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Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject to higher authorities. For there is no authority except from God and those who have been ordained by God.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

In Context

2And so, whoever resists authority, resists what has been ordained by God. And those who resist are acquiring damnation for themselves.

Read all of Romans 13

Cross References

Deuteronomy 17:12But whoever will be arrogant, unwilling to obey the order of the priest who ministers at that time to the Lord your God, and the decree of the judge, that man shall die. And so shall you take away the evil from Israel.

1 Chronicles 28:4Now the Lord God of Israel chose me, out of the entire house of my father, so that I would be king over Israel forever. For from Judah he chose leaders; then from the house of Judah he chose the house of my father; and from the sons of my father, it pleased him to choose me as king over all of Israel.

Proverbs 8:15Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.

Daniel 2:21And he alters the times and the ages. He takes away kingdoms and he establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and teaching skills to those who understand.

Daniel 5:18O king, the Most High God gave to Nebuchadnezzar, your father, a kingdom and greatness, glory and honor.

John 19:11Jesus responded, “You would not have any authority over me, unless it were given to you from above. For this reason, he who has handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Matthew Henry on Romans 13:1

There are three good lessons taught us in this chapter, where the apostle enlarges more upon his precepts than he had done in the foregoing chapter, finding them more needful to be fully pressed. I. A lesson of subjection to lawful authority, ver. 1-6 . II. A lesson of justice and love to our brethren, ver. 7-10 . III. A lesson of sobriety and godliness in ourselves, ver. 11 to the end . Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

King James VersionBíblia Portuguesa MundialLuther Bibel (Deutsch)Bible Louis Segond (Français)Библия (Русский)新标点和合本성경 (한국어)聖書 (日本語)الكتاب المقدس باللغة العربية، فان دايكBiblia TakatifuBibbia Diodati (Italiano)Kinh Thánh (Tiếng Việt)Biblia Cornilescu (Română)

Study Romans 13:1

Matthew HenryJamieson-Fausset-BrownAdam ClarkeAlbert BarnesJohn WesleyJohn CalvinScofieldWilliam BurkittFamily Bible NotesJohn LightfootGeneva Bible Notes (1599)Robertson's Word Pictures
Romans 13Romans 13:2 →