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;
• 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,
• 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

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as 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 for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’
• 2 Kings 7:2The officer on whose arm the king was leaning said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it!”
• 2 Chronicles 20:15He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
• Isaiah 7:9The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ ”
• Jeremiah 32:16“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:
• Luke 1:18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
• Isaiah 35:4say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”
• Daniel 10:19“Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”
• Daniel 11:32With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
• Haggai 2:4But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
• Zechariah 8:9This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ This is also what the prophets said who were present when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord Almighty.
• 1 Corinthians 16:13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
• 2 Corinthians 12:10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
• 2 Timothy 2:1You then, 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