Romans 4 · Verse 16

Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Romans 4:16, King James Version

Romans 4:16 in other translations

BSBTherefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
WEBFor this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
ASVFor this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
YLTBecause of this it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, for the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that which is of the law only, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham,
DARBYTherefore it is on the principle of faith, that it might be according to grace, in order to the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of Abraham's faith, who is father of us all,
BBEFor this reason it is of faith, so that it may be through grace; and so that the word of God may be certain to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
WebsterTherefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all;

What does Romans 4:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 4:16-17
16-17. Therefore, &c.--A general summary: "Thus justification is by faith, in order that its purely gracious character may be seen, and that all who follow in the steps of Abraham's faith--whether of his natural seed or no--may be assured of the like justification with the parent believer."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Therefore. In view of the course of reasoning which has been pursued. We have come to this conclusion.

It is of faith. Justification is by faith; or the plan which God has devised of saving men is by faith, Rom 3:26.

That it might be by grace. As a matter of mere undeserved mercy. If men were justified by law, it would be by their own merits; now it is of mere unmerited favour.

To the end. For the purpose, or design.

The promise, Rom 4:13.

Might be sure. Might be firm, or established. On any other ground it could not be established. If it had depended on entire conformity to the law, the promise would never have been established, for none would have yielded such obedience. But now it may be secured to all the posterity of Abraham.

To all the seed. Rom 4:13.

Not to that only. Not to that part of his descendants alone who were Jews, or who had the law.

But to that, etc. To all who should possess the same faith as Abraham.

The father of us all. Of all who believe, whether they be Jews or Gentiles.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace - On this account the promise is mercifully grounded, not on obedience to a law, but on the infinite goodness of God: and thus the promise is sure to all the seed - to all, both Jews and Gentiles, who, believing in Christ Jesus, have a right to all the blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant. All the seed necessarily comprehends all mankind. Of the Gentiles there can be no doubt, for the promise was given to Abraham while he was a Gentile; and the salvation of the Jews may be inferred, because they all sprang from him after he became an heir of the righteousness or justification which is received by faith; for he is the father of us all, both Jews and Gentiles. Dr. Taylor has an excellent note on this verse. "Here," says he, "it should be well observed that faith and grace do mutually and necessarily infer each other. For the grace and favor of God, in its own nature, requires faith in us; and faith on our part, in its own nature, supposes the grace or favor of God. If any blessing is the gift of God, in order to influence our temper and behavior, then, in the very nature of things, it is necessary that we be sensible of this blessing, and persuaded of the grace of God that bestows it; otherwise it is not possible we should improve it. On the other hand, if faith in the goodness of God, with regard to any blessing, is the principle of our religious hopes and action, then it follows that the blessing is not due in strict justice, nor on the foot of law, but that it is the free gift of Divine goodness. If the promise to Abraham and his seed be of faith on their part, then it is of grace on the part of God. And it is of faith, that it might be by grace: grace, being the mere good will of the donor, is free and open to all whom he chooses to make the objects of it: and the Divine wisdom appointed faith to be the condition of the promise; because faith is, on our part, the most simple principle, bearing an exact correspondence to grace, and reaching as far as that can extend; that so the happy effects of the promise might extend far and wide, take in the largest compass, and be confined to no condition, but what is merely necessary in the nature of things."

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…

Read the full comment on Romans 4:13-22 →

Romans 4:16 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.

διὰdiaThereforeG1223
τοῦτοtoutoit [is]G3778
ἐκekofG1537
πίστεως,pisteōsfaith,G4102
ἵναinathat [it may be]G2443
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
χάριν,charingrace,G5485
εἰςeisforG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
εἶναιeinaito beG1511
βεβαίανbebaiansureG949
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐπαγγελίανepangelianpromiseG1860
παντὶpantito allG3956
τῷtōtheG3588
σπέρματι,spermatiseed,G4690
οὐounotG3756
τῷtōto thatG3588
ἐκekofG1537
τοῦtoutheG3588
νόμουnomoulawG3551
μόνονmonononlyG3441
ἀλλὰallabutG235
καὶkaialsoG2532
τῷtōto thatG3588
ἐκekof [the]G1537
πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102
Ἀβραάμ,Abraamof Abraham,G11
ὅςhoswhoG3739
ἐστινestinisG1510
πατὴρpatēr[the] fatherG3962
πάντωνpantōnof allG3956
ἡμῶνhēmōnof us —G3165

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

Cross references for Romans 4:16

  • Romans 3:24-26

    Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

  • Ephesians 2:8

    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

  • 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.

  • Galatians 3:22

    But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

  • Titus 3:7

    That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

  • Isaiah 51:2

    Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

  • Romans 15:8

    Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

  • Ephesians 2:5

    Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

  • Romans 5:1

    Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • Hebrews 6:13-19

    For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. …

  • Galatians 3:7-12

    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. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. …

  • 2 Peter 1:10

    Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
of faith.
3:24-26; 5:1; Ga 3:7-12,22; Eph 2:5,8; Tit 3:7
the promise.
Heb 6:13-19; 2Pe 1:10
but to.
11
the father.
9:8; Isa 51:2

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

Context

  • Romans 4:15

    Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

  • Romans 4:16

    Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

  • Romans 4:17

    (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Read all of Romans 4

Romans 4:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por tanto es por la fe, para que sea por gracia; para que la promesa sea firme á toda simiente, no solamente al que es de la ley, mas también al que es de la fe de Abraham, el cual es padre de todos nosotros,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pour cette raison, c’est sur le principe de la foi, afin que ce soit selon la grâce, pour que la promesse soit assurée à toute la semence, non seulement à celle qui est de la loi, mais aussi à celle qui est de la foi d’Abraham, lequel est père de nous tous
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum ist es aus Glauben, auf daß es nach Gnade sei, damit die Verheißung dem ganzen Samen fest sei, nicht allein dem vom Gesetz, sondern auch dem vom Glauben Abrahams, welcher unser aller Vater ist,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ideo ex fide, ut secundum gratiam firma sit promissio omni semini, non ei qui ex lege est solum, sed et ei qui ex fide est Abrahæ, qui pater est omnium nostrum