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

ROMANS 2:4KJV
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Romans 2:4 (KJV)

What does Romans 2:4 mean?

Romans 2:4 challenges a person who treats God’s patience as if it were of little value. Paul says that God’s goodness has a purpose: it leads people toward repentance, a change of mind and direction about their wrongdoing.

Paul asks this as a pointed question, addressing someone who judges others while doing wrong himself. The phrase “riches of his goodness” pictures God’s goodness as a great store of wealth, not a small or occasional gift.

The Greek behind Romans 2:4

  • “forbearance” — ἀνοχή (anochē): This word carries the sense of holding back or restraint. Here, it helps explain the patience Paul describes: God is not immediately responding to wrongdoing with judgment.
  • “longsuffering” — μακροθυμία (makrothymia): This word means patience over a long time. Alongside “forbearance,” it emphasizes the length of God’s patience.
  • “repentance” — μετάνοια (metanoia): This word refers to a change of mind or outlook. In this setting, it concerns a changed response to wrongdoing, rather than merely knowing that wrongdoing deserves judgment.

Why Romans 2:4 matters

  • God’s patience is not presented as proof that wrongdoing is acceptable. The question follows Paul’s warning in verse 3 about someone who judges others while doing the same kinds of things.
  • Paul’s question challenges the person’s understanding of God’s kindness. “Not knowing” suggests that the person has missed where God’s goodness is meant to lead.
  • The passage places a response to God’s kindness alongside a warning about resistance. Verse 5 speaks of a “hardness” and an “impenitent heart”: a stubborn refusal to turn from wrongdoing.

Where else these words appear

“forbearance” Greek G463 · used in 2 verses

  • Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

“goodness” Greek G5543 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
  • Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
  • Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

“goodness” Greek G5544 · used in 8 verses

  • Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
  • 2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
  • Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

“thou” Greek G2706 · used in 9 verses

  • Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
  • Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
  • 1 Timothy 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.