Romans 4:20

Romans 4:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
• New International Version (NIV)Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
• English Standard Version (ESV)No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
• New King James Version (NKJV)He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

Context of Romans 4:20

18He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. 22Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:20 word by word

εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ, ἀλλ᾽ ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει, δοὺς δόξαν τῷ θεῷRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• He staggeredδιακρίνωdiakrinō · to judge/doubtG1252
• notοὐou · noG3756
• atεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the promiseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• through unbeliefἀπιστίαapistia · unbeliefG570
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• was strongἐνδυναμόωendunamoō · to strengthenG1743
• in faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• givingδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391

Cross-references for Romans 4:20

• Numbers 11:13Where can I get meat to give all these people? For they are weeping to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’
• 2 Kings 7:2Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man, responded to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”
• 2 Chronicles 20:15and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
• Isaiah 7:9the chief city of Ephraim is Samaria, and the chief of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.
• Jeremiah 32:16“After I had given the purchase agreement to Baruch, son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:
• Luke 1:18“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
• Isaiah 35:4Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.”
• Daniel 10:19He said, “Don’t be afraid, you who are treasured by God. Peace to you; be very strong!” As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
• Daniel 11:32With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action.
• Haggai 2:4Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel — this is the Lord’s declaration. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land — this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you — the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
• Zechariah 8:9The Lord of Armies says this: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words that the prophets spoke when the foundations were laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of Armies.
• 1 Corinthians 16:13Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.
• 2 Corinthians 12:10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.
• 2 Timothy 2:1You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Commentaries on Romans 4:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He staggered not - He was not moved, or agitated; he steadily and firmly believed the promise. Giving glory to God - Giving honor to God by the firmness with which he believed his promises. His conduct was Such as to honor God; that is, to show Abraham‘s conviction that he was worthy of implicit confidence and trust. In this way all who believe in the promises of God do honor to him. They bear testimony to him that he is worthy of confidence. They become…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-22Verses 13-22 The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointed it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like precious…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2218-22. Who against hope--when no ground for hope appeared. believed in hope--that is, cherished the believing expectation. that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be--that is, Such "as the stars of heaven," Ge 15:5.Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 4:20

• Abraham
• Catholicity
• Faith
• Glorifying God
• Justification
• Resurrection
• Righteousness
• Salvation
• Unbelief
• Works

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Flesh
• Impute
• Justification
• Quicken
• Raise
• Reckon
• Stagger
• Unbelief

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