Romans 4:14

Romans 4:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
• New International Version (NIV)For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,
• English Standard Version (ESV)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

Context of Romans 4:14

12And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised. 13For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. 15For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. 16For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Romans 4:14 word by word

εἰ γὰρ οἱ ἐκ νόμου κληρονόμοι, κεκένωται ἡ πίστις καὶ κατήργηται ἡ ἐπαγγελία·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• they which areὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• heirsκληρονόμοςklēronomos · heirG2818
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• is made voidκενόωkenoō · to emptyG2758
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
• made of none effectκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673

Cross-references for Romans 4:14

• Romans 4:16For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
• Galatians 2:21I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!
• Galatians 3:18For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.
• Galatians 5:4You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace!
• Philippians 3:9and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.
• Hebrews 7:19for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
• Romans 3:31Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.
• Numbers 30:12But if her husband clearly nullifies them when he hears them, then whatever she says by way of vows or obligations will not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the Lord will release her from them.
• Psalms 119:126It is time for the Lord to act – they break your law!
• Isaiah 55:11In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.”
• Jeremiah 19:7In this place I will thwart the plans of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. I will deliver them over to the power of their enemies who are seeking to kill them. They will die by the sword at the hands of their enemies. I will make their dead bodies food for the birds and wild beasts to eat.

Commentaries on Romans 4:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14For, if they which are of the law be heirs - If the Jews only be heirs of the promise made to Abraham, and that on the ground of prior obedience to the law, then faith is made void - is entirely useless; and the promise, which was made to faith, is made of none effect.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14For if they which are of the law - Who seek for justification and acceptance by the Law. Faith is made void - Faith would have no place in the scheme; and consequently the strong commendations bestowed on the faith of Abraham, would be bestowed without any just cause. If people are justified by the Law, they cannot be by faith, and faith would be useless in this work. And the promise … - A promise looks to the future. Its design and tendency is to excite…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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14faith is useless (literally faith has become empty): If works of the law could replace faith, then faith would lose its importance. Trusting in God means recognizing our need and relying completely on God’s mercy, which leads to a life of obedience.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1513-15. For the promise, &c.--This is merely an enlargement of the foregoing reasoning, applying to the law what had just been said of circumcision. that he should be the heir of the world--or, that "all the families of the earth should be blessed in him." was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law--in virtue of obedience to the law. but through the righteousness of faith--in virtue of his simple faith in the divine promises.Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 4:14

• Abraham
• Bigotry
• Catholicity
• Faith
• Justification
• Salvation
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Flesh
• Impute
• Quicken
• Raise
• Reckon
• Stagger
• Unbelief
• Void
• Bible, the
• Effect; Effectual

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