Genesis 15 · Verse 6

Genesis 15:6

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 15:6, King James Version

Genesis 15:6 in other translations

BSBAbram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
WEBHe believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.
ASVAnd he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.
YLTAnd he hath believed in Jehovah, and He reckoneth it to him--righteousness.
DARBYAnd he believed Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness.
BBEAnd he had faith in the Lord, and it was put to his account as righteousness.
WebsterAnd he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

What does Genesis 15:6 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness - This I conceive to be one of the most important passages in the whole Old Testament. It properly contains and specifies that doctrine of justification by faith which engrosses so considerable a share of the epistles of St. Paul, and at the foundation of which is the atonement made by the Son of God: And he (Abram) believed האמן heemin, he put faith) in Jehovah, ויחשבה לו vaiyachshebeita lo, and he counted it - the faith he put in Jehovah, to Him for righteousness, צדקה tsedakah, or justification; though there was no act in the case but that of the mind and heart, no work of any kind. Hence the doctrine of justification by faith, without any merit of works; for in this case there could be none - no works of Abram which could merit the salvation of the whole human race. It was the promise of God which he credited, and in the blessedness of which he became a partaker through faith. See at Gen 15:19 (note); see also on Romans 4 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 15:2-6

Though we must never complain of God, yet we have leave to complain to him; and to state all our grievances. It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate friend. Abram's complaint is, that he had no child; that he was never likely to have any; that the want of a son was so great a trouble to him, that it took away all his comfort. If we suppose that Abram looked no further than…

Read the full comment on Genesis 15:2-6 →

Genesis 15:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהֶאֱמִ֖ןve.he.'e.Minand he believedH539
בַּֽיהוָ֑הba.Yah.wehin YahwehH3068
וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָvai.yach.she.Ve.haand he credited itH2803
לּ֖וֹloto <the> him
צְדָקָֽה\׃tze.da.KahrighteousnessH6666

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 15:6

  • James 2:23

    And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

  • Galatians 3:6-14

    Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. …

  • 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.

  • Romans 4:20-25

    He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; …

  • Romans 4:3-6

    For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

  • Psalms 106:31

    And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

  • Hebrews 11:8

    By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

  • Romans 4:11

    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:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he believed.
Ro 4:3-6,9,20-25; Ga 3:6-14; Heb 11:8; Jas 2:23
he counted.
Ps 106:31; Ro 4:11,22; 2Co 5:19; Ga 3:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 15:5

    And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

  • Genesis 15:6

    And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

  • Genesis 15:7

    And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

Read all of Genesis 15

Genesis 15:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y creyó á Jehová, y contóselo por justicia.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il crut l’ Éternel; et il lui compta cela à justice.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er glaubte Jehova; und er rechnete es ihm zur Gerechtigkeit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Credidit Abram Deo, et reputatum est illi ad justitiam.