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Romans 13

Rom. 13:3 KJV (With Strong’s)

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3
For
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
rulers
archon (Greek #758)
a first (in rank or power)
KJV usage: chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler.
Pronounce: ar'-khone
Origin: present participle of 757
are
eisi (Greek #1526)
they are
KJV usage: agree, are, be, dure, X is, were.
Pronounce: i-see'
Origin: 3d person plural present indicative of 1510
not
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
a terror
phobos (Greek #5401)
alarm or fright
KJV usage: be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.
Pronounce: fob'-os
Origin: from a primary φέβομαι (to be put in fear)
to
ergon (Greek #2041)
toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act
KJV usage: deed, doing, labour, work.
Pronounce: er'-gon
Origin: from a primary (but obsolete) ἔργω (to work)
good
agathos (Greek #18)
"good" (in any sense, often as noun)
KJV usage: benefit, good(-s, things), well. Compare 2570.
Pronounce: ag-ath-os'
Origin: a primary word
works
ergon (Greek #2041)
toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act
KJV usage: deed, doing, labour, work.
Pronounce: er'-gon
Origin: from a primary (but obsolete) ἔργω (to work)
, but
alla (Greek #235)
properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
KJV usage: and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
Pronounce: al-lah'
Origin: neuter plural of 243
to the evil
kakos (Greek #2556)
worthless (intrinsically, such; whereas 4190 properly refers to effects), i.e. (subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious
KJV usage: bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome, wicked.
Pronounce: kak-os'
Origin: apparently a primary word
. Wilt thou
thelo (Greek #2309)
to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas 1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in
KJV usage: desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).
Pronounce: thel'-o
Origin: or ἐθέλω (eth-el'-o), in certain tenses θελέω (thel-eh'-o), and ἐθελέω (eth-el-eh'-o), which are otherwise obsolete apparently strengthened from the alternate form of 138
then
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
not
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
be afraid of
phobeo (Greek #5399)
to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere
KJV usage: be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.
Pronounce: fob-eh'-o
Origin: from 5401
the power
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
exousia (Greek #1849)
privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence
KJV usage: authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
Pronounce: ex-oo-see'-ah
Origin: from 1832 (in the sense of ability)
? do
poieo (Greek #4160)
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
KJV usage: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
Pronounce: poy-eh'-o
Origin: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary
y that which is good
agathos (Greek #18)
"good" (in any sense, often as noun)
KJV usage: benefit, good(-s, things), well. Compare 2570.
Pronounce: ag-ath-os'
Origin: a primary word
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
thou shalt have
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
praise
epainos (Greek #1868)
laudation; concretely, a commendable thing
KJV usage: praise.
Pronounce: ep'-ahee-nos
Origin: from 1909 and the base of 134
of
ek (Greek #1537)
or ἐξ (ex) a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote)
KJV usage: after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
Pronounce: ek
the same
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
:
y
1 Peter 2:14• 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:14)

More on:

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Power

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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rulers.
Rom. 13:4• 4For 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. (Rom. 13:4)
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Deut. 25:1• 1If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. (Deut. 25:1)
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Prov. 14:35• 35The king's favor is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. (Prov. 14:35)
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Prov. 20:2• 2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. (Prov. 20:2)
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Eccl. 10:4‑6• 4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. (Eccl. 10:4‑6)
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Jer. 22:15‑18• 15Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
 16He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord.
 17But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
 18Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory! (Jer. 22:15‑18)
Wilt.
1 Peter 2:13‑14• 13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:13‑14)
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1 Peter 3:13‑14• 13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
 14But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (1 Peter 3:13‑14)
• {v.3-4} Generally, they are in place in the governments in various lands to protect the citizens of the state. (“Practical Righteousness Toward the Civil Authorities: Romans 13” by B. Anstey)

J. N. Darby Translation

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3
For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil one. Dost thou desire then not to be afraid of the authority? practise what is good, and thou shalt have praise from it;

W. Kelly Translation

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3
For the rulers are no terror for the good work but for the evila. And dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? Practice good and thou shalt have praise for it;

WK Translation Notes

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a
So it is in the oldest MSS. instead of the common reading.