complete verse (Romans 4:23)

Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 4:23:

  • Uma: “What is written there is not just Abraham’s portion.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “That writing about Ibrahim hep was not only for him,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the written word of God long ago which says that God considered him to be righteous, this was not written only about Abraham,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “These words which say that God counted him as righteous were not written for Abraham only,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When the word was written that then Abraham was cleared, it wasn’t written just to praise Abraham.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Romans 4:23

In Paul’s argument this verse is transitional. Paul has demonstrated on the basis of scripture that Abraham was accepted as righteous by God through faith, and now he begins to show how this applies also to everyone else who has faith.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 4:23

Paragraph 4:23–25

4:23a–b

Now the words “it was credited to him” were written: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

⌊God did not tell Moses⌋ to write the words “it was counted to him”

4:23a

Now: Paul now took the example of Abraham’s faith and applied it to all people who believe in Jesus (4:24a). In some languages, this does not indicate contrast. Consider how to introduce this teaching in your language. For example:

But (English Standard Version)
-or-
The words… (New International Version)

the words “it was credited to him”: This refers to the same thing as in 4:22. Paul repeated it to say something new about it in 4:23b–24a. See how you translated it was credited to him in 4:3.

In some languages it is more natural to add “as righteousness” here. For example:

the words “it was credited to him ⌊as righteousness⌋ ”

In some languages repeating the words from 4:22 has a different meaning or is not natural. If that is true in your language, translate this without repeating the words from 4:22. For example:

just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
What is written there

4:23b

were written: This word implies here that the words were written in the Old Testament (Genesis 15:6). In some languages this information needs to be made explicit to indicate the correct meaning. For example:

were written ⌊in Scripture⌋

not only for Abraham: Here this phrase means “not only regarding him.” Moses wrote these words long after Abraham had died. Those words apply to him, but they also apply to others. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

for his sake alone (English Standard Version)
-or-
apply not only to Abraham (Revised English Bible)

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