Romans 15:13 KJV
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.King James Version
The same verse in modern English
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.Romans 15:13, World English Bible (WEB)
KJV and WEB compared
The KJV says “Now the God of hope fill you,” an older way of voicing a prayer; the WEB adds “may” to make the prayer plain. The KJV ends “through the power of the Holy Ghost,” the WEB “in the power of the Holy Spirit.” In 1611 ghost still meant spirit, and the KJV itself uses both forms, as in Luke 11:13. Both say the same thing: the hope overflows by the Spirit’s power.
Sitting with this verse
Paul has just strung together Scripture passages about the nations praising God, ending with Isaiah’s word that the Gentiles will hope in Jesse’s root. Now he turns those quotations into a blessing. Hope opens and closes the verse: God is its source, and the Holy Spirit’s power makes it overflow. Joy and peace arrive “in believing,” not by force of will. Receive this blessing slowly, as though spoken over you by name.
Older words in this verse
- ye
- you (more than one)
- Holy Ghost
- the Holy Spirit (ghost is the old word for spirit)
From Romans 15
Paul hoped to reach Spain and asked the Romans to pray him through dangers ahead. Ask the God of hope to fill you; share one plan with a friend.
Read Romans 15 slowlyA verse a day for seven days, by email
Join Seven Days of Stillness: a short email each day for a week, each with a Bible verse and a quiet thought for your time with God. Free, and you can stop at any time.