Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Romans 2:9 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 2:9	Strong Concordance	Tribulation [2347] and [2532] anguish [4730], upon [1909] every [3956] soul [5590] of man [444] that doeth [2716] evil [2556], of the Jew [2453] first [4412], and [5037] also [2532] of the Gentile [1672];
	King James	Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Tribulation and anguish--the effect of these in the sinner himself.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Tribulation and anguish--the effect of these in the sinner himself.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
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; Co2 6:4; Co2 12:10. The verb is used in Co2 4:8; Co2 6:12. It means literally narrowness of place, lack of room, and then the anxiety and distress of mind which a man experiences who is pressed on every side by afflictions, and trials, and want, or by punishment, and who does not know where he may turn himself to find relief. (Schleusner.) It is thus expressive of the punishment of the wicked. It means that they shall be compressed with the manifestations of God's displeasure, so as to be in deep distress, and so as not to know where to find relief. These words affliction and anguish are often connected; Rom 8:35. Upon every soul of man - Upon all people. In Hebrew the word "soul" often denotes the man himself. But still, the apostles, by the use of this word here, meant perhaps to signify that the punishment should not be corporeal, but afflicting the soul. It should be a spiritual punishment, a punishment of mind. (Ambrose. See Tholuck.) Of the Jew first - Having stated the general principle of the divine administration, he comes now to make the application. To the principle there could be no objection. And the apostle now shows that it was applicable to the Jew as well as the Greek, and to the Jew pre-eminently. It was applicable first, or in an eminent degree, to the Jew, because, (1) He had been especially favored with light and knowledge on all these subjects. (2) these principles were fully stated in his own Law, and were in strict accordance with all the teaching of the prophets; see the note at Rom 2:6; also Psa 7:11; Psa 9:17; Psa 139:19; Pro 14:32. Of the Gentile - That is, of all who were not Jews. On what principles God will inflict punishment on them, he states in Rom 2:12-16. It is clear that this refers to the future punishment of the wicked, for, (1) It stands in contrast with the eternal life of those who seek for glory Rom 2:7. If this description of the effect of sin refers to this life, then the effects spoken of in relation to the righteous refer to this life also. But in no place in the Scriptures is it said that people experience all the blessings of eternal life in this world; and the very supposition is absurd. (2) it is not true that there is a just and complete retribution to every man, according to his deeds, in this life. Many of the wicked are prospered in life, and "there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm;" Psa 73:4. Many of the righteous pine in poverty and want and affliction, and die in the flames of persecution. Nothing is more clear than there is not in this life a full and equitable distribution of rewards and punishments; and as the proposition, of the apostle here is, that God will render to every man according to his deeds Rom 2:6, it follows that this must be accomplished in another world. (3) the Scriptures uniformly affirm, that for the very things specified here, God will consign people to eternal death; Th2 1:8, "In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction," etc.; Pe1 4:17. We may remark also, that there could be no more alarming description of future suffering than is specified in this passage. It is indignation; it is wrath; it is tribulation; it is anguish which the sinner is to endure forever. Truly people exposed to this awful doom should be alarmed, and should give diligence to escape from the woe which is to come.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

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; Co2 6:4; Co2 12:10. The verb is used in Co2 4:8; Co2 6:12. It means literally narrowness of place, lack of room, and then the anxiety and distress of mind which a man experiences who is pressed on every side by afflictions, and trials, and want, or by punishment, and who does not know where he may turn himself to find relief. (Schleusner.) It is thus expressive of the punishment of the wicked. It means that they shall be compressed with the manifestations of God's displeasure, so as to be in deep distress, and so as not to know where to find relief. These words affliction and anguish are often connected; Rom 8:35.

Upon every soul of man - Upon all people. In Hebrew the word "soul" often denotes the man himself. But still, the apostles, by the use of this word here, meant perhaps to signify that the punishment should not be corporeal, but afflicting the soul. It should be a spiritual punishment, a punishment of mind. (Ambrose. See Tholuck.)

Of the Jew first - Having stated the general principle of the divine administration, he comes now to make the application. To the principle there could be no objection. And the apostle now shows that it was applicable to the Jew as well as the Greek, and to the Jew pre-eminently. It was applicable first, or in an eminent degree, to the Jew, because,

(1) He had been especially favored with light and knowledge on all these subjects.

(2) these principles were fully stated in his own Law, and were in strict accordance with all the teaching of the prophets; see the note at Rom 2:6; also Psa 7:11; Psa 9:17; Psa 139:19; Pro 14:32.

Of the Gentile - That is, of all who were not Jews. On what principles God will inflict punishment on them, he states in Rom 2:12-16. It is clear that this refers to the future punishment of the wicked, for,

(1) It stands in contrast with the eternal life of those who seek for glory Rom 2:7. If this description of the effect of sin refers to this life, then the effects spoken of in relation to the righteous refer to this life also. But in no place in the Scriptures is it said that people experience all the blessings of eternal life in this world; and the very supposition is absurd.

(2) it is not true that there is a just and complete retribution to every man, according to his deeds, in this life. Many of the wicked are prospered in life, and "there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm;" Psa 73:4. Many of the righteous pine in poverty and want and affliction, and die in the flames of persecution. Nothing is more clear than there is not in this life a full and equitable distribution of rewards and punishments; and as the proposition, of the apostle here is, that God will render to every man according to his deeds Rom 2:6, it follows that this must be accomplished in another world.

