Romans 4:6
New International Version
David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

New Living Translation
David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

English Standard Version
just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

Berean Standard Bible
And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Berean Literal Bible
just as David also declares the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

King James Bible
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

New King James Version
just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

New American Standard Bible
just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

NASB 1995
just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

NASB 1977
just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

Legacy Standard Bible
just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

Amplified Bible
And in this same way David speaks of the blessing on the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Christian Standard Bible
Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works:

American Standard Version
Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

Contemporary English Version
In the Scriptures David talks about the blessings that come to people who are acceptable to God, even though they don't do anything to deserve these blessings. David says,

English Revised Version
Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said,

Good News Translation
This is what David meant when he spoke of the happiness of the person whom God accepts as righteous, apart from anything that person does:

International Standard Version
Likewise, David also speaks of the blessedness of the person whom God regards as righteous apart from actions:

Majority Standard Bible
And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

NET Bible
So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

New Heart English Bible
Even as David also pronounces blessing on the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,

Webster's Bible Translation
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Weymouth New Testament
In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions.

World English Bible
Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

Berean Literal Bible
just as David also declares the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Young's Literal Translation
even as David also doth speak of the happiness of the man to whom God doth reckon righteousness apart from works:

Smith's Literal Translation
As also David speaks the happiness of the man, to whom God reckons justice without works,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputeth justice without works:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Similarly, David also declares the blessedness of a man, to whom God brings justice without works:

New American Bible
So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

New Revised Standard Version
So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Just as David also said about the blessedness of the man, whom God declared righteous without works,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Just as David also said about the blessedness of a man to whom God accounts righteousness without works, as he said:
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness without works, saying:

Godbey New Testament
Indeed David also speaks of the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,

Haweis New Testament
As David also describeth the blessedness of that man, to whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Mace New Testament
even as David also speaks of the happiness of the man whom God accounted righteous independently of his works,

Weymouth New Testament
In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions.

Worrell New Testament
Even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God reckoneth righteousness, apart from works,

Worsley New Testament
As David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom: God imputeth righteousness without works, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham Justified by Faith
5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.…

Cross References
Psalm 32:1-2
Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Galatians 3:6-9
So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” / Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ...

Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

2 Corinthians 5:19
that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast.

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Galatians 3:13-14
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” / He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Isaiah 53:11
After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Jeremiah 23:6
In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

2 Samuel 22:21-25
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. / For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God. / For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes. ...

Habakkuk 2:4
Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—

Luke 18:13-14
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ / I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.


Treasury of Scripture

Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,

blessedness.

Romans 4:9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Deuteronomy 33:29
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful…

imputeth.

Romans 4:11,24
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: …

Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

without.

Romans 3:20,21,27
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin…

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: …

2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

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Account Actions Apart Blessedness Blessing Counts Credit David Declares Describeth Happiness Imputeth Places Pronounces Pronounceth Puts Reckon Reckoneth Reckons Righteousness Speak Speaks Tells Way Works
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Account Actions Apart Blessedness Blessing Counts Credit David Declares Describeth Happiness Imputeth Places Pronounces Pronounceth Puts Reckon Reckoneth Reckons Righteousness Speak Speaks Tells Way Works
Romans 4
1. Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness;
10. before he was circumcised.
13. By faith only he and his seed received the promise.
16. Abraham is the father of all who believe.
24. Our faith also shall be credited to us as righteousness.














And David speaks likewise
This phrase connects the teachings of Paul with the Old Testament, specifically the Psalms, showing the continuity of God's plan throughout Scripture. The Greek word for "speaks" (λέγει, legei) implies a present, active declaration, suggesting that the truths David expressed are timeless and relevant. David, a revered king and prophet, is used here to validate the doctrine of justification by faith, emphasizing that this concept is not new but rooted deeply in Jewish tradition.

of the blessedness
The term "blessedness" (μακαρισμός, makarismos) refers to a state of divine favor and happiness. In the Hebrew context, this word often denotes a profound sense of well-being and joy that comes from being in right relationship with God. This blessedness is not based on human achievement but is a gift from God, highlighting the grace that underpins the Christian faith.

