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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Romans 4:7

Blessed] i.e. happy; from Psalms 32:1.

9-12. The blessing was not dependent upon circumcision, to which as signifying admission to covenant with God, the Jews attach such importance.

Paraphrase. '(9) Again. The blessing was irrespective of circumcision. (10) For at the time that Abraham's faith was reckoned for righteousness, he was uncircumcised. (11) His circumcision was but a token, by which God sealed that acceptance which was his as a believing man. Hence, all Gentiles who believe are his spiritual children, and have righteousness reckoned to them. (12) And those Jews are his children who are not merely circumcised, but believe as he believed.'

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See also Romans 4:7 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Romans 4:7. _BLESSED_ ARE _THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN_] That is, the man is truly _happy_ whose iniquities αιανομιαι, whose _transgressions of the law_ are forgiven; for by these he was...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BLESSED - Happy are they: they are highly favored; see the note at Matthew 5:3. WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED - Are concealed; or hidden from the view. On which God will no more look, and which he will no mo...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The Witness of Abraham to Justification. (Romans 4:1 .)_ 2. As Confirmed also by David. (Romans 4:6 .) 3. Circumcision the Sign of the Covenant. (Romans 4:9 .) 4. Faith in Him Who Ra...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ROMANS 4:1_ A_. THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM. Romans 4:1. The Jewish objector once more: What about Abraham then? (_mg.);_ if the circumcised Israelite is justified on no more favourable terms than the Gent...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    What, then, shall we say that Abraham, our forefather from whom we take our human descent, found? If Abraham entered into a right relationship with God by means of work, he has some ground for boastin...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE FAITH WHICH TAKES GOD AT HIS WORD (Romans 4:1-8)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BLESSED. App-63. INIQUITIES. App-128. FORGIVEN. App-174. SINS. App-128. COVERED. covered over. Greek. _epikalupto._ Only here....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Blessed_, &c. The Gr. is verbatim from LXX. It is worth remarking that the words (in the Psalm) following this quotation ("and in whose spirit is no guile") are in full accord with its application he...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΜΑΚΆΡΙΟΣ (G3107) блаженный, счастливый(та.ОТ; Matthew 5:3). ΆΦΈΘΗΣΑΝ _aor. ind. pass. от_ ΆΦΊΗΜΙ (G863) прощать, ΑΝΟΜΊΑ (G458) беззаконие, ΈΠΕΚΑΛΎΦΘΗΣΑΝ _aor. ind. pass. от_ ΕΠΙΚΑΛΎΠΤΩ (G1943) покр...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1837 THE PARDONED BLESSED Romans 4:7. _Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin_ [Note: The Author...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1836 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE Romans 4:1. What shall we then say that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _TEXT_ Romans 4:1-8. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh? Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [SAYING], BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED....

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    _THE CONDUCT OF MANKIND_ 19 The passages from the Psalms might be turned by the Jews to apply to the nations. But the apostle rightly insists that what is written in the law is binding upon those und...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FORGIVEN. — The stress is upon this word; “whose sins are not abolished, but forgiven; not annihilated, but covered up, removed from sight, hidden by the absolving grace of God.”...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IV. (1-25) The subject of the chapter is an application of the foregoing to the special (and crucial) case of Abraham, with particular reference to two ideas that are continually recurring throughout...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (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, bu...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 10 ABRAHAM AND DAVID Romans 4:1 THE Jewish disputant is present still to the Apostle's thought. It could not be otherwise in this argument. No question was more pressing on the Jewish mind t...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The justification of Abraham, considered in relation to the doctrine just expounded in Romans 3:21-31. The point to be made out is that the justification of Abraham does not traverse but illustrates t...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BLESSEDNESS FOLLOWS FAITH Romans 4:1 In this chapter the doctrine of justification by faith is illustrated from the life of Abraham. It is evident that he was not justified because of his good works....

