Romans 2:4
New International Version
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

New Living Translation
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

English Standard Version
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Berean Standard Bible
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

Berean Literal Bible
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

King James Bible
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

New King James Version
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

New American Standard Bible
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

NASB 1995
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

NASB 1977
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Legacy Standard Bible
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Amplified Bible
Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?

Christian Standard Bible
Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

American Standard Version
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Contemporary English Version
You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?

English Revised Version
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do you have contempt for God, who is very kind to you, puts up with you, and deals patiently with you? Don't you realize that it is God's kindness that is trying to lead you to him and change the way you think and act?

Good News Translation
Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.

International Standard Version
Or are you unaware of his rich kindness, forbearance, and patience, that it is God's kindness that is leading you to repent?

Majority Standard Bible
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

NET Bible
Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God's kindness leads you to repentance?

New Heart English Bible
Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Webster's Bible Translation
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Weymouth New Testament
Or is it that you think slightingly of His infinite goodness, forbearance and patience, unaware that the goodness of God is gently drawing you to repentance?

World English Bible
Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Or the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, do you despise, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to conversion?

Berean Literal Bible
Or do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Young's Literal Translation
or the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, dost thou despise? -- not knowing that the goodness of God doth lead thee to reformation!

Smith's Literal Translation
Or the abundance of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering dost thou despise; not knowing that the goodness of God brings thee to repentance?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and patience, and longsuffering? Knowest thou not, that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and patience and forbearance? Do you not know that the kindness of God is calling you to repentance?

New American Bible
Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance?

New Revised Standard Version
Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Do you stand against the riches of his goodness and forbearance, and the opportunity which he has given you, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Or do you presume upon the wealth of his sweetness and upon his patience and upon the place that he gave to you, and do not know that the sweetness of God brings conversion to you?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Or, do you despise the riches of his goodness, and his forbearance, and his long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Godbey New Testament
Do you look with contempt upon the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God is leading you to repentance?

Haweis New Testament
Or despisest thou the riches of his kindness and patience and long-suffering, ignorant that this goodness of God is leading thee to repentance?

Mace New Testament
or do you despise the riches of his kindness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not considering that the kindness of God invites you to repentance?

Weymouth New Testament
Or is it that you think slightingly of His infinite goodness, forbearance and patience, unaware that the goodness of God is gently drawing you to repentance?

Worrell New Testament
Or, do you despise the riches of His kindness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God is leading you to repentance?

Worsley New Testament
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Righteous Judgment
3So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? 5But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.…

Cross References
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, / He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Exodus 34:6
Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

Isaiah 30:18
Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

Joel 2:13
So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.

Ephesians 1:7-8
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace / that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

1 Timothy 1:16
But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

Luke 6:35-36
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. / Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

2 Corinthians 6:1-2
As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. / For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.

Psalm 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.


Treasury of Scripture

Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

despisest.

Romans 6:1,15
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? …

Psalm 10:11
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

riches.

Romans 9:23
And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

forbearance.

Romans 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Romans 9:22
What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Exodus 34:6
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

goodness.

Job 33:27-30
He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; …

Psalm 130:3,4
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? …

Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Jump to Previous
Change Contempt Desire Despise Despisest Drawing Forbearance Gently God's Goodness Heart Infinite Kindness Leads Long-Suffering Meant Patience Pity Presume Putting Repentance Riches Show Slightingly Think Tolerance Unaware Waiting
Jump to Next
Change Contempt Desire Despise Despisest Drawing Forbearance Gently God's Goodness Heart Infinite Kindness Leads Long-Suffering Meant Patience Pity Presume Putting Repentance Riches Show Slightingly Think Tolerance Unaware Waiting
Romans 2
1. No excuse for sin.
6. No escape from judgment.
14. Gentiles cannot;
17. nor Jews.














Or do you disregard
The phrase "Or do you disregard" challenges the reader to self-reflection. The Greek word for "disregard" is "καταφρονέω" (kataphroneo), which means to look down upon or despise. This implies a conscious choice to ignore or undervalue something significant. In the context of Romans, Paul is addressing the tendency of some to overlook God's attributes, particularly His kindness, as they judge others. Historically, this reflects the human tendency to take divine patience for granted, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament, where Israel often disregarded God's commands and warnings.

the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience
"Riches" here is translated from the Greek "πλοῦτος" (ploutos), indicating abundance and wealth. God's "kindness" (χρηστότης, chrēstotēs), "tolerance" (ἀνοχή, anochē), and "patience" (μακροθυμία, makrothymia) are described as abundant treasures. These attributes are not just passive qualities but active expressions of God's character. In the historical context of the Roman Empire, where power and dominance were valued, Paul highlights the counter-cultural nature of God's character. Scripturally, these attributes are seen throughout the Bible, such as in God's dealings with Israel, where His patience and kindness are evident despite their repeated disobedience.

not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
The phrase "not realizing" comes from the Greek "ἀγνοέω" (agnoeō), meaning to be ignorant or unaware. This suggests a lack of understanding or insight into God's purpose. "God’s kindness" is intended to "lead you to repentance," with "lead" translated from "ἄγω" (agō), meaning to guide or bring forth. "Repentance" (μετάνοια, metanoia) involves a transformative change of heart and mind. Historically, repentance was a central theme in the teachings of the prophets and John the Baptist, calling people back to God. In the scriptural context, God's kindness is not an end in itself but a means to bring about a change in the believer's life, encouraging a return to righteousness and a deeper relationship with Him. This reflects the overarching biblical narrative of redemption and restoration.

(4, 5) Another alternative is put forward, which has less to do with the distinction of Jew and Gentile, and in which the Apostle keeps more closely to the general form that his argument has assumed: "Or do you think to take refuge in the goodness, the benevolence and long-suffering of God?" True it is that He is good, and "willeth not the death of a sinner," but His goodness is not absolute and unconditional. Its object is not to interfere with the just punishment of sin, but to lead men to repent of their sins, and so to obtain remission.

(4) Riches.--In this metaphorical sense, with reference to the divine attributes, this word is peculiar to and characteristic of St. Paul. It is thus used twelve times in his Epistles, and not besides in the rest of the New Testament, including the Epistle to the Hebrews. This is one of those instances where the evidence of style is important. Of the twelve places where this use occurs, eight are in the Epistles of the Imprisonment, three in the Epistle to the Romans, and one in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. The later and earlier Epistles are thus linked together. A similar use is not found in the Pastoral Epistles, but it should be remembered that arguments of this kind are more important on the positive side than on the negative. It is an inference of some strength that if a peculiar word or usage is found in two separate books, those books are by the same author, but the absence of such a word or usage goes a very short way towards the opposite negative conclusion if other resemblances on characteristic points are not wanting.

Forbearance and longsuffering.--We may compare with this the Sinaitic revelation given in Exodus 34:6-7, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering." The moral character and relation to His people thus attributed to the Deity was a feature which specially distinguished the religion of the Old Testament from that of the surrounding heathen nations.

We may observe that the fallacy against which the Apostle is protesting in these verses is not yet extinct. The goodness of God--i.e., His disposition to promote the happiness of His creatures--is insisted upon as if it were unconditional, as if it were a disposition to promote their happiness simply and without any reference to what they were in themselves. We do not find that this is the case; but rather the constitution of nature, as well as revelation, tells us that happiness is annexed to certain acts and a certain frame of mind, and that it is withheld from all that is not consonant with this. The bliss of the Christian is reserved for the Christian, and is not showered promiscuously upon all men. Otherwise free-will would have no office, and righteous dealing no reward.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

do you disregard
καταφρονεῖς (kataphroneis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2706: To despise, scorn, and show it by active insult, disregard. From kata and phroneo; to think against, i.e. Disesteem.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

riches
πλούτου (ploutou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4149: From the base of pletho; wealth, i.e. money, possessions, or abundance, richness, valuable bestowment.

of
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

kindness,
χρηστότητος (chrēstotētos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5544: Goodness, uprightness, kindness, gentleness. From chrestos; usefulness, i.e. Morally, excellence.

tolerance,
ἀνοχῆς (anochēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 463: Forbearance, suspense or delay (of punishment), patience. From anechomai; self-restraint, i.e. Tolerance.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

patience,
μακροθυμίας (makrothymias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3115: Patience, forbearance, longsuffering. From the same as makrothumos; longanimity, i.e. forbearance or fortitude.

not realizing
ἀγνοῶν (agnoōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 50: To do not know, be ignorant of, sometimes with the idea of willful ignorance.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

kindness
χρηστὸν (chrēston)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5543: Useful, gentle, pleasant, kind. From chraomai; employed, i.e. useful.

leads
ἄγει (agei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 71: A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.

you
σε (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

repentance?
μετάνοιάν (metanoian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3341: From metanoeo; compunction; by implication, reversal (another's) decision).


Links
Romans 2:4 NIV
Romans 2:4 NLT
Romans 2:4 ESV
Romans 2:4 NASB
Romans 2:4 KJV

Romans 2:4 BibleApps.com
Romans 2:4 Biblia Paralela
Romans 2:4 Chinese Bible
Romans 2:4 French Bible
Romans 2:4 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches (Rom. Ro)
Romans 2:3
Top of Page
Top of Page