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Romans 4:19

in Romans 4

Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

KJV

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:

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This verse in Romans 4

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

on Romans 4:18-22

Therefore Abraham "against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations," which were to be as the stars of heaven, not only in multitude but also in brightness; and he, faithfully believing him who promised, "was not," he says, "weakened in faith." What he says, "he was not weakened in faith," seems to me to show that there is a certain weakness in faith. But if there is weakness, there is without doubt also health, as he shows in other places when he says: "Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."

This site's exposition

against hope believed in hope

on Romans 4:18-19

Against hope Abraham believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to the word so shall thy seed be. Being not weak in faith, he considered his own body now as good as dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb, and Paul lingers over the physical facts rather than skipping past them, because the size of the obstacle is what makes the faith worth naming. Real faith looks straight at the evidence against the promise and believes the promise anyway.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Romans · Written before 1274.

Then when he says, and he was not weak, he shows Abraham's firmness. For as temperance is shown not to be weak, because it is not overcome by strong temptations, so faith is shown not to be weak but strong, because it is not overcome …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

He said indeed, Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old? But that was the language of his admiration and his desire to be further satisfied, not of his doubting and distrust; his faith passed by that consideration, and thought of nothing but the faithfulness of the promise, with the contemplation whereof he was swallowed up, and this kept up his faith.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
And being not weak in faith - That is, having strong faith. He considered not - He did not regard the fact that his body was now dead, as any obstacle to the fulfillment of the promise. He did not suffer that fact to influence him, or to produce any doubt about the fulfillment. Faith looks to the strength of God, not to second causes, or to difficulties that may appear formidable to man.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

on Romans 4:18-22

Who against hope--when no ground for hope appeared. believed in hope--that is, cherished the believing expectation. that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be--that is, Such "as the stars of heaven," Ge 15:5.

The words behind it

20 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

17 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Hebrews 11:11–19By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.10 worksRomans 4:20–21Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,9 worksGenesis 17:17Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”9 worksRomans 14:1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.7 worksMatthew 14:29“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.5 worksGenesis 21:5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.5 works
The other 11 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 6:30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?4 worksJohn 20:27–28Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”4 worksGenesis 18:11–14And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.4 worksMatthew 8:26“You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.4 worksMark 9:23–24“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”4 worksMatthew 14:31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”4 worksLuke 1:18“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”4 worksLuke 1:7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.3 worksGenesis 24:36My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.3 worksRomans 14:21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.2 worksRomans 4:18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Matthew 6:30

    If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

    it leads to

    • Luke 12:28

      If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!

    • Matthew 14:31

      Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

    • 1 Peter 1:24

      For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

    • Matthew 16:8

      Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?

    • Matthew 8:26

      “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.

  • Through

    Genesis 17:17

    Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”

    it leads to

    • Genesis 18:12

      So she laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

    • Genesis 21:6

      Then Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.”

    • Romans 4:19–20

      Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

Where this verse is studied

2 studies on this verse

About Romans

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

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.

Read on in Romans 4 →