Devine Scripture

Romans 3:4

What does Romans 3:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 3:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 3:4 means

Paul answers with the strongest denial: God is true even if every human being were a liar. He quotes Scripture to show that God’s words stand vindicated and his judgments prevail. When people dispute with God, he will be justified in his sayings and triumph when he judges. This does not make God harsh; it proclaims him holy and reliable. Our perceptions and excuses cannot overturn his reality. The verse calls us to align with God’s truth rather than demand that he align with ours. It is better to be corrected by God’s faithful Word than to persist in self-justifying falsehoods that cannot stand in his court.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In no way: but let God be true, though every man is seen to be untrue; as it is said in the Writings, That your words may be seen to be true, and you may be seen to be right when you are judged.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

let it not be! and let God become true, and every man false, according as it hath been written, `That Thou mayest be declared righteous in Thy words, and mayest overcome in Thy being judged.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But God is true and every man a liar, as it is written: That thou mayest be justified in thy words and mayest overcome when thou art judged.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Far be the thought: but letGod be true, and every man false; according as it is written, So that thou shouldest be justified in thy words, and shouldest overcome when thou art in judgment.

Context

Having stated that human unbelief cannot cancel divine faithfulness, Paul fortifies the point with Scripture, reminding his readers that God’s truth and judgments are beyond reproach. This sets up the next rhetorical move (verses 5–8), where Paul confronts a distorted inference: if our sin highlights God’s righteousness, is God unjust to judge? He rejects such reasoning as irreverent and illogical. With those objections dismantled, Paul will return in verse 9 to his central claim that no group has moral superiority, and then, in verses 10–18, marshal multiple Old Testament texts to prove universal human guilt before turning to the Gospel solution (verses 21–26).

v.3For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?

v.4This passage

v.5But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Job 40:8

    Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • Job 36:3

    I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

  • Romans 11:1

    I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

  • Romans 6:2

    God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?

  • Romans 3:6

    God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

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