13:7a

Pay: This Greek word refers to giving something because one is required to give. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Give (New International Version)
-or-
Pay, as you should,

The New International Version allows the context to imply giving something you should give. The Berean Standard Bible does a similar thing with Pay.

everyone: Considering the list of things to do in 13:7b–e, the word everyone here refers to all government authorities, not everyone in the world. For example:

all of them (Revised Standard Version)

what you owe him: The Greek word refers to things that someone should repay or give. 13:7b–e has four examples of what you owe him. Your translation should clearly allow taxes, revenue, respect, and honor to be examples of the word or phrase you translate here.

General Comment on 13:7a

With the colon (:) after the word “him” and not repeating the word “pay,” the Berean Standard Bible indicates that 13:7b–e are four things that the believer should pay. In some languages a different way to translate that meaning must be used. For example:

Pay everyone what you owe him. ⌊So,⌋ ⌊pay⌋ taxes to whom taxes are due, ⌊and⌋ ⌊pay⌋ revenue to whom revenue is due, ⌊and⌋ ⌊pay⌋ respect to whom respect is due, ⌊and⌋ ⌊pay⌋ honor to whom honor is due.
-or-
Pay everyone what you owe him. ⌊That is,⌋ ⌊pay⌋ taxes to whom taxes are due, ⌊and⌋ revenue to whom revenue is due, ⌊and⌋ respect to whom respect is due, ⌊and⌋ honor to whom honor is due.

13:7b

taxes to whom taxes are due: The word “pay” is implied here. In some languages that word must be explicit here. For example:

⌊pay⌋ taxes to whom taxes are owed

You may want to use the same word here for “pay” as you did in 13:7a.

taxes: See how you translated this word in 13:6.

13:7c

revenue to whom revenue is due: The word “pay” is implied here. In some languages that word must be explicit here. For example:

⌊pay⌋ revenue to whom revenue is owed

This is the second item in a list. In some languages an “and” must begin this phrase. For example:

⌊and⌋ revenue to whom revenue is owed

revenue: The Greek word refers to money other than taxes that government authorities ask people to pay. This includes duty, fees, and other such things. Here are other ways to translate this word:

duty
-or-
fees

13:7d

respect to whom respect is due: The word “pay” is implied here. In some languages that word must be explicit here. But in many languages a different word than “pay” must be used for the correct meaning. For example:

⌊pay/give/show⌋ respect to whom respect is owed
-or-
respect the person/leader you should respect

This is the third item in a list. In some languages an “and” must begin this phrase. For example:

⌊and⌋ respect to whom respect is owed

respect: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as respect is more literally “fear.” It refers to a necessary attitude to have toward powerful people because their power can put us in danger. People of lower status and power must act in ways that do not make powerful people angry or feel humiliated. For example:

fear (New American Standard Bible)

But many English versions translate the Greek word as respect here.

13:7e

honor to whom honor is due: The word “pay” is implied here. In some languages that word must be explicit here. But in many languages a different word than “pay” must be used for the correct meaning. For example:

⌊pay/give/show⌋ honor to whom honor is owed
-or-
honor the person/leader you should honor

This is the fourth item in a list. In some languages an “and” must begin this phrase. For example:

⌊and⌋ honor to whom honor is owed

honor: This word refers to showing that you respect someone. This may be praising him or speaking highly of him to others. Here are other ways to translate this word:

praise
-or-
lift up the name

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