Verse 4

for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.

Referenced Verses

  • 2 Chr 19:6 : 6 and said to the judges, Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah; and [he is] with you in the judgment.
  • Rom 12:19 : 19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God] : for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
  • 1 Thess 4:6 : 6 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
  • Prov 24:23-24 : 23 These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
  • Prov 31:8-9 : 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.
  • Eccl 8:2-5 : 2 I [counsel thee], Keep the king's command, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 For the king's word [hath] power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man's heart discerneth time and judgment:
  • Isa 1:17 : 17 learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
  • Jer 5:28 : 28 They are waxed fat, they shine: yea, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they plead not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
  • Ezek 22:27 : 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, [and] to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.
  • Ezek 25:14 : 14 And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord Jehovah.
  • Mic 3:1-4 : 1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice? 2 ye who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron. 4 Then shall they cry unto Jehovah, but he will not answer them; yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings.
  • Mic 3:9 : 9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor justice, and pervert all equity.
  • Ps 82:2-4 : 2 How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? {{Selah 3 Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and needy: Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
  • Prov 16:14 : 14 The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.
  • Prov 20:2 : 2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
  • Prov 20:8 : 8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
  • Prov 20:26 : 26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing] -wheel over them.
  • Num 35:19-27 : 19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death: when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death. 20 And if he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died, 21 or in enmity smote him with his hand, so that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meeteth him. 22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him anything without lying in wait, 23 or with any stone, whereby a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm; 24 then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances; 25 and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, whither he fleeth, 27 and the avenger of blood find him without the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slay the manslayer; he shall not be guilty of blood,
  • Josh 20:9 : 9 These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person unwittingly might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
  • 1 Kgs 10:9 : 9 Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because Jehovah loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do justice and righteousness.
  • Rom 13:6 : 6 For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God's service, attending continually upon this very thing.
  • Josh 20:5 : 5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unawares, and hated him not beforetime.