Romans 4 · Verse 13

Romans 4:13

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 4:13, King James Version

Romans 4:13 in other translations

BSB	For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
WEB	For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
ASV	For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
YLT	For not through law is the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, of his being heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith;
DARBY	For it was not by law that the promise was to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but by righteousness of faith.
BBE	For God's word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Webster	For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

What does Romans 4:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 4:13-15

13-15. For the promise, &c.--This is merely an enlargement of the foregoing reasoning, applying to the law what had just been said of circumcision. that he should be the heir of the world--or, that "all the families of the earth should be blessed in him." was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law--in virtue of obedience to the law. but through the righteousness of faith--in virtue of his simple faith in the divine promises.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. For the promise, etc. To show that the faith of Abraham, on which his justification depended, was not by the law, the apostle proceeds to show that the promise concerning which his faith was so remarkably evinced was before the law was given. If this was so, then it was an additional important consideration in opposition to the Jew, showing that acceptance with God depended on faith, and not on works.

That he should be the heir of the world. An heir is one who succeeds, or is to succeed to an estate. In this passage, the world, or the entire earth, is regarded as the estate to which reference is made; and the promise is, that the posterity of Abraham should succeed to that, or should possess it as their inheritance. The precise expression here used, "heir of the world," is not found in the promises made to Abraham. Those promises were, that God would make of him a great nation, (Gen 12:2) that in him all the families of the earth should be blessed, Gen 12:3; that his posterity should be as the stars for multitude, Gen 15:5 and that he should be a father of many nations, Gen 17:5. As this latter promise is one to which the apostle particularly refers, (Rom 4:17) it is probable that he had this in his eye. This promise had, at first, respect to his numerous natural descendants, and to their possessing the land of Canaan. But it is also regarded in the New Testament as extending to the Messiah Gal 3:16 as his descendant, and to all his followers as the spiritual seed of the father of the faithful. When the apostle calls him "the heir of the world," he sums up in this comprehensive expression all the promises made to Abraham, intimating that his spiritual descendants, i.e. those who possess his faith shall yet be so numerous as to possess all lands.

Or to his seed. To his posterity, or descendants.

Through the law. By the observance of the law; or made in consequence of observing the law; or depending on the condition that he should observe the law. The covenant was made before the law of circumcision was given; and long before the law of Moses, (comp. Gal 3:16,17,18a) and was independent of both.

But through, etc. In consequence of, or in connexion with, the strong confidence which he showed in the promises of God, Gen 15:6.

(p) "he should be the heir" Gen 17:4, etc.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world - This promise intimated that he should be the medium through whom the mercy of God should be communicated to the world, to both Jews and Gentiles; and the manner in which he was justified, be the rule and manner according to which all men should expect this blessing. Abraham is here represented as having all the world given to him as his inheritance; because in him all nations of the earth are blessed: this must therefore relate to their being all interested in the Abrahamic covenant; and every person, now that the covenant is fully explained, has the privilege of claiming justification through faith, by the blood of the Lamb, in virtue of this original grant.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 4:13-22

The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointed it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like precious faith with Abraham, whether Jews or Gentiles, in all ages. The justification and salvation of sinners, the taking to himself the Gentiles who had not been a people, were a gracious calling of things which are not, as though they were; and this giving a being to things that were not, proves the almighty power of God. The nature and power of Abraham's faith are shown. He believed God's testimony, and looked for the performance of his promise, firmly hoping when the case seemed hopeless. It is weakness of faith, that makes a man lie poring on the difficulties in the way of a promise. Abraham took it not for a point that would admit of argument or debate. Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God's promises. The strength of faith appeared in its victory over fears. God honours faith; and great faith honours God. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Faith is a grace that of all others gives glory to God. Faith clearly is the instrument by which we receive the righteousness of God, the redemption which is by Christ; and that which is the instrument whereby we take or receive it, cannot be the thing itself, nor can it be the gift thereby taken and received. Abraham's faith did not justify him by its own merit or value, but as giving him a part in Christ.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Romans 4:13 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.

οὐouNotG3756

γὰρgarforG1063

διὰdiathroughG1223

νόμουnomou[the] LawG3551

ἡhē[was] theG3588

ἐπαγγελίαepangeliapromiseG1860

τῷtō<the>G3588

ἈβραὰμAbraamto AbrahamG11

ἢēorG2228

τῷtōto theG3588

σπέρματιspermatidescendantsG4690

αὐτοῦautouof himG846

τὸtothatG3588

κληρονόμονklēronomonheirG2818

αὐτὸνautonheG846

εἶναιeinaibeingG1511

κόσμουkosmouworldG2889

ἀλλὰallabutG235

διὰdiathroughG1223

δικαιοσύνηςdikaiosunēs[the] righteousnessG1343

πίστεως.pisteōsof faith.G4102

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

Cross references for Romans 4:13

Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Genesis 28:14
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Romans 9:8
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Genesis 22:17-18
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Psalms 2:8
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Genesis 17:4-6
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
Galatians 3:16-18
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Genesis 17:16
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Genesis 12:3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Psalms 72:11
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

For the.
Ge 12:3; 17:4,5,16; 22:17,18; 28:14; 49:10; Ps 2:8; 72:11
through the.
Ga 3:16-18,29
but through.
11

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

Context

Romans 4:12
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Romans 4:14
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Read all of Romans 4

Romans 4:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque no por la ley fué dada la promesa á Abraham ó á su simiente, que sería heredero del mundo, sino por la justicia de la fe.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car ce n’est pas par la loi que la promesse d’être héritier du monde a été faite à Abraham ou à sa semence, mais par la justice de la foi.
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn nicht durch Gesetz ward dem Abraham oder seinem Samen die Verheißung, daß er der Welt Erbe sein sollte, sondern durch Glaubensgerechtigkeit.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Non enim per legem promissio Abrahæ, aut semini ejus ut hæres esset mundi: sed per justitiam fidei.