Romans 8:38

New Living Translation

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
I'm plumb certain that neither livin' nor dyin', neither the angels from heaven nor the boogers from brush, neither the right now's nor the will be's, nor any force on earth or heaven can get in the way of God lovin' us.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Legacy Standard Bible
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Bible in Basic English
For I am certain that not death, or life, or angels, or rulers, or things present, or things to come, or powers,

Darby Translation
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Christian Standard Bible®
For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers,

World English Bible
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,

Weymouth's New Testament
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither the lower ranks of evil angels nor the higher, neither things present nor things future, nor the forces of nature,

King James Version (1611)
For I am perswaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Literal Translation
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For sure I am, that nether death ner life, nether angell, ner rule, nether power, nether thinges present, nether thinges to come,

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I am fully persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Amplified Bible
For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,

American Standard Version
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Revised Standard Version
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ye and I am sure that nether deeth nether lyfe nether angels nor rule nether power nether thinges present nether thinges to come

Update Bible Version
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Webster's Bible Translation
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Young's Literal Translation
for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor messengers, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,

New Century Version
Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers,

New English Translation
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Berean Standard Bible
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

Contemporary English Version
I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future,

Complete Jewish Bible
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming,

English Standard Version
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I am perswaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

George Lamsa Translation
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor empires, nor armies, nor things present, nor things to come,

Hebrew Names Version
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

International Standard Version
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,Ephesians 1:21; 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor authorities, nor powers, nor things subsisting, nor things to come,

Murdock Translation
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

New King James Version
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

New Life Bible
For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot!

English Revised Version
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

New Revised Standard
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For I am persuaded that - neither death nor life, nor messengers nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might,

King James Version
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Lexham English Bible
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I am sure, that neither death, neither lyfe, neither angels, nor rule, neither power, neither thynges present, neither thynges to come,

Easy-to-Read Version
Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New American Standard Bible
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

Good News Translation
For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But Y am certeyn, that nethir deeth, nether lijf, nether aungels, nethir principatus, nether vertues, nether present thingis, nether thingis to comynge, nether strengthe,

Contextual Overview

³¹ What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else? ³³ Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. ³⁴ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us. ³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.") ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

For I: Romans 4:21, 2 Corinthians 4:13, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 11:13

that: Romans 14:8, John 10:28, 1 Corinthians 3:22, 1 Corinthians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, 2 Corinthians 5:4-8, Philippians 1:20-23

nor: 2 Corinthians 11:14, Ephesians 1:21, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:16, Colossians 2:15, 1 Peter 3:22, 1 Peter 5:8-10

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:20 - I cannot Job 5:23 - thou Job 13:15 - he slay me Psalms 94:14 - For John 11:25 - he that Ephesians 3:10 - principalities 2 Timothy 1:5 - I am 1 John 3:19 - assure

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I am persuaded,.... These words with the following, express the strong persuasion, and full assurance of faith the apostle had, that nothing whatever could separate him and the rest of God's people, from his love towards them in Christ Jesus. This persuasion not only regards himself, but others; and is not conjectural, but certain; and which did not arise from any special and extraordinary revelation, but is founded upon the nature of the love of God itself, the security of it in Christ, and of the persons of God's elect in him; upon eternal predestination, and the unalterable purposes of God; upon the promise and oath of God; upon adoption, and the gracious witnessings, assistances, and inhabitation of the Spirit; and is greatly increased by the consideration of the death, resurrection, and intercession of Christ. The things enumerated, which are not able to separate from the love of God, are as follow:

death; death separates men from the world, their worldly habitations and substance; it separates the soul from the body, and one friend from another; and in process of time, may take off all thoughts and affections for departed friends, but it is not able to separate from the love of God; it is so far from it, that it lets the soul into the fullest enjoyment of it: and as corporeal death, so no other kind of death can do it; for if the death of the body cannot, the death of afflictions never can; and as for a moral or spiritual death, and an eternal one, these shall never befall the children of God:

nor life; this natural and temporal life, which is frail and mortal; the love of God is better than this life, and this itself is the effect of divine favour; wherefore this can never separate from the love of God, nor anything in it: the life of believers is indeed filled up with troubles and exercises, and attended with much imperfection and sin; but nothing does, or can alienate the affections of God from his children; for though he exercises them with the trials of life, and chastises them for their sins, yet his loving kindness be does not take away from them:

nor angels; by whom are meant evil angels, the devils; for as for good angels, they never attempt to separate God and his people; they rejoice at their good, minister to them, are their guardians whilst here, at death they carry their souls to heaven, and at the last day will gather all the elect together; but evil angels do endeavour it, by temptations to sin, and accusations for it; by stirring up heresies and persecutions, in order to destroy them, but cannot succeed; for the saints are upon God's heart, are in Christ's hands, and on him the rock; and the Spirit of God is in them, who is greater than he that is in the world:

nor principalities: civil magistrates; who though they may separate them from their company, and cast them out as evil; may separate them in prisons one from another; and separate soul and body, by killing the latter, which is all they can do; yet they cannot separate neither soul nor body from the love of God: the Jews often say, that if all the nations of the world were gathered together, they could not extinguish n or cause to cease o, or take away the love which is between God and his people Israel p:

nor powers; either the same with the former; or false teachers who had the power of working miracles in confirmation of their doctrines, by which they deceived many; and if it had been possible, would have deceived the elect of God, but that was impossible:

nor things present; present evils, the afflictions of the present life; God does not cease to love when he afflicts his people; yea, afflictions spring from his love, and in them he afresh manifests his love to them; they are overruled for their good, and issue in eternal glory. Present temptations also may be meant. The best of saints have been exposed unto them; Christ himself was not exempted from them; these do not, nor cannot separate from the love of God; which is manifest from the regard which God and Christ have to tempted ones, by sympathizing with them, supporting and succouring of them, rebuking the tempter, and delivering from them. Present desertions, or the hidings of God's face, which often is the case of his dear children, can have no such effect; their relation to God still continues; they have great nearness unto him, are engraven on the palms of his hands, are set as a seal on his heart, and he bears a strong affection to them; though, for wise reasons, he is pleased for a moment to hide himself from them: yea, the present body of sin and death saints carry about with them in this life, cannot separate them; sin has separated the angels from God, who rebelled against him; it drove Adam out of the garden of Eden, and will exclude the wicked from the divine presence to all eternity; and it often separates between God and his own people, with respect to communion, but never with respect to union to him, or interest in him; for he knew what they would be when he set his love upon them; his love broke through all the corruptions of nature and sins of life in their conversion; and appears to continue the same from the strong expressions of his grace to them, notwithstanding all their backslidings; could sin separate in this sense, no one would remain the object of his love. Now this does not suppose that God loves sin, nor does it give any encouragement to it; for though it cannot separate from interest in God, yet it does from the enjoyment of him. Again, present good things may be designed, the good things of this life, temporal enjoyments; these are given in love; and though they may be but few, they are in mercy, and with a blessing; and the great mercy of all is, that these are not their all, nor do they take off their value and esteem for the love of God, which is better to them than all the things of life; and though "the prosperity of fools shall destroy them", Proverbs 1:32, the prosperity of the saints shall never be their ruin:

nor things to come; whether good or bad, prosperous or adverse; more afflictions, fresh difficulties with the body of sin; an hour of temptation, and time of distress that is to come upon all the earth; or the evil days of old age; God will never leave, nor forsake his people, or cause his loving kindness to depart from them, in whatsoever state or condition they may come into: the Vulgate Latin version adds, "nor fortitude"; and the Ethiopic version, "nor powers"; and one copy adds it in the beginning of Romans 8:39, "nor power".

n Targum in Cant. viii. 7. o Shemot Rabba, sect. 49. fol. 144. 1. p Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 179. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I am persuaded - I have a strong and unwavering confidence. Latin Vulgate, “I am certain.” The expression here implies unwavering certainty.

Neither death - Neither the fear of death, nor all the pains and tortures of the dying scene, even in the most painful trials of persecution; death in no form.

Nor life - Nor the hope of life; the love of life; the offer of life made to us by our persecutors, on condition of abjuring our Christian faith. The words evidently refer to times of persecution; and it was not uncommon for persecutors to offer life to Christians, on condition of their renouncing attachment to the Saviour, and offering sacrifice to idols. All that was demanded in the times of persecution under the Roman emperors was, that they should throw a few grains of incense on the altar of a pagan god, as expressive of homage to the idol. But even this they would not do. The hope of life on so very easy terms would not, could not alienate them from the love of Christ.

Nor angels - It seems to be apparent that “good angels” cannot be intended here. The apostle was saying that nothing would separate Christians from the love of Christ. Of course, it would be implied that the things which he specifies might be supposed to have some power or tendency to do it. But it is not conceivable that good angels, who are “sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” Hebrews 1:14, should seek to alienate the minds of Christians from the Saviour, or that their influence should have any such tendency. It seems to be clear, therefore, that he refers to the designs and temptations of evil spirits. The word “angels” is applied to evil spirits in Matthew 25:41; 1 Corinthians 6:3.

Nor principalities - (ἀρχαὶ archai). This word usually refers to magistrates and civil rulers. But it is also applied to evil angels, as having dominion over people; Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle against ...principalities;” Colossians 2:15, “And having spoiled principalities:” 1 Corinthians 15:24, “When he shall have put down all rule;” Greek, ἀρχήν archēn. Some have supposed that it refers here to magistrates and those in authority who persecuted Christians; but the connection of the word with angels seems to require us to understand it of evil spirits.

Nor powers - This word δυνάμεις dunameis is often applied to magistrates; but it is also applied to evil spirits that have dominion over men; 1 Corinthians 15:24. The ancient Rabbis also give the name powers to evil angels. (Schleusner.) There can be no doubt that the Jews were accustomed to divide the angels of heaven into various ranks and orders, traces of which custom we find often in the Scriptures. And there is also reason to suppose that they made such a division with reference to evil angels, regarding Satan as their leader, and other evil spirits, divided into various ranks, as subordinate to him; see Matthew 25:41; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 2:15. To such a division there is probably reference here; and the meaning is, that no order of evil angels, however powerful, artful, or numerous, would be able to alienate the hearts of Christians from their Redeemer.

Nor things present - Calamities and persecutions to which we are now subject.

Nor things to come - Trials to which we may be yet exposed. It evinced strong confidence to say that no possible trials should be sufficient to destroy their love for Christ.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 38. For I am persuaded — After the blessed experience we have had of support by the grace and Spirit of him that loved us, that neither fear of death, nor hope of life, nor evil angels, nor principalities, nor powers, persecuting us for Christ's sake; nor the things we endure at present, nor the things to come, whatever tribulation we may be called to suffer in future;