(3) the Scriptures uniformly affirm, that for the very things specified here, God will consign people to eternal death; Th2 1:8, "In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction," etc.; Pe1 4:17. We may remark also, that there could be no more alarming description of future suffering than is specified in this passage. It is indignation; it is wrath; it is tribulation; it is anguish which the sinner is to endure forever. Truly people exposed to this awful doom should be alarmed, and should give diligence to escape from the woe which is to come.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Tribulation and anguish (θλῖψις καὶ στενοχωρία) For tribulation, see on Mat 13:21. Στενοχωρία anguish, which occurs only in Paul (Rom 8:35; Co2 6:4; Co2 12:10), literally means narrowness of place. The dominant idea is constraint. In Deu 28:53, Deu 28:57, it describes the confinement of a siege. Trench remarks: "The fitness of this image is attested by the frequency with which, on the other hand, a state of joy is expressed in the Psalms and elsewhere, as a bringing into a large room," Psa 118:5; Sa2 22:20. Aquinas says: loetitia est latitia, joy is breadth.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
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.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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.

Top

¹⁷ For [3754] the time [2540] is come that judgment [2917] must begin [756] at [575] the house [3624] of God [2316]: and [1161] if [1487] it first [4412] begin at [575] us [2257], what [5101] shall the end [5056] be of them that obey not [544] the gospel [2098] of God [2316]?

⁸ In [1722] flaming [5395] fire [4442] taking [1325] vengeance [1557] on them that know [1492] not [3361] God [2316], and [2532] that obey [5219] not [3361] the gospel [2098] of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:

⁶ Who [3739] will render [591] to every man [1538] according [2596] to his [846] deeds [2041]:

⁴ For there are no bands [02784] in their death [04194]: but their strength [0193] is firm [01277].

⁷ To them who by [3303] [2596] patient continuance [5281] in well [18] doing [2041] seek [2212] for glory [1391] and [2532] honour [5092] and [2532] immortality [861], eternal [166] life [2222]:

¹² For [1063] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] without law [460] shall [622] also [2532] perish [622] without law [460]: and [2532] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] in [1722] the law [3551] shall be judged [2919] by [1223] the law [3551];
¹³ (For [1063] not [3756] the hearers [202] of the law [3551] are just [1342] before [3844] God [2316], but [235] the doers [4163] of the law [3551] shall be justified [1344].
¹⁴ For [1063] when [3752] the Gentiles [1484], which [3588] have [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], do [4160] by nature [5449] the things [3588] contained in the law [3551], these [3778], having [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], are [1526] a law [3551] unto themselves [1438]:
¹⁵ Which [3748] shew [1731] the work [2041] of the law [3551] written [1123] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588], their [846] conscience [4893] also bearing witness [4828], and [2532] their thoughts [3053] the mean while accusing [2723] or [2228] else [2532] excusing [626] one another [3342] [240];)
¹⁶ In [1722] the day [2250] when [3753] God [2316] shall judge [2919] the secrets [2927] of men [444] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] according [2596] to my [3450] gospel [2098].

³² The wicked [07563] is driven away [01760] in his wickedness [07451]: but the righteous [06662] hath hope [02620] in his death [04194].

¹⁹ Surely thou wilt slay [06991] the wicked [07563], O God [0433]: depart [05493] from me therefore, ye bloody [01818] men [0582].

¹⁷ The wicked [07563] shall be turned [07725] into hell [07585], and all the nations [01471] that forget [07913] God [0430].

¹¹ God [0430] judgeth [08199] the righteous [06662], and God [0410] is angry [02194] with the wicked every day [03117].

⁶ Who [3739] will render [591] to every man [1538] according [2596] to his [846] deeds [2041]:

³⁵ Who [5101] shall separate [5563] us [2248] from [575] the love [26] of Christ [5547]? shall tribulation [2347], or [2228] distress [4730], or [2228] persecution [1375], or [2228] famine [3042], or [2228] nakedness [1132], or [2228] peril [2794], or [2228] sword [3162]?

¹² Ye are [4729] not [3756] straitened [4729] in [1722] us [2254], but [1161] ye are straitened [4729] in [1722] your own [5216] bowels [4698].

⁸ We are troubled [2346] on [1722] every side [3956], yet [235] not [3756] distressed [4729]; we are perplexed [639], but [235] not [3756] in despair [1820];

¹⁰ Therefore [1352] I take pleasure [2106] in [1722] infirmities [769], in [1722] reproaches [5196], in [1722] necessities [318], in [1722] persecutions [1375], in [1722] distresses [4730] for [5228] Christ's [5547] sake [5228]: for [1063] when [3752] I am weak [770], then [5119] am [1510] I strong [1415].

⁴ But [235] in [1722] all [3956] things approving [4921] ourselves [1438] as [5613] the ministers [1249] of God [2316], in [1722] much [4183] patience [5281], in [1722] afflictions [2347], in [1722] necessities [318], in [1722] distresses [4730],

²⁰ He brought me forth [03318] also into a large place [04800]: he delivered [02502] me, because he delighted [02654] in me.

⁵ I called [07121] upon the LORD [03050] in distress [04712]: the LORD [03050] answered [06030] me, and set me in a large place [04800].

⁵⁷ And toward her young one [07988] that cometh out [03318] from between her feet [07272], and toward her children [01121] which she shall bear [03205]: for she shall eat [0398] them for want [02640] of all things secretly [05643] in the siege [04692] and straitness [04689], wherewith thine enemy [0341] shall distress [06693] thee in thy gates [08179].

⁵³ And thou shalt eat [0398] the fruit [06529] of thine own body [0990], the flesh [01320] of thy sons [01121] and of thy daughters [01323], which the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] hath given [05414] thee, in the siege [04692], and in the straitness [04689], wherewith thine enemies [0341] shall distress [06693] thee:

²¹ Yet [1161] hath he [2192] not [3756] root [4491] in [1722] himself [1438], but [235] dureth [2076] for a while [4340]: for [1161] when tribulation [2347] or [2228] persecution [1375] ariseth [1096] because [1223] of the word [3056], by and by [2117] he is offended [4624].