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Scripture · New Testament

Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1 is verse 1 of Romans chapter 13, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

BSB source and public domain terms

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.

World English Bible

Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.

Read in context

Romans 13:1–3 · Berean Standard Bible

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

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Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Deuteronomy 17:12

But the man who acts presumptuously, refusing to listen either to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, or to the judge, must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Ephesians 5:21

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Titus 3:1

Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

1 Peter 2:13

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

1 Peter 2:14

or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

1 Peter 2:15

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1 Peter 2:16

Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

1 Peter 2:17

Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

2 Peter 2:10

Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.

2 Peter 2:11

Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord.

Jude 1:8

Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.

1 Samuel 2:8

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

1 Chronicles 28:4

Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel.

1 Chronicles 28:5

And of all my sons—for the LORD has given me many sons—He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

Psalms 62:11

God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: that power belongs to God,

Proverbs 8:15

By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;

Proverbs 8:16

By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

Jeremiah 27:5

By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please.

Jeremiah 27:6

So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him.

Jeremiah 27:7

All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him.

Jeremiah 27:8

As for the nation or kingdom that does not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and does not place its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation by sword and famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I have destroyed it by his hand.

Daniel 2:21

He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Daniel 4:32

You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”

Daniel 5:18

As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.

Daniel 5:19

Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.

Daniel 5:20

But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.

Daniel 5:21

He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.

Daniel 5:22

But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this.

Daniel 5:23

Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

John 19:11

Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”

Revelation 1:5

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

Revelation 17:14

They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

Revelation 19:16

And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

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