Romans 10 · Verse 17

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17, King James Version

Romans 10:17 in other translations

BSBConsequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
WEBSo faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
ASVSo belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
YLTso then the faith is by a report, and the report through a saying of God,
DARBYSo faith then is by a report, but the report by God's word.
BBESo faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
WebsterSo then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

What does Romans 10:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 10:16-17

16-17. But they have not all obeyed the gospel--that is, the Scripture hath prepared us to expect this sad result. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?--that is,"Where shall one find a believer?" The prophet speaks as if next to none would believe: The apostle softens this into "They have not all believed."

Read the full comment on Romans 10:16-17 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. So then faith cometh, etc. This I take to be clearly the language of the objector. As if he had said, by the very quotation which you have made from Isaiah, it appears that a report was necessary, life did not condemn men for not believing what they had not heard; but he complains of those who did not believe a message actually delivered to them. Even by this passage, therefore, it seems that a message was necessary, that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Divine message. It could not be right, therefore, to condemn those who had not obeyed the gospel, because they had not heard it; and hence not right to make salvation dependent on a condition which was, by the arrangement of God, put beyond their power. The very quotation from Isaiah, therefore, goes to confirm the objection in the 14th and 15th verses.

By hearing. Our translation has varied the expression here, which is the same in two places in the Greek: "Isaiah said, Who hath believed our report. (τηακοη). So then, you must admit that faith comes by that report, (εξακοης) and therefore this report or message is necessary." When it is said that faith cometh by hearing, it is not meant that all who hear actually believe, for that is not true; but that faith does not exist unless there is a message, or report, to be heard or believed. It cannot come otherwise than by such a message; in other words, unless there is something made known to be believed. And this shows us at once the importance of the message, and the fact that men are converted by the instrumentality of truth, and of truth only.

And hearing. And the report, or the message, (ηακοη) is by the word of God; that is, the message is sent by the command of God. It is his word, sent by his direction, and therefore, if withheld by him, those who did not believe could not be blamed. The argument of the objector is, that God could not justly condemn men for not believing the gospel.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 So then faith cometh by hearing - Preaching the Gospel is the ordinary means of salvation; faith in Christ is the result of hearing the word, the doctrine of God preached. Preaching, God sends; if heard attentively, faith will be produced; and if they believe the report, the arm of the Lord will be revealed in their salvation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 10:12-17

There is not one God to the Jews, more kind, and another to the Gentiles, who is less kind; the Lord is a Father to all men. The promise is the same to all, who call on the name of the Lord Jesus as the Son of God, as God manifest in the flesh. All believers thus call upon the Lord Jesus, and none else will do so humbly or sincerely. But how should any call on the Lord Jesus, the Divine Saviour, who had not heard of…

Read the full comment on Romans 10:12-17 →

Romans 10:17 in the original Greek

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.

ἄραaraSoG686
ἡhē<the>G3588
πίστιςpistisfaith [is]G4102
ἐξexfromG1537
ἀκοῆςakoēshearingG189
ἡhē<the>G3588
δὲdeandG1161
ἀκοὴakoēhearingG189
διὰdiathroughG1223
ῥήματοςrhēmatosdeclarationG4487
Χριστοῦ.Christouof Christ.G5547

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

Cross references for Romans 10:17

  • Galatians 3:2

    This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

  • Galatians 3:5

    He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

  • Luke 11:28

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

  • Mark 4:24

    And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

  • Luke 8:21

    And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

  • Romans 1:16

    For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

  • Romans 10:14

    How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

  • Hebrews 4:12-13

    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-24

    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. …

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

    But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
faith.
14; 1:16; Lu 16:29-31; 1Co 1:18-24; Col 1:4-6; 1Th 2:13; 2Th 2:13,14
Jas 1:18-21; 1Pe 1:23-25; 2:1,2
and hearing.
Jer 23:28,29; Mr 4:24; Lu 8:11,21; 11:28; 2Co 2:17; Heb 4:12,13
Re 1:9

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

Context

  • Romans 10:16

    But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

  • Romans 10:17

    So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  • Romans 10:18

    But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Read all of Romans 10

Romans 10:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Luego la fe es por el oir; y el oir por la palabra de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ainsi la foi est de ce qu’on entend, et ce qu’on entend par la parole de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Also ist der Glaube aus der Verkündigung, die Verkündigung aber durch Gottes Wort.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ergo fides ex auditu, auditus autem per verbum Christi.