Romans 4:6 (KJV)

What does Romans 4:6 mean?

Romans 4:6 says that David described how truly happy a person is when God counts them as righteous, even though they have not earned it by doing good deeds. The verse highlights that God can give someone righteousness as a gift, not as a reward for their works.

Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome, using King David’s words from the Old Testament to support his point. Paul wants his readers to see that being accepted by God has always depended on God’s grace, not on human effort. By mentioning David, Paul connects his teaching about faith and righteousness to a respected figure in Jewish history.

The Greek behind Romans 4:6

• μακαρισμός (makarismos, "blessedness"): This word means a state of happiness or being favored, not just a fleeting feeling. Paul is pointing to a deep, lasting happiness that comes from God’s approval.
• λογίζομαι (logizomai, "imputeth"): This word means to count, credit, or consider something as belonging to someone. Here, it shows that righteousness is something God credits to a person, not something they achieve.
• χωρίς (chōris, "without"): This word means "apart from" or "separate from." Paul is making it clear that this righteousness is given without any connection to a person’s works or deeds.

Why Romans 4:6 matters

• Romans 4:6 clears up the idea that people can earn God’s acceptance by doing good works; it stresses that righteousness is a gift from God, not a paycheck for good behavior.
• By quoting David, Paul shows that this teaching is not new or unique to Christianity, but is rooted in the Jewish Scriptures and tradition.
• This verse connects to Paul’s larger argument in Romans 4, where he uses both Abraham and David to show that faith, not works, is the basis for a right relationship with God.