God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

ROMANS 3:4KJV
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Romans 3:4 (KJV)

What does Romans 3:4 mean?

Romans 3:4 says that God’s words remain trustworthy even when people prove untruthful. Paul answers a question about human unbelief by insisting that people’s failure does not make God unreliable.

Paul responds to the question in verse 3 with the strong phrase “God forbid.” He then quotes Psalm 51:4, where the speaker admits wrongdoing and recognizes that God is right in what he says.

The Greek behind Romans 3:4

  • “God forbid” — μὴ γένοιτο (mē genoito): The phrase expresses a strong rejection, like “Certainly not!” Paul uses it to dismiss the idea raised in verse 3.
  • “justified” — δικαιόω (dikaioō): The word can mean shown to be right. Here, it describes God being shown to be right in his “sayings,” or words.
  • “overcome” — νικάω (nikaō): The word means to win or prevail. In the verse, the language pictures God prevailing when his words are brought into question.

Why Romans 3:4 matters

  • Paul presents human failure and God’s truthfulness as different things. “Every man a liar” sets people’s untrustworthiness against God’s truthfulness.
  • The words from Psalm 51 give Paul’s answer an earlier example. In that psalm, a person’s admission of wrongdoing stands alongside the recognition that God is right.
  • “When thou art judged” uses the language of a judgment. Together with “justified” and “overcome,” the phrase pictures God’s words being examined and upheld.

Where else these words appear

“liar” Greek G5583 · used in 10 verses

  • John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
  • Titus 1:12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
  • 1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

“overcome” Greek G3528 · used in 24 verses

  • Luke 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
  • 1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
  • Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

“true” Greek G227 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
  • John 8:14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
  • 2 Corinthians 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

“justified” Greek G1344 · used in 36 verses

  • Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
  • Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
  • Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.