Romans 4 8

Romans 4:8 kjv

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Romans 4:8 nkjv

Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

Romans 4:8 niv

Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."

Romans 4:8 esv

blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."

Romans 4:8 nlt

Yes, what joy for those
whose record the LORD has cleared of sin."

Romans 4 verses

Romans 4 8 Meaning

Romans 4:8 pronounces a divine blessing upon the individual whom the Lord does not count their sin against them. This verse describes the state of being declared righteous, where the record or debt of sin is not held against a person by God, signifying His gracious act of forgiveness and justification through faith.

Romans 4 8 Context

Romans chapter 4 serves as a foundational pillar in Paul's robust theological argument for justification by faith alone. Having declared in Romans 3:21-26 that God's righteousness is revealed through faith in Christ, apart from the Law, Paul uses Old Testament figures, Abraham and David, as proof. Verses 3-5 focus on Abraham, showing his faith was credited as righteousness before circumcision. Verses 6-8 shift to David's testimony in Psalm 32, further reinforcing that blessedness comes from God's gracious act of not imputing sin, rather than from human perfect obedience to the Law. This verse, therefore, directly underpins Paul's central contention that salvation is by divine grace through faith, directly refuting any contemporary Jewish notion that one could earn righteousness or forgiveness through adherence to ceremonial or legalistic works. The historical and cultural backdrop of first-century Judaism saw righteousness largely connected to Law-keeping and physical descent, which Paul directly challenges by presenting a timeless principle rooted in God's nature.

Romans 4 8 Word analysis

• Blessed (Μακάριος - Makarios): This term signifies a state of deep inner happiness, contentment, and spiritual prosperity, denoting one who is divinely favored and exceptionally fortunate because of their relationship with God. It implies a state of being in God's good graces, leading to well-being that transcends earthly circumstances, much like the beatitudes in the Gospels.

• is the man (ἀνὴρ - anēr): While literally "man," in this context, it broadly refers to any human being, irrespective of gender. This emphasizes the universal applicability of the blessing to anyone who fits the described condition.

• to whom (ᾧ - hō): This relative pronoun links the blessing directly to the specific individual upon whom God acts, highlighting the divine initiative in the process.

• the Lord (Κύριος - Kyrios): This title refers to Yahweh, the sovereign God of Israel. It underscores that the power and authority to pardon sins and bestow this blessing reside solely with the ultimate divine authority.

• will not (οὐ μὴ - ou mē): This is a powerful double negative in Greek, forming an emphatic denial. It translates to "absolutely will not," "never will," or "by no means will." It stresses the certainty, permanence, and finality of God's decision not to count sin.

• impute (λογίσηται - logisetai): Derived from logizomai, an accounting or commercial term meaning "to reckon," "to calculate," "to credit," "to put to one's account," or "to consider." In this context, it signifies God's deliberate act of not tallying, not charging, and not holding one's sins against them. It is a divine judicial declaration.

• sin (ἁμαρτίαν - hamartian): This refers to transgression, falling short of God's standard, or missing the mark. It denotes both acts of wrongdoing and the sinful nature itself. The blessing is precisely concerning the non-reckoning of this against an individual.

• "Blessed is the man to whom...": This opening establishes the beatitude, emphasizing that the source of true happiness and divine favor originates solely from God's gracious actions, not from human merit or achievements.

• "...the Lord will not impute sin": This phrase articulates God's decisive legal and relational act. It means God chooses not to enter one's sins onto their celestial ledger. This divine "not reckoning" is not an oversight, but a deliberate cancellation of the debt, made possible through atonement. It signifies that the individual stands acquitted before God, their transgressions no longer held against them as a barrier to fellowship or a claim to condemnation.

Romans 4 8 Bonus section

• Dual Imputation: While Romans 4:8 specifically highlights the non-imputation of sin, the broader context of Romans 4, especially verses 3 and 6, clearly indicates that for God to not impute sin, He actively imputes righteousness. It is not merely the absence of a charge, but the positive crediting of Christ's perfect righteousness to the believer's account. This divine exchange is foundational to justification by faith.
• The Foundation of Assurance: The certainty conveyed by "will not impute" (with its strong Greek negative) provides the bedrock for Christian assurance of salvation. Believers can rest knowing that their past, present, and future sins will not be held against them by a holy God, not due to their merit, but solely due to God's gracious action in Christ.
• Contrast with Legalism: This verse stands in stark contrast to any system of legalism or merit-based righteousness, emphasizing that human effort cannot remove the stain or debt of sin. Only divine intervention, initiated by grace, can accomplish such a comprehensive cleansing.
• The Problem of Conscience: Forgiveness from God also addresses the burden of a guilty conscience. When God "will not impute sin," it translates into internal peace and freedom for the believer, enabling them to approach God without the crushing weight of unresolved guilt.

Romans 4 8 Commentary

Romans 4:8, quoting David from Psalm 32, reveals a profound truth about God's salvific nature: true blessedness is found in God's merciful act of not reckoning a person's sins against them. This is not because sin doesn't matter, but because an atoning work (fulfilled in Christ) has been accomplished, satisfying justice. The emphatic "will not impute" underscores the complete and irrevocable nature of God's forgiveness for those who believe, assuring believers that their transgressions no longer serve as a barrier to a righteous standing with Him. This divine non-imputation frees the individual from condemnation, removes guilt, and establishes peace, proving that righteousness is fundamentally a gift of God's grace, entirely apart from human efforts or adherence to the Law. It highlights that the debt of sin is not merely overlooked but paid and cancelled.