Romans 4 7

Romans 4:7 kjv

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Romans 4:7 nkjv

"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;

Romans 4:7 niv

"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Romans 4:7 esv

"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

Romans 4:7 nlt

"Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.

Romans 4 verses

Romans 4 7 Meaning

Romans 4:7 declares the profound blessedness of individuals whose lawless deeds are forgiven by God and whose sins are fully covered. It presents God's gracious act of forgiveness as the source of true spiritual happiness and peace, entirely independent of human merit or adherence to the law. This verse, quoted by Paul from Psalm 32:1, underscores that true righteousness comes through God's unmerited favor, providing reconciliation and a complete removal of the guilt and penalty of sin.

Romans 4 7 Context

Romans chapter 4 is pivotal in Paul's exposition of justification by faith, distinct from works of the Law. Building on the foundational declaration in chapter 3 that righteousness from God is revealed apart from the Law (Rom 3:21), Paul uses Abraham's experience as the prime Old Testament example. Abraham was declared righteous because he "believed God" (Gen 15:6), not because of circumcision or adherence to any specific legal code. Verse 7, directly quoting Psalm 32:1, serves to demonstrate that the Old Testament itself supports the idea of God's grace in forgiving sin without reference to meritorious works. It emphasizes that true blessing and divine favor come from God's act of pardoning one's unrighteousness, aligning with the concept of imputation—where God "credits" righteousness to those who believe, as elaborated in Romans 4:6. This verse confronts the prevailing Jewish belief of the time, which often linked righteousness and blessing to meticulous observance of the Mosaic Law, demonstrating instead God's gracious initiative.

Romans 4 7 Word Analysis

• Blessed (μακάριοι - makarioi):
  • Meaning: Spiritually happy, fortunate, favored by God, divinely blessed. It's a deeper, more enduring state of well-being than temporary happiness, coming from being in God's favor.
  • Significance: Highlights that forgiveness is not merely the absence of punishment, but a positive, divinely bestowed state of contentment and peace.
• whose (ὧν - hōn):
  • Meaning: "Of whom," or "whose." A relative pronoun connecting the blessing to the individuals and their condition of forgiven sins.
  • Significance: Identifies the recipients of this profound blessing – those marked by God's act of forgiveness.
• lawless deeds (ἀνομίαι - anomiai):
  • Meaning: Plural of anomia, "lawlessness," "iniquity," or "transgressions of law." Refers to direct violation or disregard of God's moral standard or revealed will. It implies an attitude of opposition to God's law.
  • Significance: Denotes sins specifically as active rebellion or breaking of God's known commands, emphasizing the gravity of human offense.
• are forgiven (ἀφέθησαν - aphethesan):
  • Meaning: Aorist passive indicative of aphiēmi, "to send away," "to release," "to remit," "to pardon." The passive voice emphasizes God as the actor, doing the forgiving. The aorist tense indicates a completed action with lasting results.
  • Significance: God takes the initiative to completely remove the guilt and penalty associated with sin, setting the sinner free.
• And (καὶ - kai):
  • Meaning: "And," connecting the two parallel ideas.
  • Significance: Joins the two aspects of God's act: the sending away of lawless deeds and the covering of sins. It reinforces the comprehensive nature of God's cleansing.
• whose (ὧν - hōn):
  • Meaning: Repetition for parallelism and emphasis.
  • Significance: Reinforces that the blessing applies to these individuals specifically defined by what follows.
• sins (ἁμαρτίαι - hamartiai):
  • Meaning: Plural of hamartia, "missing the mark," "falling short." A broader term for any failure to conform to God's perfect standard, including actions, thoughts, and omissions.
  • Significance: Encompasses all human failures and deficiencies against God, not just deliberate breaking of specific laws, highlighting the total depravity.
• are covered (ἐκαλύφθησαν - ekalyphthēsan):
  • Meaning: Aorist passive indicative of kalyptō, "to cover," "to conceal." Similar to "forgiven," the passive voice points to God as the agent. The aorist indicates a complete, decisive covering.
  • Significance: Draws on Old Testament imagery (e.g., Day of Atonement, priestly coverings) where sin was symbolically "covered" from God's view. In the New Covenant, this is fulfilled by Christ's atoning work, meaning the sins are removed from divine reckoning and sight, as if they never happened for the purpose of condemnation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven": This phrase establishes the deep spiritual blessing derived from God's sovereign act of taking away lawlessness. It emphasizes liberation from guilt incurred by specific, conscious transgressions against divine standards.
• "And whose sins are covered": This parallel phrase complements the first, affirming a comprehensive divine removal of sin. "Covered" suggests atonement, where sins are effectively hidden from God's judicial gaze, indicating their non-imputation. The use of "lawless deeds" and "sins" together indicates a thorough and complete addressing of human fallenness from all its facets. This holistic action by God brings about the blessed state.

Romans 4 7 Bonus Section

The term makarioi for "blessed" (Rom 4:7) is often used in the Beatitudes (Mt 5) to describe the spiritually prosperous and truly fortunate, indicating a profound and inner state of divine favor. This stands in contrast to worldly prosperity or temporary happiness. The theological concept of "covering" sins deeply connects to the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) rituals in the Old Testament, where blood sacrifices were made to "cover" or "propitiate" for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). Paul uses this language to show that Christ's once-for-all sacrifice definitively provides this covering for all who believe, permanently removing the stain and penalty of sin from God's judgment. The parallelism between "lawless deeds" and "sins" and the twin actions of "forgiven" and "covered" highlight the completeness and certainty of God's forgiveness for those who are in Christ. It means that both the rebellion against God’s law (anomia) and the general missing of His mark (hamartia) are entirely addressed and rendered null concerning condemnation.

Romans 4 7 Commentary

Romans 4:7 serves as a vital Old Testament witness to Paul's gospel of justification by faith. By quoting Psalm 32:1, Paul underscores that God’s gracious character as a forgiver is not a new concept introduced by Christ, but is eternally present in His nature and was evident even under the Old Covenant. The blessedness described here is a state of spiritual flourishing and peace with God, resulting not from personal merit, effort, or legalistic observance, but solely from God's gracious imputation of forgiveness. The two expressions, "lawless deeds are forgiven" and "sins are covered," represent two facets of a single, complete act of divine absolution. "Forgiven" suggests the sending away of guilt and penalty, while "covered" (referencing atonement) implies that sin is hidden from God's sight, so it no longer incurs His wrath or leads to condemnation. This forgiveness and covering are entirely God’s doing (indicated by the passive voice of the verbs) and are accessible through faith, bringing about profound relief and reconciliation with a holy God. This demonstrates God's righteousness not merely in punishing sin but also in pardoning sinners righteously, through the provision of a divine "covering" that fully satisfies His justice in Christ.