Romans 2:9
in Romans 2There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;
KJV
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
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This verse in Romans 2
Commentary
13 notes on this verseNote that concerning the Lord's recompense in eternal life he expressed himself differently than concerning what is grievous. "Wrath," he says, "and indignation and tribulation." He did not say: shall be rendered by God, but left the sentence unfinished, so that one might understand: there …
This site's exposition
trouble and distress for every human being who does evil
on Romans 2:9-10
Trouble and distress fall on everyone who does evil. Glory, honor and peace go to everyone who does good. The order is the same in both halves, Jew first, then Greek, the priority of 1:16 carried into judgment.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusINTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS · Written before 458.
proposed
Here Paul uses the word Greek to refer not to Gentile believers but to those who lived before Christ's incarnation.
"Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." That is, if a man be rich, if a consul, if a very sovereign, by none of them is the account of the judgment out-faced. Since in this dignities have no place. Having then shown the exceeding greatness of the disease, and having added the cause, that it was from the carelessness of the disordered, and finally, that destruction awaits them and that amendment is easy, in the punishment also he again gives the Jew the heavier lot. For he that had enjoyed a larger share of instruction would also deserve to undergo a larger share of vengeance if doing lawlessly. And so the wiser or mightier men we are, the more are we punished if we sin. For if thou art rich, thou wilt have more money demanded of thee than of the poor; and if wiser than others, a stricter obedience; and if thou hast been invested with authority, more shining acts of goodness; and so in the case of all the other things, thou wilt have to bring in measures proportioned to your power.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
"But to those who are contentious, and who indeed disbelieve the truth but obey iniquity, wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish." Whoever takes these words simply believes it enough for understanding that, according to what was said above, God renders to each one according to his works: that is, just as to those who by patience in good work seek glory and incorruption he renders eternal life, so also to these who out of contentiousness disbelieve the truth but obey iniquity he renders wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish.
"Tribulation" refers to the punishment which the condemned sinner will suffer. Evil is not just a matter of deeds but of unbelief as well.… Paul always puts the Jew first, whether he is to be praised or blamed, because of his privileged ancestry. If he …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when he says upon every soul, he shows the truth of God's judgment in regard to persons. First, he proposes its equity; second, he assigns the reason for this, at for there is no respect of persons; third, he explains the reason, at for …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Tribulation and anguish,.... These, with the foregoing words, are expressive of the second death, the torments of hell, the worm that never dies, and the fire that is not quenched: which will fall upon every soul of man that doth evil; whose course of life and conversation is evil; for "the soul that sins shall die", Eze 18:4, unless satisfaction is made for his sins by the blood of Christ: of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; regard being had to what nation they belong.
Of the Jew first - Here we have the first express mention of the Jews in this chapter. And it is introduced with great propriety. Their having been trained up in the true religion, and having had Christ and his apostles first sent to them, will place them in the foremost rank of the criminals that obey not the truth.
Every wilful sin is a quarrel with God, it is striving with our Maker ( Isa. xlv. 9 ), the most desperate contention. The Spirit of God strives with sinners ( Gen. vi.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Tribulation - This word commonly denotes affliction, or the situation of being pressed down by a burden, as of trials, calamities, etc.; and hence, to be pressed down by punishment or pain inflicted for sins. As applied to future punishment, it denotes the pressure of the calamities that will come upon the soul as the just reward of sin. And anguish - στενοχωρία stenochōria. This noun is used in but three other places in the New Testament; Rom 8:35; 2Co 6:4; 2Co 12:10. The verb is used in 2Co 4:8; 2Co 6:
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
To them who, &c.--The substance of these verses is that the final judgment will turn upon character alone. by patient continuance in well-doing, &c.--Compare Lu 8:15: "That on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience"; denoting the enduring and progressive character of the new life.
Tribulation and anguish - Misery of all descriptions, without the possibility of escape, will this righteous Judge inflict upon every impenitent sinner. The Jew first, as possessing greater privileges, and having abused greater mercies; and also on the Gentile, who, though he had not the same advantages, had what God saw was sufficient for his state; and, having sinned against them, shall have punishment proportioned to his demerit.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| θλῖψις | thlipsis | tribulation | G2347 → | 44 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| στενοχωρία | stenochoria | distress | G4730 → | |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| πᾶσαν | pasan | every | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ψυχὴν | psuchen | soul | G5590 → | 103 times |
| ἀνθρώπου | anthropou | of man | G444 → | 549 times |
| τοῦ | tou | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατεργαζομένου | katergazomenou | is working | G2716 → | 22 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κακόν, | kakon | evil, | G2556 → | 50 times |
| Ἰουδαίου | ioudaiou | of Jew | G2453 → | 192 times |
| τε | te | both | G5037 → | 213 times |
| πρῶτον | proton | first | G4413 → | 152 times |
| καὶ | kai | and also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Ἕλληνος· | hellenos | of Greek; | G1672 → | 25 times |
θλῖψιςtribulation
thlipsisG2347 →44 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
στενοχωρίαdistress
stenochoriaG4730 →
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
πᾶσανevery
pasanG3956 →1235 times
ψυχὴνsoul
psuchenG5590 →103 times
ἀνθρώπουof man
anthropouG444 →549 times
τοῦwhich
touG3588 →19766 times
κατεργαζομένουis working
katergazomenouG2716 →22 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
κακόν,evil,
kakonG2556 →50 times
Ἰουδαίουof Jew
ioudaiouG2453 →192 times
τεboth
teG5037 →213 times
πρῶτονfirst
protonG4413 →152 times
καὶand also
kaiG2532 →9120 times
Ἕλληνος·of Greek;
hellenosG1672 →25 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 1:16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
it leads to
- Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:16
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
- 2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
- Psalms 40:9–10
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
- Mark 8:38
Through
Ezekiel 18:4Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of…
- Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Ezekiel 18:20
Through
1 Peter 4:17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
it leads to
- Jeremiah 25:29
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword…
- Jeremiah 25:29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
About Romans
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 5; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.