Romans 4:18

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Roman church to demonstrate how Abraham’s faith justifies him before God. He pauses at the moment Abraham receives God’s promise to become a father of many nations despite his advanced age and Sarah’s barrenness.

The words — The text juxtaposes παρ᾽ ἐλπίδι (par' elpidi), literally "against hope," with ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι (ep' elpidi), "in hope," to describe Abraham’s action of believing (ἐπίστευσεν, episteusen) toward the promised offspring.

The thread — This movement from impossible circumstances to divine fulfillment runs through Genesis 15:5, where God points to the stars, and aligns with Romans 8:24, which notes that hope directed toward what is unseen differs from hope in what is already visible.

Why it lands — The verse states that Abraham trusted God’s declaration despite physical evidence to the contrary, requiring the reader to anchor conviction in divine promise rather than observable circumstances.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

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?
Genesis 15:5 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.”
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.
Acts 27:25 So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
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.’
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.
Ruth 1:11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
Luke 1:18 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”