What Does Romans 4:2 Mean in the King James?
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
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 word translated “glory” carries the sense of boasting: the hinge is whether standing before God can become personal credit.
THE MEANING
The verse lets the claim rise: if standing came from works, there would be grounds for boasting, then places a limit on it: not before God. That limit speaks to the reader now; standing before God cannot become a personal achievement to claim there.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that spiritual standing can be earned and then presented as personal credit before God.
THE ROOT
ἐδικαιώθη
edikaiōthē
GROWS FROM
δικαιόω
dikaioō
To justify or vindicate, to declare someone in the right; this word family carries the idea of what is right or aligned.
“Justified” belongs to the same word family as alignment: the verse is about what makes a person right before God. If works supplied that standing, they could also supply a claim to credit, but the verse denies that claim before God.
ALSO GROWS
dikaiosynē: Righteousness, justice, alignment.
δικαιοσύνη
This related word names the state or quality connected to being justified, keeping the verse’s focus on standing aligned before God.
dikaios: Just, right, aligned.
δίκαιος
This related word describes the one regarded as right, showing that “justified” belongs to a family about right standing.
καύχημα
kauchēma
GROWS FROM
καυχάομαι
kauchaomai
To boast or claim grounds for pride.
The phrase “hath whereof to glory” carries the sense of having a boast or grounds for claiming credit. The word family makes the verse’s hinge especially clear: if works were the basis of standing, they could furnish a boast, but that boast does not hold before God.
ALSO GROWS
kauchaomai: To boast, take pride, or claim credit.
καυχάομαι
This is the verb behind the idea of glorying; it shows the personal claim that would follow if works established standing.
kauchēsis: Boasting or the act of boasting.
καύχησις
This related noun names the act of making a boast, highlighting the claim of credit the verse sets against standing before God.
THE PATTERN
Standing before God leaves no basis for human self-congratulation.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.That no flesh should glory in his presence.For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.THE THREAD
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.“Justifieth” belongs to the same Greek verb family as “justified” in Romans 4:2, the family associated with right standing and alignment. The next verse places that action with God and names the ungodly as its recipient, leaving no place for a self-earned boast.
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