Romans Chapter 4 verse 3 Holy Bible

ASV Romans 4:3

For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
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BBE Romans 4:3

But what does it say in the holy Writings? And Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness.
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DARBY Romans 4:3

for what does the scripture say? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
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KJV Romans 4:3

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
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WBT Romans 4:3


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WEB Romans 4:3

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
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YLT Romans 4:3

for what doth the writing say? `And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him -- to righteousness;'
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Romans 4 : 3 Bible Verse Songs

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 3. - For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned Unto him for righteousness. This notable text (Genesis 15:6), declaring the ground of Abraham's acceptance, is similarly quoted in the cognate passage, Galatians 3:6. It has a peculiar cogency in the general argument from being in connection with, and with reference to, one of the Divine promises to Abraham of an unnumbered seed; so that it may be understood with an extended application to those who were to inherit the blessing, as well as to the "father of the faithful," and so declaring the principle of justification for all the "children of the promise." Further, it would be peculiarly telling as addressed to the Jews, who made such a point of their descent from Abraham as the root of all their position of privilege (cf. Psalm 105:6; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 51:2; Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8; John 8:39). The two significant expressions in it are ἐπίστευσε (denoting faith, not works) and ἐλογίσθη εἰς The whole phrase, the apostle proceeds to say, implies that the reward spoken of was not earned, but granted.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) The Apostle gives a proof of this from Scripture. Abraham was not justified by works, and therefore had nothing to boast of in God's sight. He was justified by faith. His righteousness was not real, but imputed. His faith was treated as if it had been equivalent to a righteousness of works. It met with the same acceptance in the sight of God that a righteousness of works would have done. But--the argument goes on--faith carries with it no such idea of merit or debt as works. It is met by a pure act of grace on the part of God.Abraham believed God.--The quotation is taken from Genesis 15:6, where it appears as a comment upon Abraham's belief in the promise that he should have a numerous posterity. The same passage is elaborately commented upon by Philo and others, so that it would seem to have been a common topic in the Jewish schools. It should be noticed that the word "faith" is not used in quite the same sense in the original and in the application. In Abraham's case it was trust in the fulfilment of the divine promise, in St. Paul's sense it is rather enthusiastic adhesion to a person. This is part of the general enlargement and deepening of the Old Testament terminology by St. Paul. A writer of less profundity (though marked by striking and elevated qualities), the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, applies the word more strictly. (See Hebrews 11:8 et seq.) In James 2:23 the word has the still thinner meaning of a merely intellectual assent. St Paul quotes the same passage in the same sense as here in Galatians 3:6. (See Excursus B: On the Meaning of the word Faith.)It was counted unto him.--It should be observed that the same words are translated by the Authorised version here, "it was counted unto him;" in Romans 4:9, "faith was reckoned to Abraham;" in Romans 4:22, "it was imputed unto him;" in Galatians 3:6, "it was accounted to him;" in James 2:23, "it was imputed to him." A defect in the translation, which, however, hardly obscures the true meaning. . . .