In verses 2-3 Abram had not accepted the LORD’s promise; he had, in fact, countered it by his objections. However, now there is full acceptance of what the LORD has said, and this verse concludes the first part on a positive note.

And he believed the LORD: the verb translated believed with “the LORD” as object means to trust, rely on, have confidence in. Abram trusts the LORD to do what he says he will do. In many languages expression of belief or trust is stated idiomatically; for example, “to lean your weight on,” “to place yourself in the hands of,” “to give your heart to be held by someone,” “to rest yourself firmly upon.”

And he reckoned it to him: that is, the LORD considered, looked upon Abram’s act of trusting him as an act of righteousness.

Righteousness as used here is not a spiritual quality of Abram; but rather it denotes a relationship, namely, being in right relationship with God. As von Rad says, “Man is righteous so long as he affirms the regulations of the communal relationship established by God….” In Rom 4.3, 9, 22, and Gal 3.6 Paul refers to Gen 15.6, where Good News Translation translates “God accepted him [Abram] as righteous.”

We may render this expression, for example, “and the LORD considered Abram’s faith to be righteousness” or “the LORD counted his faith as righteousness.” However, many languages require event-like words to express righteousness. Therefore, in terms of the relationship suggested above, we may sometimes translate “the LORD considered Abram as being right with himself.” Another way this may be done is by expressing the relationship element through the word “accept.” Accordingly Good News Translation translates “The LORD was pleased with him and accepted him.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “Abram trusted in the Lord’s promise, and so he found God’s acceptance.”

Some languages find it difficult to express the thought “be right with” or “to be in right relationship with.” Sometimes the closest equivalent may be “to be related to God as people should be,” or in the context of this verse, “and he was pleased with Abram and considered him related to God as he should be.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .