Romans 4:18

Hope Faith Courage and strength

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.

¹⁷ 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.

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.

²⁰ Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

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

Compare

BSB: 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.”
KJV: Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
WEB: Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”
ASV: Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.
DARBY: who against hope believed in hope to his becoming father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be:
BLB: who against hope in hope believed, for him to become the father of many nations, according to that having been spoken, “So will your seed be.”

ÅB: Når alt håp var ute trodde han med håp at han skulle bli far til mange folk, på grunn av det som var sagt: «Slik skal din slekt bli».
OTB: Mot all håp trodde Abraham i håp og ble dermed far til mange folkeslag, slik det var sagt til ham: "Så skal dine etterkommere være."
B1930: Mot håp trodde han med håp, forat han skulde bli mange folks far efter det som sagt var: Så skal din ætt bli;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?
Read in context
Genesis 15:5–6
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Read in context
Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
Read in context
Acts 27:25
So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.
Read in context
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Read in context
Mark 5:35–36
While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
Read in context
Ezekiel 37:11
Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’
Read in context
Romans 4:17
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.
Read in context