Romans 2:6

KJV

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

KJV (with Strong's)

Who {G3739} will render {G591} to every man {G1538} according {G2596} to his {G846} deeds {G2041}:

Complete Jewish Bible

for he will pay back each one according to his deeds.

Berean Standard Bible

God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

American Standard Version

who will render to every man according to his works:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 2:6 articulates a foundational principle of divine justice: God's impartial judgment will be rendered to every individual strictly "according to his deeds." This verse underscores the universal accountability of humanity before God, asserting that one's ultimate destiny is inextricably linked to the totality of their actions and the consistent pattern of their life, rather than mere religious profession or external identity. It sets the stage for Paul's argument that both Jews and Gentiles are subject to God's righteous standard.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 2:6 is a pivotal statement within Paul's broader argument concerning God's righteous judgment, which begins in [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness") with the revelation of God's wrath against Gentile ungodliness and unrighteousness. In [Romans 2](/romans/2 "Romans 2 - God's Righteous Judgment"), Paul turns his attention to those, particularly Jewish people, who might feel exempt from such judgment due to their possession of the Law or their religious identity. He directly confronts their hypocrisy, arguing that judging others while practicing the same sins incurs greater condemnation ([Romans 2:1-5](/romans/2-1-5 "Romans 2:1-5 - Hypocrisy and Judgment")). Verse 6 then introduces the universal, impartial standard by which God will judge all people, setting the stage for the subsequent explanation of judgment based on deeds, perseverance, and the inner conscience ([Romans 2:7-16](/romans/2-7-16 "Romans 2:7-16 - God Judges Impartially")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's audience in Rome included both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. Within this diverse community, there was a tendency for some Jewish believers to rely on their heritage, the Mosaic Law, and practices like circumcision as a basis for their standing before God, often looking down on Gentiles. Conversely, Gentiles might have struggled with understanding the role of the Law or the historical covenant. Paul's argument in [Romans 2](/romans/2 "Romans 2 - God's Righteous Judgment") directly challenges these assumptions, emphasizing that God's justice transcends ethnic or religious boundaries. The concept of divine retribution based on human actions was familiar in both Jewish thought (e.g., the Deuteronomic covenant) and Greco-Roman philosophy (e.g., Stoicism's emphasis on virtue and natural law), allowing Paul to appeal to a universally understood principle of justice.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes in Romans. It powerfully underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment**, asserting God's ultimate authority and unwavering righteousness as the impartial judge of all humanity. It highlights **Universal Accountability**, declaring that "every man," regardless of background or privilege, is answerable for their life before God. This leads to the theme of **Justice Based on Deeds**, which emphasizes that God's rendering (whether reward or punishment) is directly proportional to the consistent conduct and actions of a person, not merely their profession or external religious markers. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Impartiality**, as God applies this standard equally to all, a point explicitly stated in [Romans 2:11](/romans/2-11 "Romans 2:11 - God Shows No Partiality").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **render (Greek, _apodídōmi'_):** This verb, G591, means "to give away, i.e., up, over, back, etc. (in various applications)." It carries the sense of recompense, requital, or payment being made. In the context of divine judgment, it signifies that God will "give back" or "pay back" to humanity what is due to them based on their actions, implying a just and certain consequence for their deeds. It is not merely a passive observation but an active, decisive act of divine justice.
* **every man (Greek, _hékastos'_):** G1538, meaning "each or every," emphasizes the comprehensive and individual nature of God's judgment. It signifies that God's assessment is not a blanket judgment on groups or nations, but a precise, personal evaluation of each individual's life. This highlights the impartiality and thoroughness of divine justice, leaving no one exempt from scrutiny.
* **deeds (Greek, _érgon'_):** G2041, derived from a primary word meaning "to work," refers to "toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act." In this context, "deeds" (plural) encompasses not just isolated actions but the totality of one's conduct, the consistent pattern of their life, and the practical outworking of their character, beliefs, and intentions. It refers to the visible evidence of one's inner disposition and moral trajectory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Who will render":** This opening phrase immediately establishes the divine agent of judgment and the certainty of His action. The "Who" implicitly refers to God, the righteous Judge, whose nature it is to administer justice. The future tense "will render" conveys an undeniable, inevitable truth: God's judgment is not a possibility but a certainty that will surely come to pass.
* **"to every man":** This clause emphasizes the universal scope and impartial nature of God's judgment. It signifies that no one—Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, powerful or weak—is exempt from God's scrutiny. Each individual stands personally accountable before Him, underscoring the profound seriousness of human responsibility.
* **"according to his deeds":** This crucial phrase defines the standard by which God's judgment will be meted out. The Greek preposition _katá_ (G2596), translated "according to," indicates a precise correspondence or proportion. God's recompense will be in exact measure to the sum total of a person's actions, their life's work, and the consistent pattern of their behavior, reflecting their moral character and their response to God's revealed will.

