Romans 2:4

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

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses a person who judges others for the same sins they commit (v.3) and asks whether they think they will escape judgment. He presses the point that God's continued restraint toward them is deliberate, not indifferent.

The words — πλοῦτος (ploutos, "riches, abundance") frames God's kindness as overflowing rather than grudging. χρηστότης (chrēstotēs, from χρηστός, "useful, good") carries a practical sense of goodness that is beneficial to the recipient.

The thread — Exodus 34:6 names God "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger"; 2 Peter 3:9 explains that patience is not slowness but a desire that none perish; Isaiah 30:18 says the LORD "longs to be gracious."

Why it lands — The verse asks the reader to recognize that God's restraint is a directed appeal toward repentance, not a blank check. The "or" (ἢ) is a sharp pivot: either you see what this is, or you are storing up wrath (v.5).

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

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

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.
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.
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,
Romans 9:22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
Ephesians 1:18 I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
Psalms 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
Ephesians 2:7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Romans 3:25 God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.