English Standard Version
Romans 4:20
20No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
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,
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.
Context of Romans 4:20
18In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."
Read all of Romans 4Romans 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 am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, 'Give us meat, that we may eat.'
- 2 Kings 7:2Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, "If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" But he said, "You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it."
- 2 Chronicles 20:15And he said, "Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.
- Isaiah 7:9And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.'"
- Jeremiah 32:16"After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying:
- Luke 1:18And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
- Isaiah 35:4Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."
- Daniel 10:19And he said, "O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
- Daniel 11:32He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.
- Haggai 2:4Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts,
- Zechariah 8:9Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
- 2 Corinthians 12:10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
- 2 Timothy 2:1You then, my child, be strengthened by 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
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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