Romans 4:18

Hope Faith Courage and strength

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

¹⁷ (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.

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.

¹⁹ And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:

²⁰ He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving 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 we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Read in context
Genesis 15:5–6
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Read in context
Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Read in context
Acts 27:25
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Read in context
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Read in context
Mark 5:35–36
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
Read in context
Ezekiel 37:11
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Read in context
Romans 4:17
(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.
Read in context