English Standard Version
Romans 4:11
11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
Romans 4:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
- New International Version (NIV)And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.
Context of Romans 4:11
9Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
Read all of Romans 4Romans 4:11 word by word
καὶ σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς, σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ· εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν πατέρα πάντων τῶν πιστευόντων δι᾽ ἀκροβυστίας, εἰς τὸ λογισθῆναι καὶ αὐτοῖς τὴν δικαιοσύνην,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he receivedλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- the signσημεῖονsēmeion · signG4592
- of circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061
- a sealσφραγίςsphragis · sealG4973
- of the righteousnessὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of the righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
- of the faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- whichἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- uncircumcisedἀκροβυστίαakrobustia · uncircumcisionG203
- thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
- heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- might beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- them that believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- though they beδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- might be imputedλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
Cross-references for Romans 4:11
- Genesis 17:10This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
- Exodus 12:13The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
- Exodus 31:13"You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
- Ezekiel 20:12Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
- Romans 2:28For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
- Deuteronomy 30:6And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
- Ephesians 1:13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Ephesians 4:30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Revelation 9:4They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
- Romans 4:13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
- Romans 3:22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
- Romans 9:30What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith;
- Romans 10:6But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)
- Galatians 5:5For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
- Philippians 3:9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Commentaries on Romans 4:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal, etc. - So far was obedience to the law of circumcision from being the reason of his justification, that he not only received this justification before he was circumcised, but he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the pardon which he had before actually received. And thus he became the father, the great head and representative, of all them that believe; particularly the Gentiles, who are now in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11And he received the sign - A sign is that by which any thing is shown, or represented. And circumcision thus showed that there was a covenant between Abraham and God; Genesis 17:1-10. It became the public mark or token of the relation which he sustained to God. A seal - See the note at John 3:33. A seal is that mark of wax or other substance, which is attached to an instrument of writing, as a deed, etc., to confirm, ratify it, or to make it binding…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12When God introduced circumcision, he called it “a sign of the covenant” between himself and Abraham (Genesis 17:11). The covenant existed before Abraham became circumcised (Genesis 12:1–3; 15:1–21; 17:1–8). This shows that it was on the basis of faith, not circumcision. Therefore, Abraham is the spiritual father of all people, whether circumcised (Jews) or uncircumcised (Gentiles), "who are of the faith of Abraham" (Romans 4:13–25).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-129-12. Cometh this blessedness then, &c.--that is, "Say not, All this is spoken of the circumcised, and is therefore no evidence of God's general way of justifying men; for Abraham's justification took place long before he was circumcised, and so could have no dependence upon that rite: nay, 'the sign of circumcision' was given to Abraham as 'a seal' (or token) of the (justifying) righteousness which he had before he was circumcised; in order that he might…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 4:11
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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