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Romans 4:17

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

(as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.

KJV

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

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Commentary

4 voices

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

23 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531 →
γέγραπταιgegraptaiit has been writtenG1125 →
ὅτιhotithatG3754 →
πατέραpateraA fatherG3962 →
πολλῶνpollōnof manyG4183 →
ἐθνῶνethnōnnationsG1484 →
τέθεικάtetheikaI have madeG5087 →
σε,seyou,G4771 →
κατέναντιkatenantibeforeG2713 →
οὗhouwhomG3739 →
ἐπίστευσενepisteusenhe believedG4100 →
θεοῦ,theouGod,G2316 →
τοῦtouwhoG3588 →
ζῳοποιοῦντοςzōopoiountosis giving lifeG2227 →
τοὺςtousto theG3588 →
νεκροὺςnekrousdeadG3498 →
καὶkaiandG2532 →
καλοῦντοςkalountoscallingG2564 →
τὰtathe [things]G3588 →
μὴmēnotG3361 →
ὄνταonta[into] beingG1510 →
ὡςhōsasG5613 →
ὄντα·ontaexisting;G1510 →

The walk

Related verses

18 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

1 Corinthians 1:28He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,Genesis 17:4–5“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.John 5:21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.Romans 8:29–30For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.John 6:63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.1 Peter 2:10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.Hebrews 11:3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.Ephesians 2:1–5And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,Romans 8:11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.John 5:25Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.Romans 3:29Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,Hebrews 11:7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.Hebrews 11:12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.Isaiah 44:7Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.Isaiah 48:13Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.Isaiah 55:12You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.1 Timothy 6:13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

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Justification by Faith: the Verdict of the Cross | MannaFest

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Six covenants in succession, cumulative rather than replacing. Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New. Each narrowing the line of promise while widening the scope of fulfillment.

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The Apostle Paul in Prison — Rembrandt

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Put That on Mine Account: Imputation

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About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Romans: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →
Continue: Romans 4 →