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.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted 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.”

Context of Romans 4:3

1Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 4When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

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 Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”
• Romans 10:11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
• Romans 11:2No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said,
• Isaiah 8:20Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
• Mark 12:10Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
• James 4:5Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
• 2 Peter 1:20Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,
• Genesis 15:6And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
• Galatians 3:6In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
• James 2:23And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.
• Romans 4:5But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
• Psalms 106:31So he has been regarded as a righteous man ever since that time.

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