.
(theou gar diakonos estin soi eis to agathon. ean de to kakon poiaʸs, fobou; ou gar eikaʸ taʸn maⱪairan forei; theou gar diakonos estin, ekdikos eis orgaʸn tōi to kakon prassonti.)

TC-GNT Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστί σοι εἰς τὸ ἀγαθόν. Ἐὰν δὲ τὸ κακὸν ποιῇς, φοβοῦ· οὐ γὰρ εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ· Θεοῦ γὰρ διάκονός ἐστιν, [fn]ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι.
(Theou gar diakonos esti soi eis to agathon. Ean de to kakon poiaʸs, fobou; ou gar eikaʸ taʸn maⱪairan forei; Theou gar diakonos estin, ekdikos eis orgaʸn tōi to kakon prassonti. )

13:4 εκδικος εις οργην ¦ εις οργην εκδικος ANT

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

for

The word for indicates that what follows explains what came before this word. Here, for indicates that what follows is the reason why what Paul said in the previous clause is true. Use a natural way in your language for indicating a reason. Alternate translation: [since]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

ἐστιν & οὐ & φορεῖ & ἐστιν

˱he˲_is & not & ˱he˲_/is/_bearing & ˱he˲_is

In this verse the pronoun he refers to a person who rules. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [the ruler is … the ruler does not carry … the ruler is]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

Θεοῦ & διάκονός & τὸ ἀγαθόν & τὸ κακὸν & Θεοῦ & διάκονός & ὀργὴν & τὸ κακὸν

˱of˲_God & /the/_servant & ¬the good & ¬the evil & ˱of˲_God & /a/_servant & wrath & ¬the evil

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of servant, good, evil, and wrath, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [one who serves God … doing good … evil things … one who serves God … what is wrathful … evil things]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

(Occurrence 2) γὰρ

for

The word for indicates that what follows this word explains what came before it. Here, for introduces the reason why what Paul said in the previous clause is true. Use a natural way in your language for indicating a reason. Alternate translation: [since]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐ & εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ

not & vainly the sword ˱he˲_/is/_bearing

Here Paul uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that means the opposite of the intended meaning. If it would be helpful in your language, you can express the meaning positively. Alternate translation: [he carries the sword for a very good reason]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

οὐ & τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ

not & the sword ˱he˲_/is/_bearing

Here, the sword refers to a ruler’s authority to punish wicked people, which could include killing them with a sword. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [he does not have the authority to punish]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

(Occurrence 3) γὰρ

for

The word for indicates that what follows this word explains what came before it. Here, for indicates that what follows in this verse explains what Paul said in the previous clause. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [in fact,]

Note 8 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

εἰς ὀργὴν

for for wrath

Here, for indicates that what follows is the purpose of an avenger. Use the most natural way in your language to indicate a purpose. Alternate translation: [for the purpose of wrath]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὀργὴν

wrath

See how you translated wrath in 1:18.

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὀργὴν τῷ τὸ κακὸν πράσσοντι

wrath ˱to˲_the_‹one› ¬the evil doing

Paul speaks of wrath as if it were an object that could be put on a person. He means that every evil person will experience wrathful punishment. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [wrath that will be experienced by the one who practices the evil]

Parallel ROM 13:4