of the man
The phrase "of the man" (ἀνθρώπου, anthrōpou) is inclusive, indicating that this blessedness is available to all humanity, not limited by ethnicity, gender, or social status. This universality is a cornerstone of the Gospel message, affirming that God's grace is accessible to every person who believes.

to whom God credits righteousness
The word "credits" (λογίζεται, logizetai) is an accounting term, meaning to reckon or consider. It signifies that God imputes righteousness to the believer's account, not based on their works but through faith. This concept is central to Pauline theology, emphasizing that righteousness is a gift from God, not a human accomplishment. The righteousness of God is thus seen as both a legal standing and a transformative reality in the believer's life.

apart from works
This phrase underscores the doctrine of sola fide, or faith alone, which is a fundamental tenet of conservative Christian theology. The Greek word for "works" (ἔργων, ergōn) refers to deeds or actions. Paul is making it clear that human efforts, no matter how noble, cannot earn God's favor. This teaching liberates believers from the burden of trying to achieve salvation through their own efforts and directs them to rely wholly on God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

(6-8) A further instance of the nature of the justification which proceeds from faith is supplied by David. From his evidence it will appear that such justification implies, not the absence of sin, but its forgiveness; not its real obliteration, but the forbearance of God to impute it. It is an amnesty, not an acquittal.

(6) Even as.--In strict accordance with this description of the justified state we have another, that of David.

Describeth the blessedness.--Rather, speaks the felicitation, felicitates, or pronounces blessed.

Verses 6-8. - Even as David also describeth the blessedness (λέγει τὸν μακαρισμὸν. The noun means properly a declaring blessed - beatitatis praedicatio - "Eloquitur illud beati praeconiam" (Bengel). We might render, "David tells of the blessing on the man," etc.) of the man unto whom God reckoneth (λογίζεται, as before. Imputeth in the Authorized Version suggests the idea of a different word being used) righteousness apart from works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon (λογίσηται, as before, and so throughout the whole passage) sin (Psalm 32:1, 2). The introduction of this testimony of David to the same principle of justification serves not only to explain it further, but also to show that under the Law too it continued to be recognized; and by David himself, the typical king and psalmist under the legal dispensation. But the argument from Abraham is not discontinued, being resumed in the next verse, and continued to the end of the chapter. If it be said that these verses from Psalm 32. do not in themselves declare a general principle applicable to all, but only the blessedness to sinners of having their sins forgiven, it may be replied, firstly, that the way in which the verses are introduced does not require more to be implied. All that need be meant is that the ground of justification exemplified in Abraham's case is the same as is spoken of by David as still available for man, and crowned with blessing. But, secondly, it is to be observed that these verses represent and suggest the general tenor of the Book of Psalms, in which human righteousness is never asserted as constituting a claim to reward. "My trust is in thy mercy," is, on the contrary, the ever-recurring theme. St. Paul's quotations from the Old Testament are frequently given as suggestive of the general scriptural teaching on the subject in hand, rather than as exhaustive proofs in themselves.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

David
Δαυὶδ (Dauid)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1138: David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king.

speaks
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

likewise
καθάπερ (kathaper)
Adverb
Strong's 2509: Even as, just as. From katha and per; exactly as.

of the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

blessedness
μακαρισμὸν (makarismon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3108: Regarding as happy, blessed, or enviable. From makarizo; beatification, i.e. Attribution of good fortune.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

man
ἀνθρώπου (anthrōpou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

to whom
(hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

credits
λογίζεται (logizetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3049: To reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose.

righteousness
δικαιοσύνην (dikaiosynēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1343: From dikaios; equity; specially justification.

apart from
χωρὶς (chōris)
Preposition
Strong's 5565: Apart from, separately from; without. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. Separately or apart from.

works:
ἔργων (ergōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.


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NT Letters: Romans 4:6 Even as David also pronounces blessing (Rom. Ro)
Romans 4:5
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