Romans 4:17

15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

19 Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
KJV
(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.
WEB
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.
ASV
(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.
DARBY
(according as it is written, I have made thee father of many nations,) before the God whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls the things which be not as being;
BLB
(as it has been written: “A father of many nations I have set you”) before [Him] whom he believed—God, the One making alive the dead and calling existing the [things] not as existing—
ÅB
– Som det står skrevet: «Til mange folks far har jeg satt deg» – Han er vår far overfor Gud, som han trodde på; han som gjør de døde levende og kaller det som ennå ikke finnes, som om det allerede er til.
OTB
Som det er skrevet: "Jeg har gjort deg til far for mange folkeslag." Han er vår far i Guds øyne, i Ham som han trodde på—Gud som gir liv til de døde og kaller på ting som ikke eksisterer.
B1930
- som skrevet er: Til mange folks far har jeg satt dig - for Guds åsyn, hvem han trodde, han som gjør de døde levende og nevner det som ikke er til, som om det var til.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Corinthians 1:28

    He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,

    Read in context
  • Genesis 17:4–5

    “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

    Read in context
  • John 5:21

    For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes.

    Read in context
  • Romans 8:29–30

    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.

    Read in context
  • John 6:63

    The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 2:10

    Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

    Read in context
  • Romans 8:11

    And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

    Read in context
  • Ephesians 2:1–5

    And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

    Read in context