Romans 13:11

And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Roman believers in the closing exhortation (13:11–14), immediately after establishing that love is the fulfillment of the law. The moment is a call to urgency grounded in the nearness of the end.

The words — καιρός (kairon, "appointed occasion") is paired with ὥρα (hōra, "clock-hour"), distinguishing the qualitative moment from the quantitative one. ἤδη (ēdē, "already") confirms the hour has arrived, not merely approached.

The thread — The "wake up" motif and eschatological urgency recur in 1 Thessalonians 5:5 (sons of the day), 1 Peter 4:7 (the end is near; be sober), and Ephesians 5:14 (wake up, O sleeper).

Why it lands — The verse removes the option of waiting: the window is open now, and the demand is to act in the present tense rather than defer to a future moment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Cross-references

1 Thessalonians 5:5 For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
Ephesians 5:14 So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Matthew 24:42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
Mark 13:35 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
1 Corinthians 15:34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Luke 21:28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”