Romans 13 · Verse 6

Romans 13:6

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Romans 13:6, King James Version

Romans 13:6 in other translations

BSBThis is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.
WEBFor this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing.
ASVFor for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.
YLTfor because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually;
DARBYFor on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God's officers, attending continually on this very thing.
BBEFor the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times.
WebsterFor, for this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

What does Romans 13:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 13:6-7
6-7. For, for this cause pay ye--rather, "ye pay" tribute also--that is, "This is the reason why ye pay the contributions requisite for maintaining the civil government." for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing--"to this very thing."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. For this cause. Because they are appointed by God; for the sake of conscience, and in order to secure the execution of the laws. As they are appointed by God, the tribute which is needful for their support becomes an act of homage to God, an act performed in obedience to his will, and acceptable to him.

Tribute also. Not only be subject, (Rom 12:5,) but pay what may be necessary to support the government. Tribute properly denotes the tax, or annual compensation, which was paid by one province or nation to a superior, as the price of protection, or as an acknowledgment of subjection. The Romans made all conquered provinces pay this tribute; and it would become a question whether it was right to acknowledge this claim, and submit to it. Especially would this question be agitated by the Jews and by Jewish Christians. But on the principle which the apostle had laid down, Rom 12:1,20 it was right to do it, and was demanded by the very purposes of government. In a larger sense, the word tribute means any tax paid on land or personal estate for the support of the government.

For they are God's ministers. His servants; or they are appointed by him. As the government is his appointment, we should contribute to its support as a matter of conscience, because we thus do honour to the arrangement of God. It may be observed here, also, that the fact that civil rulers are the ministers of God, invests their character with great sacredness, and should impress upon them the duty of seeking to do his will, as well as on others the duty of submitting to them.

Attending continually. As they attend to this, and devote their time and talents to it, it is proper that they should receive a suitable support. It becomes, then, a duty for the people to contribute cheerfully to the necessary expenses of the government. If those taxes should be unjust and oppressive, yet, like other evils, they are to be submitted to, until a remedy can be found in a proper way.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 For this cause pay ye tribute also - Because civil government is an order of God, and the ministers of state must be at considerable expense in providing for the safety and defense of the community, it is necessary that those in whose behalf these expenses are incurred should defray that expense; and hence nothing can be more reasonable than an impartial and moderate taxation, by which the expenses of the state may be defrayed, and the various officers, whether civil or military, who are employed for the service of the public, be adequately remunerated. All this is just and right, but there is no insinuation in the apostle's words in behalf of an extravagant and oppressive taxation, for the support of unprincipled and unnecessary wars; or the pensioning of corrupt or useless men. The taxes are to be paid for the support of those who are God's ministers - the necessary civil officers, from the king downwards, who are attending Continually on this very thing. And let the reader observe, that by God's ministers are not meant here the ministers of religion, but the civil officers in all departments of the state.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 13:1-7

The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin and corruption…

Read the full comment on Romans 13:1-7 →

Romans 13:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διὰdiaBecause ofG1223
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
γὰρgarforG1063
καὶkaialsoG2532
φόρουςphoroustaxesG5411
τελεῖτε·teleitepay you;G5055
λειτουργοὶleitourgoiservantsG3011
γὰρgarforG1063
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
εἰσινeisinthey areG1510
εἰςeisuponG1519
αὐτὸautothis veryG846
τοῦτοtoutothingG3778
προσκαρτεροῦντες.¶proskarterountesattending continually.G4342

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 13:6

  • Matthew 22:17-21

    Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? …

  • Luke 23:2

    And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

  • Luke 20:21-26

    And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar’s. …

  • Matthew 17:24-27

    And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

  • Mark 12:14-17

    And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:14

    So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

  • Ezra 6:8

    Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.

  • Ezra 4:20

    There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

  • 2 Samuel 8:5

    And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

  • Romans 12:8

    Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • Job 29:7-17

    When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. …

  • Nehemiah 5:4

    There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
pay.
Ezr 4:13,20; 6:8; Ne 5:4; Mt 17:24-27; 22:17-21; Mr 12:14-17
Lu 20:21-26; 23:2
attending.
12:8; Ex 18:13-27; De 1:9-17; 1Sa 7:16,17; 2Sa 8:5; 1Ch 18:14
Job 29:7-17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 13:5

    Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

  • Romans 13:6

    For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

  • Romans 13:7

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

Read all of Romans 13

Romans 13:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque por esto pagáis también los tributos; porque son ministros de Dios que sirven á esto mismo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car c’est pour cela que vous payez aussi les tributs; – car ils sont ministres de Dieu, s’employant constamment à cela même.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn dieserhalb entrichtet ihr auch Steuern; denn sie sind Gottes Beamte, die eben hierzu fortwährend beschäftigt sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ideo enim et tributa præstatis: ministri enim Dei sunt, in hoc ipsum servientes.