Romans 16:20

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Romans 16:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Romans 16:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Romans 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the God of peace, etc..] (See Gill on “ <451533>Romans 15:33”); shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Some read this by way of wish or prayer, “may the God of peace bruise”; so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and the Alexandrian copy; but others as ours, as a promise, or as expressive of the apostle's faith and hope in this matter; and which he mentions to encourage the members of this church to be upon their guard, and make head against these false teachers; since in a little time they might be assured of victory over Satan and these his emissaries: as it is before suggested, that the methods these men used to beguile weak minds were much like those that Satan…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly--The apostle encourages the Romans to persevere in resisting the wiles of the devil with the assurance that, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, they are "shortly" to receive their discharge, and have the satisfaction of "putting their feet upon the neck" of that formidable enemy--symbol familiar, probably, in all languages to express not only the completeness of the defeat, but the abject humiliation of the conquered foe. (See Jos 10:24; Sa2 22:41; Eze 21:29; Psa 91:13). Though the apostle here styles Him who is thus to bruise Satan, the God of peace," with special reference to the "divisions" (Rom 16:17) by which the church at…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the God of peace - The God who promotes peace; Romans 15:33. Will bruise - The “language” here refers to the prediction in Genesis 3:15. It here means to “subdue, to gain the victory over.” It denotes Paul’s confidence that they “would” gain the victory, and would be able to overcome all the arts of those who were endeavoring to sow discord and contention among them. Satan - The word “Satan” is Hebrew, meaning originally “an accuser, a calumniator,” and then “an enemy.” It is given to the prince of evil spirits from this enmity to God and human beings. He is here regarded as the “author” of all attempts to promote discord in the church, by whomsoever those attempts were made. Hence, they…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the God of peace - The Author and Lover of it, giving a blessing to your discretion. Shall bruise Satan under your feet - Shall defeat all the artifices of that sower of tares, and unite you more and more together in love. Romans 16:21”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet: Paul alludes to the curse that God pronounced upon the serpent after he had deceived Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:15). Christ, the offspring of Eve, will soon crush Satan under the feet of the church (cp. Matt 16:18-19).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the God: Rom 15:33 shall: Gen 3:15; Isa 25:8-12; Rom 8:37; Heb 2:14, Heb 2:15; Jo1 3:8; Rev 12:10; Rev 20:1-3 bruise: or, tread, Job 40:12; Isa 63:3; Zac 10:5; Mal 4:3; Luk 10:19 The grace: Rom 16:24; Co1 16:2-4; Co2 13:14; Gal 6:18; Phi 4:23; Th1 5:28; Th2 3:18; Ti2 4:22; Plm 1:25; Rev 22:21 Romans 16:21”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification