Romans 4:13
What does Romans 4:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 4:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 4:13 means
The promise that Abraham and his seed would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. The law arrived centuries later and cannot be the channel of inheritance. The promise rests on God’s gracious word received by trust. This means the worldwide scope of the promise—blessing to the nations—depends on faith, not legal performance. By rooting the promise in faith, God ensures that it is not confined to those under the Mosaic code. The inheritance is tied to righteousness credited by faith, the same pattern seen in Abraham’s justification.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For God's word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For not through law <FI>is<Fi> the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, of his being heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world: but through the justice of faith.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For [it was] not by law that the promise was to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of [the] world, but by righteousness of faith.
Context
Having defined Abraham’s true family, Paul now clarifies the basis of their inheritance. Verse 13 asserts that the promise came via faith, not law. Verses 14–15 will argue that making law the basis would nullify faith and turn the promise into wrath, since law exposes transgression. This sets up verse 16’s positive conclusion: the promise is by faith so it may be according to grace and certain to all the seed.
v.12and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.
v.13This passage
v.14For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 28:14
and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
- Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
- Romans 9:8
That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.
- Psalms 2:8
Ask of me, and I will givetheethe nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
- Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come; And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.
- Psalms 72:11
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; All nations shall serve him.
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