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Romans 4:17

“(as it is written: I have made you a father of many nations) in the presence of the God whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist as though they existed.”

Romans 4:17 · direct translation from the Greek
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With the Greek beneath

17

Quotation · Genesis 17:5

Go to Genesis 17:5

Paul quotes the second half of Genesis 17:5, the explanation of Abraham’s name.

Formula: καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι “as it is written” (Romans 4:17)

See the original texts

Greek of the New Testament: καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι Πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ τοῦ ζῳοποιοῦντος τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα

Hebrew (Masoretic text): וְלֹא יִקָּרֵא עוֹד אֶת שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָם וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָהָם כִּי אַב הֲמוֹן גּוֹיִם נְתַתִּיךָ

Septuagint (Genesis 17:5 in the Septuagint numbering): καὶ οὐ κληθήσεται ἔτι τὸ ὄνομά σου Ἁβράμ, ἀλλ’ ἔσται Ἀβραὰμ τὸ ὄνομα σου· ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε.

The Greek of the NT matches the Septuagint word for word in 6 consecutive words: “ὅτι Πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε.”

Septuagint, Swete’s text, First1KGreek transcription (with reading errors), CC BY-SA 4.0

Romans 4:17, word by word

it is writtenγέγραπταιgegraptai

it is written

So the Bible says; a passage is quoted.

Where else “gegraptai” appears
I have madeτέθεικάtetheika

appoint

To name someone to a post, or decide something.

Where else “tetheika” appears
a fatherΠατέραPatera

originator

One who starts something or whom others follow.

Where else “Patera” appears
of manyπολλῶνpollōn

many

A great number of people or things.

Where else “pollōn” appears
nations)ἐθνῶνethnōn

nation

A people with its own land, language and customs.

Where else “ethnōn” appears
in the presence ofκατέναντιkatenanti

opposite

Opposite, across from; in front of.

Where else “katenanti” appears
the Godθεοῦtheou

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theou” appears
he believedἐπίστευσενepisteusen

trust

To trust in God or in Jesus.

Where else “episteusen” appears
gives life toζῳοποιοῦντοςzōiopoiountos

give life

Give life, make alive; restore to life.

Where else “zōiopoiountos” appears
the deadνεκροὺςnekrous

dead

Someone who no longer has life, whose body has no breath left.

Where else “nekrous” appears
callsκαλοῦντοςkalountos

call to life

God inviting someone to a new life.

Where else “kalountos” appears
existὄνταonta

exist

To have existence, to be alive.

Where else “onta” appears

Translation note

Genesis 17:5.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Quotation · Genesis 17:5

Paul quotes the second half of Genesis 17:5, the explanation of Abraham’s name.

See them side by side

Romans 4:17

17(as it is written: I have made you a father of many nations) in the presence of the God whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist as though they existed.

Genesis 17:5

5No longer will your name be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

The context

16For this reason it is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, so that the promise may be certain to all the offspring, not only to those of the law but also to those of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

17 · This verse (above)

18He believed, in hope against hope, so that he would become the father of many nations according to what had been said: So your offspring will be.

Read all of Romans 4

To study Romans 4 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does Paul say happened to Abraham when he believed God? (vv. 3, 20-22)

  2. 2. What it means

    Why does Paul use the example of Abraham to speak of faith? What does he want to show? (vv. 1-3, 9-12)

  3. 3. How I live it

    Abraham kept trusting although it seemed impossible (vv. 18-21). In what situation is trust hard for you, and what would help you keep hoping?

How to use it