Romans 4:10
What does Romans 4:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 4:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 4:10 means
Paul asks when Abraham’s faith was credited as righteousness—before or after circumcision? The answer is clear: it happened while he was uncircumcised. This point dismantles any claim that the ritual caused or completed his justification. Abraham’s right standing did not depend on a physical mark; it preceded it. Therefore, circumcision serves a different purpose, as a sign and seal, not a means of obtaining righteousness. The timing shows that grace is prior, and faith alone is the instrument by which God’s righteousness is counted to the sinner. This safeguards the inclusion of the uncircumcised who believe.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:
KJV
King James Version · 1611How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949How, then, was it judged? when he had circumcision, or when he had it not? Not when he had it, but when he did not have it:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862how then was it reckoned? he being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752How then was it reputed? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890How then has it been reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Context
This verse delivers the historical proof Paul previewed in verse 9. By establishing that Abraham was justified in uncircumcision, Paul clears the way to define the proper place of circumcision in verse 11 and Abraham’s fatherhood in verse 12. The flow moves from a question of scope to a chronological argument that undergirds the universality of justification by faith, independent of ritual boundary markers.
v.9Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.
v.10This passage
v.11and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 16:1
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
- Genesis 17:10
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised.
- Genesis 15:5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
- Genesis 17:23
And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
- Genesis 17:1
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
- Galatians 6:15
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
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