Romans 13:3

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will receive its approval.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οἱ γὰρ ἄρχοντες οὐκ εἰσὶν φόβος τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων, ἀλλὰ τῶν κακῶν. Θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν; τὸ ἀγαθὸν ποίει, καὶ ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς:

Transliteration

The gar archontes not eisin phobos of the agathōn ergōn, but of the kakōn. Theleis de not to phobeisthai the exousian? The agathon poiei, and you will hexeis epainon from her:

Grammar Details

• *gar*: postpositive conjunction - for/because
• *archontes*: nominative, masculine, plural - rulers/authorities
• *eisin*: present indicative, 3rd plural - they are
• *phobos*: nominative, masculine, singular - fear/terror
• *agathōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - good
• *ergōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - works/deeds
• *kakōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - evil/bad
• *Theleis*: present active indicative, 2nd singular - you wish/desire
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and/now
• *phobeisthai*: present middle/passive infinitive - to fear
• *exousian*: accusative, feminine, singular - authority/power
• *agathon*: accusative, neuter, singular - good thing
• *poiei*: present active imperative, 2nd singular - do/practice
• *hexeis*: future active indicative, 2nd singular - you will have
• *epainon*: accusative, masculine, singular - praise/commendation

Word Meanings

• *archontes*: rulers/leaders/authorities/officials
• *phobos*: fear/terror/dread/anxiety
• *agathōn*: good/beneficial/noble
• *ergōn*: works/deeds/actions
• *kakōn*: evil/bad/wrong/harmful
• *Theleis*: you desire/wish/want
• *phobeisthai*: to fear/be afraid of/dread
• *poiei*: do/practice/perform/produce
• *epainon*: praise/commendation/approval

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For rulers are not a terr to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For rulars are not to be feared for good workes but for evyll Wilt thou be with out feare of the power? Do well then: and so shalt thou be praysed of the same.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For rulers are not to be feared for good workes, but for euell. Yf thou wilt be without feare off the power, do well then, and thou shalt haue prayse of the same:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For Magistrates are not to be feared for good workes, but for euill. Wilt thou then bee without feare of the power? doe well: so shalt thou haue praise of the same.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For rulers are not fearefull to good workes, but to the euyll. Wylt thou not feare the power? Do well, and thou shalt haue prayse of the same.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For rulers are not a cause of fear to the good work but to the evil. If you would have no fear of the authority, do good and you will have praise;

• World English Bible (2000)

  For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation

Referenced Verses

• Deut 25:1 : 1 If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court for judgment, the judges shall justify the innocent and condemn the guilty.
• Prov 14:35 : 35 A king delights in a wise servant, but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.
• Prov 20:2 : 2 The roar of a king is like the growl of a young lion; whoever provokes him to anger risks his life.
• Eccl 10:4-6 : 4 If the anger of a ruler rises against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness can lay great offenses to rest. 5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error that proceeds from a ruler: 6 Foolishness is set in high places, while the rich sit in lowly positions.
• Jer 22:15-18 : 15 Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Your father ate and drank, but he practiced justice and righteousness, and it went well with him. 16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and it was well with him. Is this not what it means to know me? declares the LORD. 17 But your eyes and heart are set only on your dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, and on oppression and violence. 18 Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: They will not mourn for him, saying, 'Alas, my brother!' or 'Alas, my sister!' They will not mourn for him, saying, 'Alas, my lord!' or 'Alas, his majesty!'
• Rom 13:4 : 4 For the ruler 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 avenger who carries out wrath on the wrongdoer.
• 1 Pet 3:13-14 : 13 Who then will harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated.
• 1 Pet 2:13-14 : 13 Submit yourselves to every human authority for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish evildoers and to praise those who do good.