• Romans 4:17
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 17 καθὼς according as γέγραπται it has been written ὅτι that Πατέρα Father πολλῶν of many ἐθνῶν nations τέθεικά I have placed σε, you, κατέναντι down in front οὗ of whom ἐπίστευσεν he believed θεοῦ of God τοῦ the (one) ζωοποιοῦντος making alive τοὺς the νεκροὺς dead (ones) καὶ and καλοῦντος calling τὰ the (things) μὴ not ὄντα being ὡς as ὄντα· being

  • Romans 4:17
    The Bible in Living English

    • 17 (as it is written “I have made you father of many nations”) before the God whom he believed, him who brings the dead to life and calls what does not exist as though it did;

  • Romans 4:17
    American Standard Version

    • 17 (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.

  • Romans 4:17
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 17 Even as it is written—Father of many nations have I appointed thee: Before him whom he believed—God Who causeth the dead to live And calleth the things that are not as things that are:—

  • Romans 4:17
    King James Version

    • 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.

  • Romans Study Notes—Chapter 4
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 4:17

      just as it is written: That is, at Ge 17:5, where Jehovah told Abram: “I will make you a father of many nations.” This promise was the basis for Jehovah’s changing Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “Father of a Crowd (Multitude); Father of Many.” The promise was fulfilled in the following way: Abraham’s son Ishmael fathered “12 chieftains according to their clans.” (Ge 25:13-16; 17:20; 21:13, 18) The six sons of Abraham by Keturah produced additional nations that trace their ancestry back to Abraham. (Ge 25:1-4; 1Ch 1:28-33; Ro 4:16-18) And from Abraham’s son Isaac sprang the Israelites and the Edomites. (Ge 25:21-26) Also, in a spiritual sense, Abraham became a father to people of many national groups, including those of the Christian congregation in Rome, who “adhere to the faith” of Abraham.​—Ro 4:16.

      who . . . calls the things that are not as though they are: That is, because God’s purposes are absolutely certain of fulfillment. (Isa 55:10, 11) Paul here alludes to God’s promise to Abram that he would become “a father of many nations,” although Abram and Sarai were yet childless. (Ge 17:4-6) It was as though Abraham’s sons and their descendants existed long before they were born. This Greek phrase at the end of verse 17 could also be rendered “who . . . calls into existence what does not exist.” That rendering would highlight the creative power of God, which was certainly involved in causing Abraham to become “a father of many nations.”