Devine Scripture

Romans 4:21

What does Romans 4:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 4:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 4:21 means

Abraham was fully assured that what God had promised, He was also able to perform. Faith rests not on probability but on God’s ability. The promise is only as secure as the promiser; Abraham’s certainty came from knowing God’s power and integrity. Full assurance does not mean absence of struggle, but a settled conviction that God’s word will stand. This is the marrow of saving faith: entrusting oneself to God’s capacity to do as He said, even when human resources are exhausted. Such assurance glorifies God and opens the door for His righteousness to be credited to the believer.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And being certain that God was able to keep his word.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and having been fully persuaded that what He hath promised He is able also to do:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Most fully knowing that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and being fully persuaded that what he has promised he is able also to do;

Context

Culminating the portrait of Abraham’s faith begun in verse 18, this verse grounds his hope in God’s ability to perform His word. Verse 22 will draw the doctrinal conclusion: this is why his faith was counted for righteousness. The narrative is about to pivot from Abraham’s experience to its significance for all believers in verses 23–25.

v.20yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,

v.21This passage

v.22Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

Cross references

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

  • Hebrews 11:13

    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

  • Genesis 18:14

    Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.

  • Jeremiah 32:27

    Behold, I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

  • Jeremiah 32:17

    Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee,

  • 2 Corinthians 9:8

    And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:

  • Romans 8:38

    For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

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