language · Rom 2:6 · ✓ Approved

"According to his deeds": Ps 62:12 and Prov 24:12 behind Rom 2:6

Says Rom 2:6 reads ὃς ἀποδώσει ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ("who will repay each one according to his deeds").

Says Ps 62:12 (MT 62:13; LXX 61:13): כִּי־אַתָּה תְשַׁלֵּם לְאִישׁ כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ (ki-attah teshallem le'ish kema'asehu, "for you repay a man according to his work"; Piel, BDB p. 1022). Swete's LXX has ὅτι σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.

Says Prov 24:12 asks whether תֹכֵן לִבּוֹת (tokhen libbot, "he who weighs hearts") will not וְהֵשִׁיב לְאָדָם כְּפָעֳלוֹ (veheshiv le'adam kefo'olo, "repay a man according to his deed"; Hiphil of "return," BDB p. 996). Swete's LXX: ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.

Implies In wording, Rom 2:6 is closest to LXX Ps 61:13 (future verb; plural τὰ ἔργα, where both Hebrew verses have a singular noun); its relative ὃς and third person match LXX Prov 24:12.

Implies Judgment according to deeds is real and impartial (2:6, 11, 16), and it is not a second way of salvation alongside faith (3:9, 20, 23, 28). Works never form part of the ground of the verdict of justification.

Uncertain Conservative interpreters read 2:7, 10 and 13 in two ways, given here on equal terms. The law-standard reading (Calvin, on 2:13): Paul states the law's standard, which no one meets (2:12–13; 3:19–20, 23; Lev 18:5). The evidence-of-faith reading: Paul describes the obedience that flows from saving faith, shown at the judgment as its evidence, not its ground (2:7; 8:4; 14:10–12). The OT texts do not decide between them.

Claims

SaysPs 62:13 MT תְשַׁלֵּם … כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ; Prov 24:12 וְהֵשִׁיב … כְּפָעֳלוֹ: God repays a man according to his work.
SaysLXX Ps 61:13 σὺ ἀποδώσεις ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ; Prov 24:12 ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
ImpliesIn wording Rom 2:6 is closest to LXX Ps 61:13 (future verb, plural ἔργα); its relative ὃς and third person match LXX Prov 24:12.
ImpliesJudgment according to deeds is real and impartial and is not a second way of salvation alongside faith (2:6, 16; 3:9, 20, 23, 28); works never form part of the ground of the verdict of justification.
UncertainWhich conservative reading explains 2:7, 10 and 13: the law-standard reading (Calvin) or the evidence-of-faith reading; presented on equal terms, neither as the team view.

Citations

OSHB CC BY 4.0 Ps 62:13 (MT; morph HVpi2ms, HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms); Prov 24:12 (morph HC/Vhq3ms, HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms)
BDB CC BY 4.0 s.v. shalem (H7999), p. 1022, entry v.ds.aa; s.v. shuv (H7725), p. 996, entry v.bn.aa
LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Ps 61:13. LXX checked against Swete scan, vol. 2 (1891), p. 291. Prov 24:12. LXX checked against Swete scan, vol. 2 (1891), p. 462.
SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 2:6–16; 3:9, 19–20, 23, 28; 8:4; 14:10–12
TVTMS CC BY 4.0 Ps 62:12 = MT 62:13 = LXX 61:13
Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain on Rom 2:13 (CCEL calcom38.vi.iii): "if righteousness be sought from the law, the law must be fulfilled" (paraphrased, not quoted in the note)

Sources OSHB CC BY 4.0 LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BDB CC BY 4.0 TVTMS CC BY 4.0 Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits

2026-10-29

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