Romans 4:3

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.”
• New King James Version (NKJV)For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Context of Romans 4:3

1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Romans 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, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
• Romans 10:11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
• Romans 11:2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
• Isaiah 8:20To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
• Mark 12:10Have you not read this Scripture: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
• James 4:5Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
• 2 Peter 1:20knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
• Genesis 15:6And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
• Galatians 3:6just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
• James 2:23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.
• Romans 4:5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
• Psalms 106:31And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation 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

• Abraham
• Bigotry
• Catholicity
• Faith
• Justification
• Quotations and Allusions
• Righteousness
• Salvation
• Works

In the dictionaries

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

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