What Does Romans 13:6 Mean in the King James?
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word “ministers” makes public duty a form of service to God, and “continually” shows it is sustained work.
THE MEANING
The people who carry public responsibility are named as God’s ministers because they keep attending to this work. Your tribute is placed within that ongoing civic labor, so ordinary payment belongs to an order of service under God.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that public work is inherently outside service to God: the verse calls those who persist in it God’s ministers.
THE ROOT
λειτουργοί
leitourgoi
GROWS FROM
ἔργον
ergon
Work, deed, or task performed.
λειτουργός (leitourgos) is a public-service word built around the idea of a worker. Calling these officials God’s ministers places ongoing civic labor within the language of service.
ALSO GROWS
ergasia: Work, labor, or service.
ἐργασία
It shows the shared emphasis on the labor being carried out.
ergatēs: Worker or laborer.
ἐργάτης
It makes clear that the title points to people doing work, not only holding an office.
προσκαρτεροῦντες
proskarterountes
GROWS FROM
καρτερέω
kartereō
To persist, endure, or remain steadfast.
The word translated “continually” carries the sense of persistent attention, a steady staying with the work. These ministers are characterized by ongoing service, not a single act of duty.
ALSO GROWS
kartereō: To endure or remain steadfast.
καρτερέω
It reveals the persistence underneath the idea of continuing.
proskartereō: To persist in, devote oneself to, or attend continually.
προσκαρτερέω
It is the verb form in this verse and makes the continuing attention explicit.
φόρους
phorous
GROWS FROM
φέρω
pherō
To carry or bear; to bring.
The word for tribute belongs to the language of what is brought or borne as a due. The payment is presented as part of a shared civic order, alongside the officials’ continuing labor.
ALSO GROWS
pherō: To carry, bear, or bring.
φέρω
It is the verb that gives tribute its sense of something brought or borne.
phoreō: To carry or wear.
φορέω
It extends the same carrying sense into an ongoing or customary action.
THE PATTERN
Public authority is portrayed as entrusted service, with its work carried out on behalf of an order larger than the official.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.THE THREAD
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.The same Greek verb translated “attending continually” here appears as “continued” in Acts 1:14. The shared word reveals persistent staying-with as a common thread, though the work in each verse is different.
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