What Does Romans 4:14 Mean in the King James?

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Romans 4:14 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The moment inheritance becomes a paycheck for rule-keeping, the promise stops functioning as a promise.

THE MEANING

When belonging is treated as something earned by meeting rules, trust has no role left to play. The promise loses its force because an inheritance received from a giver has been recast as wages owed for performance.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

God’s promise becomes secure only after you qualify through sufficient rule-keeping.

THE ROOT

πίστις

pistis

GROWS FROM

πείθ-

peith-

The Greek word family carries the sense of persuading, being persuaded, and trusting.

Faith here is trust: a settled reliance on what is promised. If rule-keeping makes someone an heir, trust is emptied of its role as the way the promise is received.

ALSO GROWS

peithō: Persuade; be persuaded; trust.

πείθω

This branch shows trust as reliance, not merely an idea held in the mind.

pepoithēsis: Confidence or reliance.

πεποίθησις

Confidence names the posture of trust that this verse says is emptied when inheritance depends on law.

κεκένωται

kekenōtai

GROWS FROM

κεν-

ken-

The word family means empty or without content; the verb means to empty.

“made void” in this verse is kekenōtai. The verse pictures faith as drained of its substance, not simply set aside. When inheritance is treated as something earned, trust has nothing left to receive.

ALSO GROWS

kenos: Empty, vain, without content.

κενός

This is the basic image beneath the verb: faith is left empty when performance replaces trust.

kenodoxos: Empty of glory; self-seeking in vain glory.

κενόδοξος

The compound preserves the same image of emptiness, showing how a word built from ken- can describe something hollowed of what should fill it.

ἐπαγγελία

epangelia

GROWS FROM

ἐπαγγελ-

epangel-

To announce or declare; by extension, to promise.

A promise is an announced commitment from one who gives it. Treating inheritance as wages owed for performance drains that commitment of its force.

ALSO GROWS

epangellō: Announce, declare, or promise.

ἐπαγγέλλω

The related verb makes the promise an act of declaring what will be given.

angelos: Messenger.

ἄγγελος

The related word for messenger carries the sense of bearing an announcement, echoing the promise as something spoken and conveyed.

THE PATTERN

An inheritance carried by promise is received through trust; making it a reward for rule-keeping empties trust and nullifies the promise.

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 · KJVThe inheritance story begins with trust being counted, before it is framed as a reward for rule-keeping.

For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Galatians 3:18 · KJVThis names the same reversal directly: inheritance grounded in law is no longer received as promise.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:8 · KJVThe gift is received through trust, keeping the giver’s promise distinct from the recipient’s performance.

THE THREAD

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3 · KJV

The Greek word for “believed” shares the trust word-family with “faith” in this verse. What Romans 4:14 says can be emptied is the same trust through which Abraham receives what God promises.

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