Romans 4:17 “As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is ou…”

Romans 4:17

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

(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.

World English Bible

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

American Standard Version

(as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.

Geneva Bible 1599

(As it is written, I haue made thee a father of many nations) euen before God whom he beleeued, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those thinges which be not, as though they were.

Darby Translation

(according as it is written, I have made thee father of many nations,) before the God whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls the things which be not as being;

Young's Literal Translation

who is father of us all (according as it hath been written — 'A father of many nations I have set thee,') before Him whom he did believe — God, who is quickening the dead, and is calling the things that be not as being.

Bible in Basic English

(As it is said in the holy Writings, I have made you a father of a number of nations) before him in whom he had faith, that is, God, who gives life to the dead, and to whom the things which are not are as if they were.

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Cross references

“I have”

Hebrews 11:12 Genesis 17:16 Genesis 28:3 Genesis 25:1–34 Genesis 17:20 Genesis 17:4

Hebrews 11:12 · BSB

And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Genesis 17:16 · BSB

And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”

Genesis 28:3 · BSB

May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples.

Genesis 25:1–34 · BSB

Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah,

Genesis 17:20 · BSB

As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

Genesis 17:4 · BSB

“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

“before him”

Romans 3:29

Romans 3:29 · BSB

Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

“who quickeneth”

John 5:21 John 6:63 Romans 8:11 Ephesians 2:1–5 John 5:25 1 Timothy 6:13

John 5:21 · BSB

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.

John 6:63 · BSB

The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Romans 8:11 · BSB

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

Ephesians 2:1–5 · BSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

John 5:25 · BSB

Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

1 Timothy 6:13 · BSB

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

“calleth”

1 Corinthians 1:28 1 Peter 2:10 Hebrews 11:7 Isaiah 44:7 Isaiah 55:12 2 Peter 3:8

1 Corinthians 1:28 · BSB

He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,

1 Peter 2:10 · BSB

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Hebrews 11:7 · BSB

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Isaiah 44:7 · BSB

Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.

Isaiah 55:12 · BSB

You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

2 Peter 3:8 · BSB

Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

Also

Isaiah 48:13

Isaiah 48:13 · BSB

Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

16Therefore, 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.

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

Read Romans 4