Romans 4:17

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.' He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard 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.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    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.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    {G3754} (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.

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    (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.

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    As it is wrytten: I have made the a father to many nacions even before god whom thou hast beleved which quyckeneth the deed and called those thinges which be not as though they were.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    As it is wrytten: I haue made the a father of many Heythe before God, whom thou hast beleued: which quyckeneth the deed, and calleth it which is not, that it maye be.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    (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.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    (As it is written, that I haue made thee a father of many nations) before God, whom he beleued, which restoreth the dead vnto life, and calleth those thynges whiche be not, as though they were.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ¶ (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.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    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.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    (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.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    (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.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    (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.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    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.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    (as it is written,“I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed– the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Cor 1:28 : 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
  • John 5:21 : 21 'Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever He wills.'
  • John 6:63 : 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are Spirit and they are life.
  • Gen 17:4-5 : 4 "As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you the father of many nations.
  • 1 Pet 2:10 : 10 Once, you were not a people, but now you are God's people. Once, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
  • 2 Pet 3:8 : 8 But do not let this one thing escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
  • Heb 11:7 : 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverent fear prepared an ark for the salvation of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
  • Heb 11:12 : 12 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.
  • Eph 2:1-5 : 1 And you were dead in your transgressions and sins. 2 In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 Among them we all also once lived in the desires of our flesh, carrying out the inclinations of the flesh and of the mind, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5 made us alive together with Christ, even when we were dead in our transgressions—by grace you have been saved.
  • Gen 17:16 : 16 I will bless her and surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will become the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.
  • Isa 44:7 : 7 Who is like Me? Let him declare and explain it. Let him present it to Me since I established the ancient people. Let them declare the things that are to come and what will happen.
  • Isa 49:12 : 12 Look, these will come from far away, and look, these from the north and the west, and others from the land of Sinim.
  • Isa 55:12 : 12 For you will go out in 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.
  • Matt 3:9 : 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
  • John 5:25 : 25 Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
  • Rom 3:29 : 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not also the God of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles too.
  • Rom 4:2 : 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.
  • Rom 8:11 : 11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you.
  • Rom 8:29-30 : 29 For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
  • Rom 9:26 : 26 And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’
  • Acts 15:18 : 18 '—things known long ago.'
  • Isa 48:13 : 13 Indeed, My own hand laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens. When I call to them, they stand together.
  • Gen 17:20 : 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will bless him; I will make him fruitful and greatly multiply his descendants. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.
  • Gen 25:1-9 : 1 Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were the Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines, Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still alive, he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the land of the east. 7 This is the length of Abraham’s life: 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died at a ripe old age, an old man full of years, and he was gathered to his people. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre. 10 The field Abraham had purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi. 12 This is the account of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their villages and encampments: twelve princes, according to their tribes. 17 These are the years of Ishmael's life: one hundred thirty-seven years. He breathed his last, died, and was gathered to his people. 18 Ishmael's descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt as you go toward Assyria. He lived in hostility toward all his brothers. 19 This is the account of the family line of Isaac, the son of Abraham: Abraham fathered Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, 'If it is like this, why is this happening to me?' So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.' 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat, and they named him Esau. 26 After that, his brother came out with his hand grasping Esau's heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed among the tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed the game Esau brought, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 One day when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, exhausted. 30 Esau said to Jacob, 'Let me gulp down some of that red stew, for I am exhausted.' This is why he was also called Edom. 31 Jacob replied, 'First, sell me your birthright.' 32 Esau said, 'Look, I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?' 33 But Jacob said, 'Swear to me first.' So Esau swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. Esau ate, drank, got up, and went on his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
  • Gen 28:3 : 3 May God Almighty bless you, make you fruitful, and multiply you, so that you become a community of peoples.
  • Isa 43:6 : 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up,' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth—
  • 1 Tim 6:13 : 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you.
  • 1 Cor 15:45 : 45 So it is written: 'The first man, Adam, became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Rom 4:18-24
    7 verses
    85%

    18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'

    19And without weakening in faith, he did not consider his own body, which was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—or the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

    20He did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

    21being fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.

    22Therefore, it was credited to him as righteousness.

    23Now the words 'it was credited to him' were not written for his sake alone,

    24but also for us, to whom it will be credited—to those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

  • Rom 4:16
    80%

    16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, that it may be according to grace, so that it might be guaranteed to all the offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

  • Heb 11:17-19
    3 verses
    77%

    17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,

    18even though it was said to him, 'Through Isaac your descendants will be named.'

    19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death as a symbol.

  • Rom 4:9-13
    5 verses
    77%

    9Is this blessedness then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

    10How then was it credited? Was it while he was circumcised or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised.

    11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness might also be credited to them,

    12and to be the father of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

    13For the promise to Abraham or his descendants that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

  • Gen 17:4-6
    3 verses
    76%

    4"As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations.

    5No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you the father of many nations.

    6I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.

  • Rom 4:1-3
    3 verses
    76%

    1What then shall we say about Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh?

    2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.

    3What does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'

  • Gal 3:6-9
    4 verses
    75%

    6Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

    7Therefore, know that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

    8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.'

    9So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

  • Heb 11:11-12
    2 verses
    73%

    11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

    12And 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.

  • Rom 9:7-11
    5 verses
    73%

    7Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, 'Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.'

    8This means it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

    9For this is the word of promise: 'At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.'

    10Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.

    11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand,

  • Gen 17:17-19
    3 verses
    72%

    17Abraham fell facedown and laughed, saying to himself, "Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?"

    18And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under Your blessing!"

    19Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

  • Rom 4:5-6
    2 verses
    71%

    5But to the one who does not work but believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

    6Just as David also speaks of the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

  • Jas 2:23
    71%

    23And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called a friend of God.

  • Gen 15:5-6
    2 verses
    71%

    5He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then He added, "So will your descendants be."

    6Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

  • Heb 11:8-9
    2 verses
    71%

    8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

    9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

  • Matt 3:9
    70%

    9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.

  • Gal 4:27-28
    2 verses
    70%

    27For it is written: 'Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.'

    28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

  • Gen 21:2
    69%

    2Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had promised him.

  • Gen 18:18
    69%

    18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all nations of the earth will be blessed.

  • Heb 11:3
    69%

    3By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

  • Luke 20:37
    69%

    37Even Moses showed that the dead are raised, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'