What Does Romans 13:7 Mean in the King James?
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
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
Fear and honor are counted as dues alongside money, so what you owe cannot be measured in currency alone.
THE MEANING
Your obligations are not all financial: payment, civic charges, fear, and honor are named as distinct dues. What is owed takes its form from the claim and the one it is owed to.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that only money counts as a real obligation dissolves here: fear and honor are also named as dues.
THE ROOT
ὀφειλάς
opheilas
GROWS FROM
ὀφειλ-
opheil-
Owe; be under obligation
“Dues” translates ὀφειλάς (opheilas, obligations owed), from the ὀφειλ- (opheil-, owe) word family. The list places payment, fear, and honor under one grammar of obligation, while directing each to its own recipient.
ALSO GROWS
opheílō: Owe; be obligated
ὀφείλω
This verb shows the root’s basic sense: each item in the verse is something owed.
opheilétēs: Debtor; one who owes
ὀφειλέτης
The same root names a person in relation to an outstanding claim, making “dues” more than a loose request.
ἀπόδοτε
apodote
GROWS FROM
δο-/δω- (do-/dō-)
Give
The command uses ἀπόδοτε (apodote, render or give back), from ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi, repay or return), built on δίδωμι (didōmi, give). Its returning sense pictures what is owed being handed back to its proper recipient.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: Give
δίδωμι
This is the giving root beneath “render,” the basic act the verse directs toward each recipient.
antapodidōmi: Repay in return
ἀνταποδίδωμι
This related form makes the return embedded in “render” especially clear.
τιμήν
timēn
GROWS FROM
τιμ-
tim-
Worth, value, price, honor
The word for “honour,” τιμήν (timēn, honor or value), belongs to a family that also speaks of worth and price. The verse counts honor as something owed, giving it the weight of a real claim.
ALSO GROWS
timaō: Honor; esteem
τιμάω
This verb carries the same root into the act of recognizing someone’s worth.
timios: Valued; precious
τίμιος
This branch makes the root’s connection between honor and worth visible.
THE PATTERN
What is owed takes its form from the claim and the one to whom it is owed.
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.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.Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:THE THREAD
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.Both verses use the τιμ- (tim-, worth and honor) word family for “honour.” Peter distinguishes the recipients in one line, honor toward all, fear toward God, and honor toward the king, opening Romans’ repeated “to whom” as a map of distinct dues.
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