SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:7
¶ Pagad a todos lo que debis; al que tributo, tributo; al que impuesto, impuesto; al que temor, temor; al que honra, honra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 13:7
Verse 7. Render therefore to all their dues] This is an extensive command. Be rigidly just; withhold neither from the king nor his ministers, nor his officers of justice and revenue, nor from even the lowest of the community, what the laws of God and your country require you to pay. Tribute to whom tribute] foron? This word probably means such taxes as were levied on persons and estates.
Custom to whom custom] telov? This word probably means such duties as were laid upon goods, merchandise, &c., on imports and exports; what we commonly call custom. Kypke on this place has quoted some good authorities for the above distinction and signification. Both the words occur in the following quotation from Strabo: anagkh gar meiousqai ta telh, forwn epiballomenwn? It is necessary to lessen the CUSTOMS, if TAXES be imposed. Strabo, lib. ii., page 307. See several other examples in Kypke.
Fear to whom fear] It is likely that the word fobon, which we translate fear, signifies that reverence which produces obedience. Treat all official characters with respect, and be obedient to your superiors.
Honour to whom honour.] The word timhn may here mean that outward respect which the principle reverence, from which it springs, will generally produce. Never behave rudely to any person; but behave respectfully to men in office: if you cannot even respect the man-for an important office may be filled by an unworthy person-respect the office, and the man on account of his office. If a man habituate himself to disrespect official characters, he will soon find himself disposed to pay little respect or obedience to the laws themselves.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. Render therefore to all their dues , etc..] To all princes, magistrates, and officers, that are placed over us, from the supreme governor to the lowest officer under him, should we render as a due debt, and not as a mere gift, whatever belongs to them, or is proper for them for the due discharge of their office, to encourage in it, and support the dignity of it, whether external or internal: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom . These two words include all sorts of levies, taxes, subsidies, etc.. and the former may particularly design what is laid on men's persons and estates, as poll money, land tax, etc.. and the latter, what arises from the exportation and importation of goods, to and from foreign parts: fear to whom fear ; not of punishment; for a good subject has no reason to fear the civil magistrate in this sense, only the man that does evil, the malefactor; as for the good neighbour, citizen, and subject, he loves the magistrate the more, the more diligent he is in putting the laws in execution against wicked men; but this is to be understood of a fear of offending, and especially of a reverence bore in the mind, and expressed by outward actions, and such as has going with it a cheerful obedience to all lawful commands: honour to whom honour ; there is an honour due to all men, according to their respective rank and station, and the relation they stand in to each other; so servants are to honour their masters, children their parents, wives their husbands, and subjects their princes; all inferior magistrates are to be honoured in their place, and more especially the king as supreme, in thought, word, and gesture; (see 1 Peter 2:17).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where prid and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the genera course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, an good subjects, but to evil-doers. Such is the power of sin an corruption, that many will be kept back from crimes only by the fear of punishment. Thou hast the benefit of the government, therefore do what thou canst to preserve it, and nothing to disturb it. This direct private persons to behave quietly and peaceably where God has set them 1Ti 2:1, 2. Christians must not use any trick or fraud. All smuggling dealing in contraband goods, withholding or evading duties, in rebellion against the express command of God. Thus honest neighbour are robbed, who will have to pay the more; and the crimes of smugglers and others who join with them, are abetted. It is painful that some professors of the gospel should countenance such dishonest practices The lesson here taught it becomes all Christians to learn and practise that the godly in the land will always be found the quiet and the peaceable in the land, whatever others are.
Greek Textus Receptus
αποδοτε 591 5628 V-2AAM-2P ουν 3767 CONJ πασιν 3956 A-DPM τας 3588 T-APF οφειλας 3782 N-APF τω 3588 T-DSM τον 3588 T-ASM φορον 5411 N-ASM τον 3588 T-ASM φορον 5411 N-ASM τω 3588 T-DSM το 3588 T-ASN τελος 5056 N-ASN το 3588 T-ASN τελος 5056 N-ASN τω 3588 T-DSM τον 3588 T-ASM φοβον 5401 N-ASM τον 3588 T-ASM φοβον 5401 N-ASM τω 3588 T-DSM την 3588 T-ASF τιμην 5092 N-ASF την 3588 T-ASF τιμην 5092 N-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. To all. Probably all magistrates, though some explain all men.Tribute - custom (foron - telov). Tribute on persons: custom on goods.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:7 {Dues} (opheilas). Debts, from ofeilw, to owe. Often so in the papyri, though not in Greek authors. In N.T. only here, #Mt 18:32; 1Co 7:3. Paying debts needs emphasis today, even for ministers. {To whom tribute is due} (twi ton foron). We must supply a participle with the article t"i like apaitounti ("to the one asking tribute"). So with the other words (to whom custom, t"i to telos apaitounti; to whom fear, t"i ton fobon apaitounti; to whom honor, t"i tn timn apaitounti). Phoros is the tribute paid to a subject nation (#Lu 20:22), while telos is tax for support of civil government (#Mt 17:25).
