Romans 16 · Verse 19

Romans 16:19

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Romans 16:19, King James Version

Romans 16:19 in other translations

BSBEveryone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.
WEBFor your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.
ASVFor your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil.
YLTfor your obedience did reach to all; I rejoice, therefore, as regards you, and I wish you to be wise, indeed, as to the good, and harmless as to the evil;
DARBYFor your obedience has reached to all. I rejoice therefore as it regards you; but I wish you to be wise as to that which is good, and simple as to evil.
BBEFor all have knowledge of how you do what you are ordered. For this reason I have joy in you, but it is my desire that you may be wise in what is good, and without knowledge of evil.
WebsterFor your obedience is come abroad to all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise to that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

What does Romans 16:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. For your obedience--that is, tractableness is come abroad unto all. I am glad therefore on your behalf--"I rejoice therefore over you," seems the true reading. but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple--"harmless," as in Mt 10:16, from which the warning is taken. concerning--"unto" evil--"Your reputation among the churches for subjection to the teaching ye have received is to me sufficient ground of confidence in you; but ye need the serpent's wisdom to discriminate between transparent truth and plausible error, with that guileless simplicity which instinctively cleaves to the one and rejects the other."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. For your obedience, etc. Rom 1:8. Your mild, obedient disposition to learn, and to obey the precepts of the teachers of religion.

I am glad, etc. I rejoice that you evince such a disposition. But he immediately adds, that this was just the temper to be imposed upon, and cautions them against that danger.

Wise unto that which is good. Evince understanding of that which is adapted to promote good and worthy ends.

Simple concerning evil. Greek, harmless. Not disposed to do wrong; having no plan, and yielding to none of the allurements of evil. You have shown your wisdom in obeying the gospel. I would have you still evince wisdom towards every good design; but to be unacquainted with any plan of evil. Do not yield to those plans, or follow those who would lead you into them.

(a) "abroad unto all men" Rom 1:8 (b) "wise unto that which is good" Mt 10:16 (1) "simple" or, "harmless"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 For your obedience is come abroad - The apostle gives this as a reason why they should continue to hear and heed those who had led them into the path of truth, and avoid those false teachers whose doctrines tended to the subversion of their souls. Yet I would have you wise - I would wish you carefully to discern the good from the evil, and to show your wisdom, by carefully avoiding the one and cleaving to the other.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 16:17-20

How earnest, how endearing are these exhortations! Whatever differs from the sound doctrine of the Scriptures, opens a door to divisions and offences. If truth be forsaken, unity and peace will not last long. Many call Christ, Master and Lord, who are far from serving him. But they serve their carnal, sensual, worldly interests. They corrupt the head by deceiving the heart; perverting the judgments by winding…

Read the full comment on Romans 16:17-20 →

Romans 16:19 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.

ἡhēTheG3588
γὰρgarforG1063
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
ὑπακοὴhupakoēobedienceG5218
εἰςeistoG1519
πάνταςpantasallG3956
ἀφίκετο·aphiketohas reached;G864
ἐφ᾽eph᾽OverG1909
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
οὖνounthereforeG3767
χαίρω.chairōI rejoice.G5463
θέλωthelōI wishG2309
δὲdehoweverG1161
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
σοφοὺςsophouswiseG4680
εἶναιeinaito beG1511
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
ἀγαθὸνagathongoodG18
ἀκεραίουςakeraiousinnocentG185
δὲdehoweverG1161
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
κακόν.kakonevil.G2556

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

Cross references for Romans 16:19

  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:20

    Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

  • Philippians 2:15

    That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

  • James 3:13-18

    Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. …

  • Romans 1:8

    First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

  • Ephesians 5:17

    Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • Philippians 1:9

    And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Psalms 101:2

    I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

  • 2 Timothy 3:15-17

    And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

  • Isaiah 11:2-3

    And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
obedience.
1:8; 1Th 1:8,9
I am.
Eph 1:15-17; Col 1:3-9; 1Th 1:2,3; 3:6-10
yet.
1Ki 3:9-12; Ps 101:2; Isa 11:2,3; Mt 10:16; 1Co 14:20; Eph 1:17,18
Eph 5:17; Php 1:9; Col 1:9; 3:16; 2Ti 3:15-17; Jas 3:13-18
simple. or, harmless.
Lu 10:3; Php 2:15

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

Context

  • Romans 16:18

    For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

  • Romans 16:19

    For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

  • Romans 16:20

    And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Read all of Romans 16

Romans 16:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque vuestra obediencia ha venido á ser notoria á todos; así que me gozo de vosotros; mas quiero que seáis sabios en el bien, y simples en el mal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car votre obéissance est venue à la connaissance de tous. Je me réjouis donc à votre sujet; mais je désire que vous soyez sages quant au bien, et simples quant au mal.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn euer Gehorsam ist zu allen hingelangt. Daher freue ich mich eurethalben; ich will aber, daß ihr weise seid zum Guten, aber einfältig zum Bösen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vestra enim obedientia in omnem locum divulgata est. Gaudeo igitur in vobis. Sed volo vos sapientes esse in bono, et simplices in malo.