Romans 4:18
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be.
American Standard Version (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.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Who without reason for hope, in faith went on hoping, so that he became the father of a number of nations, as it had been said, So will your seed be.
Webster's Revision
Who against hope believed with hope, that he should become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
World English Bible
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 will your seed be."
English Revised Version (ERV)
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.
Clarke's Romans 4:18 Bible Commentary
Who against hope believed in hope - The faith of Abraham bore an exact correspondence to the power and never-failing faithfulness of God; for though, in the ordinary course of things, he had not the best foundation of hope, yet he believed that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken; namely, that his posterity should be like the stars of heaven for multitude, and like the dust of the earth.
Barnes's Romans 4:18 Bible Commentary
Who against hope - Who against all apparent or usual ground of hope. He refers here to the prospect of a posterity; see Romans 4:19-21.
Believed in hope - Believed in what was promised to excite his hope. Hope here is put for the object of his hope - what was promised.
According to what was spoken - Genesis 15:5.
So shall thy seed be - That is, as the stars in heaven for multitude. Thy posterity shall be very numerous.
Wesley's Romans 4:18 Bible Commentary
4:18 The Apostle shows the power and excellence of that faith to which he ascribes justification. Who against hope - Against all probability, believed and hoped in the promise. Thesame thing is apprehended both by faith and hope; by faith, as a thing which God has spoken; by hope, as a good thing which God has promised to us. So shall thy seed be - Both natural and spiritual, as the stars of heaven for multitude. Genesis 15:5 .
