Romans 4:12

Romans 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
• New International Version (NIV)And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
• New King James Version (NKJV)and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

Context of Romans 4:12

10In what state then was it credited? While circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised! 11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the trust he had while he was uncircumcised, so he might be the father of all who are trusting while uncircumcised—that righteousness might be credited to them as well. Also he is the father of the circumcised, to those not only circumcised but also walking in the footsteps of the trust of our father Abraham before his circumcision. 13For the promise to Abraham or to his seed—to become heir of the world—was not through law, but through the righteousness based on trust. 14For if those who are of the Torah are heirs, trust has become empty and the promise is made ineffective.

Romans 4:12 word by word

καὶ πατέρα περιτομῆς, τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• the fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• of circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061
• notοὐou · noG3756
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• whoστοιχέωstoicheō · to followG4748
• in the stepsἴχνοςichnos · trackG2487
• of that faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• whichἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• uncircumcisedἀκροβυστίαakrobustia · uncircumcisionG203

Cross-references for Romans 4:12

• Romans 9:6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are Israel,
• Matthew 3:9and do not think that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
• Luke 16:23And from Sheol, as he was in torment, he raised his eyes. And he sees Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his side.
• John 8:39“Abraham is our father,” they replied to Him. Yeshua said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.
• Galatians 4:22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
• Job 33:11He puts my feet in the shackles; He watches closely all my paths.’
• Proverbs 2:20So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
• 2 Corinthians 12:18I did urge Titus to visit you, and I sent the brother with him. Titus didn’t take any advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit, in the same footsteps?
• 1 Peter 2:21For you were called to this, because Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in His footsteps:

Commentaries on Romans 4:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12And the father of circumcision - He is also the head and representative of all the circumcision of all the Jews who walk in the steps of that faith; who seek for justification by faith only, and not by the works of the law; for this was the faith that Abraham had before he received circumcision. For, the covenant being made with Abraham while he was a Gentile, he became the representative of the Gentiles, and they primarily were included in that covenant…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And the father of circumcision - The father, that is, the ancestor, exemplar, or model of those who are circumcised, and who possess the same faith that he did. Not only the father of all believers Romans 4:11, but in a special sense the father of the Jewish people. In this, the apostle intimates that though all who believed would be saved as he was, yet the Jews had a special proprietorship in Abraham; they had special favors and privileges from the fact…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12When God introduced circumcision, he called it “a sign of the covenant” between himself and Abraham (Genesis 17:11). The covenant existed before Abraham became circumcised (Genesis 12:1–3; 15:1–21; 17:1–8). This shows that it was on the basis of faith, not circumcision. Therefore, Abraham is the spiritual father of all people, whether circumcised (Jews) or uncircumcised (Gentiles), "who are of the faith of Abraham" (Romans 4:13–25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-129-12. Cometh this blessedness then, &c.--that is, "Say not, All this is spoken of the circumcised, and is therefore no evidence of God's general way of justifying men; for Abraham's justification took place long before he was circumcised, and so could have no dependence upon that rite: nay, 'the sign of circumcision' was given to Abraham as 'a seal' (or token) of the (justifying) righteousness which he had before he was circumcised; in order that he might…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 4:12

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

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Flesh
• Impute
• Quicken
• Raise
• Reckon
• Stagger
• Unbelief
• Void

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