Amplified Bible
Romans 4:3
3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed in (trusted, relied on) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living, right standing with God).”
Romans 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
- New International Version (NIV)What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Context of Romans 4:3
1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather humanly speaking, has found? [Has he obtained a favored standing?] 2For if Abraham was justified [that is, acquitted from the guilt of his sins] by works [those things he did that were good], he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed in (trusted, relied on) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living, right standing with God).” 4Now to a laborer, his wages are not credited as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation [something owed to him]. 5But to the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).
Read all of Romans 4Romans 4:3 word by word
τί γὰρ ἡ γραφὴ λέγει; ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- the scriptureὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the scriptureγραφήgraphē · a writingG1124
- ·δέde · thenG1161
- AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
- believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- it was countedλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
- righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
Cross-references for Romans 4:3
- Romans 9:17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I raised you up for this very purpose, to display My power in [dealing with] you, and so that My name would be proclaimed in all the earth.”
- Romans 10:11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”
- Romans 11:2God has not rejected His [chosen] people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
- Isaiah 8:20[Direct those people] to the law and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is because they have no dawn.
- Mark 12:10Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders regarded as unworthy and rejected, This [very stone] has become the chief Cornerstone
- James 4:5Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy?
- 2 Peter 1:20But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation,
- Genesis 15:6Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man).
- Galatians 3:6Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose—so it is with you also].
- James 2:23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him [by God] as righteousness and as conformity to His will,” and he was called the friend of God.
- Romans 4:5But to the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).
- Psalms 106:31And that was credited to him for righteousness, To all generations forever.
Commentaries on Romans 4:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For, what saith the Scripture? - The Scriptural account of this transaction, Genesis 15:6, is decisive; for there it is said, Abraham believed God, and it was counted, , it was reckoned to him for righteousness, , for justification.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For what saith the Scripture? - The inspired account of Abraham‘s justification. This account was final, and was to settle the question. This account is found in Genesis 15:6. Abraham believed God - In the Hebrew, “Abraham believed Yahweh.” The sense is substantially the same, as the argument turns on the act of believing. The faith which Abraham exercised was, that his posterity should be like the stars of heaven in number. This promise was made to him…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Paul quotes Genesis 15:6. In response to God’s promise that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, Abraham trusted God. It was faith that established Abraham’s relationship with God. This relationship did not come from works, circumcision, the law, or the number of his descendants (Romans 4:3–21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-25First: Abraham was justified by faith. 1-3. What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?--that is, (as the order in the original shows), "hath found, as pertaining to ('according to,' or 'through') the flesh"; meaning, "by all his natural efforts or legal obedience."Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 4:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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