#### Literary Devices
Romans 2:6 employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological truth. The verse utilizes **Conciseness** and **Aphorism**, presenting a universal principle of divine justice in a brief, memorable, and authoritative statement. It functions as a **Divine Pronouncement**, a declarative statement of God's unchanging nature and method of judgment, lending it an air of solemn finality. Furthermore, there is an implied **Metonymy** where "deeds" stand for the entire life, character, and moral trajectory of an individual. It is not merely a tally of isolated acts, but the comprehensive outworking of one's inner disposition and true allegiance. This metonymic use underscores that judgment is based on the reality of one's life, not just outward appearance or religious claims.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 2:6 stands as a powerful declaration of God's justice, a theme deeply rooted in both Old and New Testaments. While Paul's overarching message in Romans is salvation by grace through faith, this verse clarifies that genuine faith is never divorced from its practical outworking in a person's life. It speaks to the eschatological judgment where all humanity will stand before God. This judgment is not about earning salvation through works, but about the manifestation of one's true relationship with God. For those who reject God's grace, their deeds will condemn them. For believers, their deeds, empowered by the Spirit, serve as evidence of their transformed hearts and genuine faith, though their salvation rests solely on Christ's work. The verse thus highlights the integrity of God's character as a righteous judge who holds all accountable.

* [Psalm 62:12](/psalms/62-12 "Psalm 62:12 - God Rewards According to Work")
* [Matthew 16:27](/matthew/16-27 "Matthew 16:27 - Jesus Rewards According to Works")
* [Revelation 20:12](/revelation/20-12 "Revelation 20:12 - Judgment According to Works")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 2:6 serves as a sobering reminder of our personal accountability before a perfectly just God. It shatters any illusion that religious affiliation, outward piety, or mere intellectual assent to doctrine can substitute for a life lived in genuine obedience and righteousness. This verse compels us to examine the true nature of our "deeds"—not just isolated actions, but the consistent patterns and motivations that define our lives. It challenges complacency and self-righteousness, urging us to recognize that God sees beyond our external facade into the heart of our conduct. For the believer, this truth should not evoke fear, but rather a profound sense of gratitude for God's grace and a renewed commitment to live a life that genuinely reflects our faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our deeds, then, become a testament to the transforming power of Christ within us, aligning our lives with God's will and producing fruit worthy of repentance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do my daily actions and the overall pattern of my life reflect my professed faith in Christ?**
* **In what specific areas do my "deeds" need to align more closely with God's revealed will and character?**
* **How does the certainty of God's impartial judgment motivate me to pursue holiness and righteous living?**

### FAQ

**Does Romans 2:6 contradict the New Testament teaching that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works?**

Answer: No, Romans 2:6 does not contradict the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. Instead, it clarifies the nature of divine judgment and the role of works within that judgment. Paul consistently teaches that salvation is a free gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, entirely apart from human merit or "works of the law" ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")). However, genuine faith is never barren; it always produces good works as its natural fruit and evidence ([Ephesians 2:10](/ephesians/2-10 "Ephesians 2:10 - Created for Good Works"); [James 2:17-26](/james/2-17-26 "James 2:17-26 - Faith Without Works is Dead")). Romans 2:6 speaks to the standard by which God will judge all humanity, whether they are under the law or have heard the gospel. For those who reject Christ, their unrighteous deeds will condemn them. For believers, their deeds, though imperfect, will serve as evidence of a life transformed by grace, demonstrating the reality of their faith. The judgment described here is not a means to earn salvation, but a divine assessment that reveals whether one's life was truly aligned with God's will, either through law-keeping (which no one perfectly achieves) or through faith in Christ, which empowers righteous living.

**What does "deeds" encompass in this verse? Is it just outward actions?**

Answer: In Romans 2:6, "deeds" (Greek: _erga_) encompasses more than just isolated outward actions. It refers to the totality and consistent pattern of one's conduct, reflecting the inner character, motivations, and moral choices that define a person's life. Paul is not merely speaking of a checklist of good or bad acts, but the overall trajectory and disposition of the heart as expressed through one's life. This includes both overt actions and the underlying attitudes, intentions, and even the "secrets of men" that God will judge ([Romans 2:16](/romans/2-16 "Romans 2:16 - God Judges the Secrets of Men")). It signifies the practical outworking of one's relationship (or lack thereof) with God and His revealed will, whether through the Law or the conscience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Romans 2:6 declares that God will judge "every man according to his deeds," the Christian understanding of this truth is profoundly transformed by the person and work of Jesus Christ. Humanity's deeds, apart from Christ, fall woefully short of God's perfect standard, leading to condemnation ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). However, Jesus perfectly fulfilled all righteousness through His sinless life and offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, bearing the penalty for humanity's unrighteous deeds on the cross ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). For those who are "in Christ," the terrifying prospect of judgment according to their own flawed deeds is replaced by the assurance that there is "no condemnation" ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation for Those in Christ")). Believers' deeds are now viewed through the lens of Christ's perfect righteousness, imputed to them by faith. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit indwells believers, empowering them to produce "deeds" that are pleasing to God, not as a means to earn salvation, but as the fruit of a transformed life ([Philippians 2:12-13](/philippians/2-12-13 "Philippians 2:12-13 - Work Out Your Own Salvation"); [Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit of the Spirit")). Thus, Christ is both the one who perfectly satisfied the demands of divine justice for our past failures and the one who enables us to live a life of good deeds in the present, ultimately presenting us blameless before God on the day of judgment ([Colossians 1:22](/colossians/1-22 "Colossians 1:22 - Presented Holy and Blameless")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 62:12

Also unto thee, O Lord, [belongeth] mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Jeremiah 32:19

Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes [are] open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Jeremiah 17:10

I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

Revelation 22:12

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 20:12

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.