Romans 4:8 (KJV)

What does Romans 4:8 mean?

Romans 4:8 describes the happiness of a person whose sin the Lord chooses not to count against them. The verse presents that person as blessed because the Lord does not treat their sin as a charge held against them.

The phrase “impute sin” uses the picture of putting something on a person’s account. Following the words about sins being forgiven in verse 7, verse 8 expresses the same blessedness in terms of how the Lord regards the person.

The Greek behind Romans 4:8

• “will … impute” — λογίζομαι (logizomai): This word carries the sense of counting or reckoning something. In Romans 4:8, the accounting image helps explain how sin can be viewed as a charge against a person.
• “not” — οὐ μή (ou mē): This combination expresses a strong denial. It gives particular force to the statement that the Lord will not count the sin against the person.

Why Romans 4:8 matters

• The verse connects forgiveness with being regarded as right before God. Paul introduces the quotation in Romans 4:6 as David’s description of the blessedness of the person God counts as righteous, or in the right, apart from works.
• The wording comes from Psalm 32:2. Paul uses the psalm’s description of a person’s blessedness as part of his discussion of being counted right with God.