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle now dealt with another difficulty that might arise in the mind of the Jew, showing that the method of grace, namely, imputing righteousness in response to faith, is in harmony with the who...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. That is, blessed are those who, by doing penance, have obtained pardon and remission of their sins, and also are covered; th...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “ _As David also exactly celebrateth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    TENTH PASSAGE (4:1-25). FAITH THE PRINCIPLE OF ABRAHAM'S JUSTIFICATION. Abraham being for the Jews the embodiment of salvation, his case was of capital moment in the solution of the question here tre...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    1. ROMANS 4:1-12. Abraham was justified _by faith_, Romans 4:1-8, and by faith _alone_, Romans 4:9-12....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (7) Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (8...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The circumstances under which the epistle to the Romans was written gave occasion to the most thorough and comprehensive unfolding, not of the church, but of Christianity. No apostle had ever yet visi...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE COVERING OF SIN_ ‘Blessed are they … whose sins are covered.’ Romans 4:7 How to get sin covered has been the question which has exercised man’s thoughts ever since he became a sinner. Consider...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In dealing with the Jew, and even in dealing with the question of righteousness, there was, besides the law, another consideration of great weight both with the Jews themselves and in the dealings of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    SAYING, BLESSED ARE THEY,.... These words are cited from Psalms 32:1, and contain the proof of the happiness of justified persons. In this citation the singular number is changed into the plural, to...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _Saying_, Blessed _are_ they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Ver. 7. _Are covered_] _Sic velantur ut in iudicio non revelentur; _ so covered as that he never see them again...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Even as David also_ David is fitly introduced after Abraham, because he also received and delivered down the promise; _describeth the blessedness_ or happiness _of the man_ Or affirms that the man is...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    SINS ARE COVERED; not punished, but forgiven....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    SAYING, BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A proof from the Psalms:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    ABRAHAM AND DAVID JUSTIFIED BY FAITH Now there is deepest patience and grace shown on the part of God through Paul, His instrument in writing this epistle: for it is blessed to see that He gives no m...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    ROMANS 4:1-25 1. How was Abraham justified? 2. Could he have been justified by works? a. Why or why not? b. Faith excludes boasting 3:27 c. If saved by works, Abraham could glory 3. How did it h...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    __ Romans 4:7 saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-12 To meet the views of the Jews, the apostle first refers to the example of Abraham, in whom the Jews gloried as their most renowned forefather. However exalted in various respects, he had nothing...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    This testimony is taken out of PSALMS 32:1, and it is well enough accommodated to the occasion, for those two, to remit sin, and to impute righteousness, are inseparable. The one is put here figurativ...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    saying [Psalms 32:1-2], _Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered_....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book II Wherefore says the apostle, "Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace."[144] Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book II...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Romans 4:7 Blessed G3107 whose G3739 deeds G458 forgiven G863 (G5681) And G2532 whose G3739 sins G266 covered...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE WAY OF JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH ILLUSTRATED IN ABRAHAM AND ANNOUNCED BY DAVID (4:1-8). Paul now demonstrates that Abraham's acceptability with God was by faith, not works, something which is th...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    WHAT PAUL HAS JUST DESCRIBED IS NOW SEEN TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH IDEAS RELATED TO ABRAHAM AND DAVID (4:1-25). No one was of more importance to the Jews than Abraham. It was to him that God had given...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2. PROOF FROM THE CASE OF ABRAHAM, THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BY FAITH. The principle of faith, as the universal one, does not make void the law. In the truest sense it is by this principle that ‘we establ...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Romans 4:7. BLESSED ARE THEY, etc. The quotation is made exactly from the LXX. WHOSO SINS ARE COVERED. The idea of the first clause is repeated under another figure, according to the parallelism of...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BLESSED (μακαριο). See on Matthew 5:3.ARE FORGIVEN (αφεθησαν). First aorist passive indicative of αφιημ, without augment (αφειθησαν, regular form). Paul quotes Psalms 32:1 and as from David. Paul...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    INIQUITES, SINS SIN (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 3:23). _...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

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  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Romans 4:1. _What shall we say then that Abraham our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?_ What blessings did really come to Abraham, the father of the faithful? What is the nature of that...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Romans 4:1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Romans 4:1. _What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what sait...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Abraham justified by faith, not works. Justifying faith defined. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Abraham, David, Sarah. CONCLUSION: No man can pretend to merit eternal life, nor show any worth in...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Romans 4:1. _What shall we say then that Abraham, our father, as pertaining_ _to the flesh, hath found?_ How was he a sinner, an idolater, justified? _Was it by the flesh,_ as indicated by the word fa...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    WHOSE SIN HE HAS COVERED OVER. This uses the symbolism of the sacrifices of the Law in which the blood of the sacrifice _covered over_ the _sins_ so they could be forgiven....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?_ LESSONS FROM THE CASE OF ABRAHAM I. However much the most perfect of the species may have to glory of in the...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works._ IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS DEFENDED AGAINST ITS CARICATURES It has been represented as-- I...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 4:1 Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, is presented as a test case for the view that justification is by faith alone. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ROMANS—NOTE ON ROMANS 4:6 Paul introduces DAVID as a second example of righteousness by faith, citing Psalms 32:1....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Romans 4:1.—Alford, following Meyer, says κατὰ σάρκα is in contrast to κατὰ πνεῦμα, and refers to that part of our being from which spring works in contrast with that which is the ex...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ROMANS 4:1 (5) _Abraham himself shown to have been justified by faith, and not by works, believers being his true heirs._ The main points of the argument may be summarized thus: When Abra...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now what shall we say concerning Abraham the father, as pertaining to the flesh, what did he find? For if Abraham were justified by his works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God (Romans 4:1-...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 40:2; Jeremiah 33:8; Jeremiah 33:9; Luke 7:47;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Iniquities [α ν ο μ ι α ι]. Lit., lawlessnesses. Are forgiven [α φ ε θ η σ α ν]. Lit., were forgiven. See on Matthew 6:12; James 5:15; 1 John 1:9. Also on remission, Luke 3:

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Happy are they whose sins are covered — With the veil of divine mercy. If there be indeed such a thing as happiness on earth, it is the portion of that man whose iniquities are forgiven, and who enjoy...

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