Romans 15:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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 (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Some days hope feels thin, stretched by waiting that has gone on too long and answers that have not come. You hold on, but quietly, afraid that hoping again will only set you up to be let down. Into that weariness this verse speaks a tender invitation. The God of hope is ready to fill you, to pour joy and peace into the very place where you have learned to expect so little, until your hope grows full and overflows.
Paul prays that the God who is the source of hope would fill us until hope overflows.
The Context of Romans 15:13
This is Paul's blessing as he closes the body of his letter, a prayer spoken over the believers in Rome. He has just quoted Isaiah's promise that the nations would hope in the root of Jesse (Romans 15:12), and now he prays that very hope into them.
What Does Romans 15:13 Mean?
Paul reaches past calling God merely hopeful; he names Him the God of hope, the One from whom all true hope flows. From that source he prays for a filling, all joy and peace, and he tells us where it meets us: in believing. As we trust God, joy and peace are poured in, and the result is a hope that abounds, spilling over the edges, far past mere survival. And it comes through the power of the Holy Ghost, given by God's own Spirit within us rather than worked up by effort.
This hope stands on solid ground. It rests on the risen Christ in whom God keeps every promise, so it has a sure foundation under it. That is why it can overflow even in hard seasons, when feelings run low. We can ask God for exactly what Paul asked here, trusting the Spirit to fill us until hope runs over, anchored in the One who never fails us.
This prayer crowns a chapter that has just quoted Isaiah's promise, "in him shall the Gentiles trust," so "the God of hope" is the God who kept His word to the nations. The verb "abound" pictures a vessel filled past its brim until it spills over; hope here is not a trickle but an overflow. And note the hinge, that it comes "in believing," as trust opens the hand to receive joy and peace. Such hope is no wishful mood. Scripture calls it "an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast," fastened to the risen Christ who is Himself "the hope of glory." We may pray Paul's very words back to God, and trust the Spirit to fill us until hope runs over even in the hardest season.
Romans 15:13 in the Original Language
perisseuo (περισσεύω), 'abound' -- to overflow, to have more than enough, to brim over and spill past the edges.
Bible Verses Related to Romans 15:13
“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”
- Isaiah 11:10
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”
- Hebrews 6:19
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
- Colossians 1:27
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
- 1 Peter 1:3
How to Apply Romans 15:13 Today
When hope feels thin, this verse points us to its true source and gives us words to pray. We can ask the God of hope to fill us with joy and peace as we trust Him, and lean on His Spirit to make that hope overflow rather than manufacturing it ourselves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 15:13
What does Romans 15:13 mean?
Paul prays that the God who is the source of hope would fill us until hope overflows.
What is the context of Romans 15:13?
This is Paul's blessing as he closes the body of his letter, a prayer spoken over the believers in Rome. He has just quoted Isaiah's promise that the nations would hope in the root of Jesse (Romans 15:12), and now he prays that very hope into them.
How can I apply Romans 15:13 today?
When hope feels thin, this verse points us to its true source and gives us words to pray. We can ask the God of hope to fill us with joy and peace as we trust Him, and lean on His Spirit to make that hope overflow rather than manufacturing it ourselves.
Reflection & Prayer
Notice that the joy and peace come "in believing," and the abounding hope comes "through the power of the Holy Ghost." Your part is to keep trusting and to stay open. The filling itself is God's gracious work in you. When your supply runs low, you can return to the One who calls Himself the God of hope and ask Him to do what He delights to do. Father, fill me with Your joy and peace as I trust You, and by Your Spirit let my hope abound until it overflows to others. Amen.