1 Peter 2:13

Mace New Testament

and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king,

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

Simplified Cowboy Version
If you want to honor the Lord, do what those in authority on earth tell you to do. I don't care if he is a king, a governor,

Bible in Basic English
Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all,

Darby Translation
Be in subjection [therefore] to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to [the] king as supreme,

World English Bible
Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, Or to governors,

Weymouth's New Testament
Submit, for the Lord's sake, to every authority set up by man, whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler,

King James Version (1611)
Submit your selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lordes sake, whether it be to the King, as supreme,

Literal Translation
Then be in obedience to every creation of men because of the Lord; whether to a king, as being supreme;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Submytte youre selues vnto all maner ordinaunce of men for the LORDES sake: whether it be vnto the kynge as vnto ye chefe heade,

THE MESSAGE
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

Amplified Bible
Submit yourselves to [the authority of] every human institution for the sake of the Lord [to honor His name], whether it is to a king as one in a position of power,

American Standard Version
Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

Revised Standard Version
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Submit youre selves vnto all manner ordinaunce of man for the lordes sake whether it be vnto the kynge as vnto the chefe heed:

Update Bible Version
Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

Webster's Bible Translation
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

Young's Literal Translation
Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

New Century Version
For the Lord's sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world: the king, who is the highest authority,

New English Translation
Be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as supreme

Berean Standard Bible
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,

Contemporary English Version
The Lord wants you to obey all human authorities, especially the Emperor, who rules over everyone.

Complete Jewish Bible
For the sake of the Lord, submit yourselves to every human authority — whether to the emperor as being supreme,

English Standard Version
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore submit your selues vnto all maner ordinance of man for the Lordes sake, whether it be vnto the King, as vnto the superiour,

George Lamsa Translation
Submit yourselves to all human authority for God''s sake: whether it be to kings, because of their power,

Christian Standard Bible®
Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

International Standard Version
For the Lord's sake submit yourselves to every human authority: whether to the king as supreme,Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And be subject to all men for the sake of Aloha: to kings, on account of their authority;

Murdock Translation
And be ye submissive to all the sons of men, for God's sake; to kings, on account of their authority;

New King James Version
Romans 13:1-5">[xr] Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,

New Living Translation
For the Lord's sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state,

New Life Bible
Obey the head leader of the country and all other leaders over you. This pleases the Lord.

English Revised Version
Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

New Revised Standard
For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Submit yourselves unto every human creation, for the Lord's sake, - whether unto a king, as one that protecteth,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling,

King James Version
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

Lexham English Bible
Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king as having supreme authority,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Submit your selues therfore vnto al maner ordinaunce of ma for the Lordes sake: whether it be vnto the king, as hauyng the preeminence:

Easy-to-Read Version
Be willing to serve the people who have authority in this world. Do this for the Lord. Obey the king, the highest authority.

New American Standard Bible
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

Good News Translation
For the sake of the Lord submit yourselves to every human authority: to the Emperor, who is the supreme authority,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Be ye suget to ech creature, for God; ethir to the kyng, as to hym that is hiyer in state,

Contextual Overview

¹³ and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king, ¹⁴ as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill, ¹⁵ and to encourage those who do well. for such is the divine pleasure, that by your good conduct you obviate the cavils of inconsiderate ¹⁶ men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants ¹⁷ of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king. ¹⁸ You that are servants, be subject to your masters with all reverence: not only to such as are kind and gentle, ¹⁹ but even to the morose. for it is a recommendation to the divine favour, to suffer unjust persecution ²⁰ from a principle of conscience. what glory is there in suffering corporal punishment for real offences? but if you meet with ill usage for doing your duty, and bear it with constancy, ²¹ this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us, ²² leaving an example for your exact imitation, he who never offended, and from whose lips no fallacy was ever utter'd,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 17:11, Proverbs 24:21, Jeremiah 29:7, Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25, Romans 13:1-7, Ephesians 5:21, 1 Timothy 2:1, 1 Timothy 2:2, Titus 3:1, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8 -10

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:12 - General Deuteronomy 17:11 - According to Joshua 1:16 - General 1 Samuel 10:25 - General 2 Chronicles 19:5 - General Ezra 4:12 - rebellious Nehemiah 6:6 - It is reported Ecclesiastes 8:2 - I counsel Matthew 6:18 - appear Luke 21:12 - for Romans 13:2 - ordinance Romans 13:3 - Wilt Romans 13:5 - ye Ephesians 6:1 - in Colossians 3:23 - as James 4:7 - Submit

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man,.... Or, "to every human creation", or "creature"; not to "all the sons of men", as the Syriac version renders it; or to all the individuals of mankind; for there are some that are in such stations and circumstances, that they are not to be submitted to, but to be ruled over, and governed: so kings are not to submit to their subjects, nor are parents to be subject to their children, nor husbands to their wives, nor masters to their servants, which would be preposterous; but submission is limited and restrained to persons in such a place and situation: "the human creature", or "creation", here designs the Gentiles, who are elsewhere called the creature, the whole creation, every creature, and every creature under heaven, Romans 8:19 and particularly Heathen magistrates, styled creation, or creature: not as men, for all men, as such, are creatures; but as magistrates, being created, constituted, and appointed such, and installed into, and invested with such an office: and "human"; not only because they were men, and were taken out from among men that bore the office of magistrates, and governed over men, and were for the good and advantage of mankind, but because they were created and placed in such a station by men; though government itself is of God, is a divine institution, yet this and that particular form of government is of man; and especially the forms of government among the Gentiles were human; and are here so called, in distinction from the form of government among the Jews, which was a theocracy, and was divine; wherefore the Jews, and so these converted ones, scrupled yielding obedience to Heathen magistrates; on which account they were spoken against, as evildoers; hence the apostle, in the first place, and as a principal part of their honest conversation among the Gentiles, exhorts them to submission to civil magistrates, though they were creatures of men; and to everyone of them, though a Gentile, an unbeliever, and a wicked man: and this he urges,

for the Lord's sake; for the sake of Christ Jesus the Lord, because of his command, who ordered to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and in imitation of him, who paid tribute to whom tribute was due; and for the sake of his honour and glory, who was ill thought and spoken of by the Gentiles, because of the disregard of the converted Jews to their magistrates; and which served to prejudice them against Christ and his Gospel: the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read, "for God's sake"; because civil government is of God; magistracy is of divine appointment; the powers that he are ordained of God, though this or the other form is of man's prescription: it is the command of God that magistrates should be obeyed; and it makes for his glory, as well as for the good of men, when they are submitted to in things that do not contradict the revealed will of God; for otherwise, not man, but God, is to be obeyed:

whether it be to the king; to Caesar, the Roman emperor; and the then reigning one seems to be Nero, who, though a wicked man, was to be submitted to in things civil and lawful; and it holds good of any other king that has the supreme government of a nation: the Syriac version reads it in the plural number, "to kings"; and though the name of king was odious to the Romans, from the times of Tarquin, nor did they call their chief governor, or governors, by this name, yet other nations did; see John 19:15 and subjection was to be yielded to him, "as supreme"; for the sake, and in consideration of his being in so high and exalted a station, having the supreme power and government of the people in his hands. The Syriac version renders it, "because of their power"; and the Arabic version, "because of his power"; and the Ethiopic version, "because all things are his"; the Roman emperors were absolute monarchs; see Romans 13:1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man - Greek, “to every creation of man,” (ἀνθρωπίνῃ κτίσει anthrōpinē ktisei The meaning is, to every institution or appointment of man; to wit, of those who are in authority, or who are appointed to administer government. The laws, institutes, and appointments of such a government may be spoken of as the creation of man; that is, as what man makes. Of course, what is here said must be understood with the limitation everywhere implied, that what is ordained by those in authority is not contrary to the law of God. See the notes at Acts 4:19. On the general duty here enjoined of subjection to civil authority, see the notes at Romans 13:1-7.

For the Lord’s sake - Because he has required it, and has entrusted this power to civil rulers. See the notes at Romans 13:5. Compare the notes at Ephesians 6:7.

Whether it be to the king - It has been commonly supposed that there is reference here to the Roman emperor, who might be called king, because in him the supreme power resided. The common title of the Roman sovereign was, as used by the Greek writers, ᾀυτοκράτωρ autokratōr, and among the Romans themselves, “imperator,” (emperor;) but the title king was also given to the sovereign. John 19:15, “we have no king but Cesar.” Acts 17:7, “and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” Peter undoubtedly had particular reference to the Roman emperors, but he uses a general term, which would be applicable to all in whom the supreme power resided, and the injunction here would require submission to such authority, by whatever name it might be called. The meaning is, that we are to be subject to that authority whether exercised by the sovereign in person, or by those who are appointed by him.

As supreme - Not supreme in the sense of being superior to God, or not being subject to him, but in the sense of being over all subordinate officers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man — In every settled state, and under every form of political government, where the laws are not in opposition to the laws of God, it may be very soundly and rationally said: "Genuine Christians have nothing to do with the laws but to obey them." Society and civil security are in a most dangerous state when the people take it into their heads that they have a right to remodel and change the laws. See the whole of this subject fully handled in the notes on "Romans 13:1", c., to which I beg every reader, who may wish to know the political sentiments of this work, to have recourse.

The words παση ανθρωπινη κτισει literally signify, not every ordinance of man, but every human creature yet κτιζειν signifies sometimes to arrange, order, as well as to create, and therefore our translation may do: but as the apostle is evidently speaking here of magistracy, or legislative authority, and as the appointment of magistrates was termed a creating of them, it is better to understand the words thus, All the constituted authorities. So, Decem tribunos plebis per pontificem creaverunt; Cor. Nep. "They created ten tribunes of the plebeians, by the high priest." Carthagine quotannis annui bini reges creabantur; Caesar. "They created two kings every year at Carthage." Consules creantur Caesar et Servilius; Sallust. "Caesar and Servilius are created consuls." Creare ducem gerendo bello. "To create a general to conduct the war." The meaning of St. Peter appears to be this: the Jews thought it unlawful to obey any ruler that was not of their own stock; the apostle tells them they should obey the civil magistrate, let him be of what stock he may, whether a Jew or a Gentile, and let him exercise the government in whatsoever form. This is the general proposition: and then he instances emperors and their deputies; and, far from its being unlawful for them to obey a heathen magistrate, they were to do it for the Lord's sake, δια τον κυριον, on account of the Lord, whose will it was, and who commanded it.