Romans 8 · Verse 4

Romans 8:4

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:4, King James Version

Romans 8:4 in other translations

BSBso that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
WEBthat the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
ASVthat the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
YLTthat the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
DARBYin order that the righteous requirement of the law should be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to flesh but according to Spirit.
BBESo that what was ordered by the law might be done in us, who are living, not in the way of the flesh, but in the way of the Spirit.
WebsterThat the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

What does Romans 8:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 8:3-4

3-4. For what the law could not do, &c.--a difficult and much controverted verse. But it is clearly, we think, the law's inability to free us from the dominion of sin that the apostle has in view; as has partly appeared already (see on Ro 8:2), and will more fully appear presently. The law could irritate our sinful nature into more virulent action, as we have seen in Ro 7:5, but it could not secure its own…

Read the full comment on Romans 8:3-4 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. That the righteousness of the law. That we might be conformed to the law, or be obedient to its requirements, and no longer under the influence of the flesh and its corrupt desires.

Might be fulfilled. That we might be obedient, or comply with its demands.

Who walk. Rom 8:1.

(k) "walk not" Rom 8:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us - That the guilt might be pardoned through the merit of that sacrifice; and that we might be enabled, by the power of his own grace and Spirit, to walk in newness of life; loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves: and thus the righteousness, the spirit, design, and purpose of the law is fulfilled in us, through the strength of the Spirit of Christ, which is here put in opposition to the weakness of the law through the flesh. It is very likely that the concluding clause of this verse, which is the very same as that found in the common text of the first verse, has been transferred to that verse from this place.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 8:1-9

Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward…

Read the full comment on Romans 8:1-9 →

Romans 8:4 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.

ἵναinaso thatG2443
τὸtotheG3588
δικαίωμαdikaiōmarighteousnessG1345
τοῦtouof theG3588
νόμουnomoulawG3551
πληρωθῇplērōthēamay be fulfilledG4137
ἐνeninG1722
ἡμῖνhēminusG3165
τοῖςtois<the>G3588
μὴmēnotG3361
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
σάρκαsarka[the] fleshG4561
περιπατοῦσινperipatousinwalkingG4043
ἀλλὰallabutG235
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
πνεῦμα.pneuma[the] Spirit.G4151

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

Cross references for Romans 8:4

  • Galatians 5:16

    This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

  • Galatians 5:22-25

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

  • Colossians 1:22

    In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

  • Hebrews 12:23

    To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

  • Ephesians 5:26-27

    That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

  • Jude 1:24

    Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

  • Revelation 14:5

    And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

  • 1 John 3:2

    Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

  • Romans 2:26

    Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
That.
Ga 5:22-24; Eph 5:26,27; Col 1:22; Heb 12:23; 1Jo 3:2; Jude 1:24
Re 14:5
who.
1

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

Context

  • Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

  • Romans 8:4

    That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

  • Romans 8:5

    For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Read all of Romans 8

Romans 8:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Para que la justicia de la ley fuese cumplida en nosotros, que no andamos conforme á la carne, mas conforme al espíritu.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		afin que la juste exigence de la loi soit accomplie en nous, qui ne marchons pas selon la chair, mais selon l’Esprit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		auf daß das Recht des Gesetzes erfüllt würde in uns, die nicht nach dem Fleische, sondern nach dem Geiste wandeln.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		ut justificatio legis impleretur in nobis, qui non secundum carnem ambulamus, sed secundum spiritum.