Devine Scripture

Romans 13:11

What does Romans 13:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 13:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 13:11 means

Paul adds urgency: know the time. It is already the hour to wake from spiritual sleep, because salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. He points to the forward-looking aspect of salvation—the final consummation of what God began in us. Every day brings us closer to that day, so indifference is out of place. Wakefulness means moral alertness, readiness to act in love and holiness. The verse bridges doctrine and conduct: hope in the nearing salvation fuels present obedience. Christians are people of the dawning day, not the fading night, and should live with that horizon in view.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when wefirstbelieved.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when wefirstbelieved.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And this, knowing the time, that for us, the hour already <FI>is<Fi> to be aroused out of sleep, for now nearer <FI>is<Fi> our salvation than when we did believe;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And that, knowing the season, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

This also, knowing the time, that it is already time that we should be aroused out of sleep; for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Context

With love established as the fulfillment of the law (v.10), verse 11 changes tone to stress the hour’s urgency. This sets the backdrop for the day-night contrast in verse 12 and the specific behaviors to cast off in verse 13. The logic is: because love defines true obedience, and because the consummation of our salvation draws closer, we must awaken and live accordingly. The next verses will develop this with the imagery of armor and clothing, culminating in the call to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (v.14).

v.10Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.

v.11This passage

v.12The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 22:12

    Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.

  • Matthew 25:5

    Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

  • Matthew 26:40

    And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

  • 1 Corinthians 15:34

    Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:29

    But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

  • Luke 21:28

    But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

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