Devine Scripture

Romans 13:7

What does Romans 13:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 13:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 13:7 means

Paul generalizes the principle of rightful obligation: give everyone what you owe. That includes taxes (tribute), customs or fees (custom), and the intangible but real debts of respect (fear) and honor (honor). Christians should be exemplary in meeting obligations promptly and sincerely. Rendering fear and honor does not mean flattery or blind allegiance; it means appropriate respect for office and person according to God’s order. This balanced approach keeps believers from stinginess with money or courtesy. Our integrity before God is displayed in how we fulfill both financial and relational dues within the public square.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Give to all what is their right: taxes to him whose they are, payment to him whose right it is, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour is to be given.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

render, therefore, to all <FI>their<Fi> dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Render therefore to all men their dues. Tribute, to whom tribute is due: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom fear: honour, to whom honour.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Render to all their dues: to whom tribute [is due], tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honour, honour.

Context

Verse 7 completes the section on the believer’s duties to civil authorities by summing up financial and honor-related obligations. Having tied submission to God’s design (vv.1–4) and conscience (v.5), and having applied it to taxes (v.6), Paul now broadens it to all rightful dues. This comprehensive close provides a natural hinge to verse 8, where Paul turns from what we owe authorities to the one perpetual debt we always carry toward all people: love. The transition moves from civic responsibilities to the moral heart of the law.

v.6For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.

v.7This passage

v.8Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.

Cross references

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

  • Leviticus 19:3

    Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father; and ye shall keep my sabbaths: I am Jehovah your God.

  • Leviticus 19:32

    Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and thou shalt fear thy God: I am Jehovah.

  • Ephesians 5:33

    Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.

  • 1 Peter 3:7

    Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell withyour wivesaccording to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

  • 1 Timothy 6:1

    Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.

  • Ephesians 6:5

    Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

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