What Does Romans 4:3 Mean in the King James?

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

Romans 4:3 · 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

Trust is not presented as a prize for prior alignment; here, trust itself is counted as alignment.

THE MEANING

Abraham’s reliance on God is counted as alignment; the verse joins trust and right relation in a single movement. It speaks now wherever a person’s standing before God is understood through trust rather than an accumulated record.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It dissolves the belief that a person must first earn alignment before trust can count.

THE ROOT

πιστεύω

pisteuō

GROWS FROM

πιστ-

pist-

Trust, reliance, or placing confidence in someone.

“believed” in this verse is pisteuō. Here, believing carries the weight of reliance: Abraham places his confidence in God. The related words span trust and steadiness, so the verse presents his response as a relationship of dependence, not simply an idea he accepts.

ALSO GROWS

pistis: Trust; reliance.

πίστις

This noun names the trust Abraham expresses through the verb.

pistos: Trustworthy; firm or steady.

πιστός

This related word links trust with the steadiness that can be relied upon.

λογίζομαι

logizomai

GROWS FROM

λογ-

log-

To reckon, consider, or account.

The verse describes an act of reckoning: Abraham’s trust is entered as alignment. The accounting language makes visible the relation between what Abraham places in God and what is counted to him.

ALSO GROWS

logismos: A calculation or reckoning.

λογισμός

This noun shows the accounting sense carried by the word family.

logos: A word, account, or reason.

λόγος

Its related sense of an account echoes the verse’s language of reckoning.

δικαιοσύνη

dikaiosynē

GROWS FROM

δικαι-

dikai-

Alignment; right relation or standing.

“righteousness” in this verse is dikaiosynē. The verse names what is counted as alignment, joining that standing directly to Abraham’s trust. Its word family connects this alignment with both being just and being set right.

ALSO GROWS

dikaios: Just; aligned or right.

δίκαιος

This adjective describes a person in the state of alignment named here.

dikaioō: Set right; declare just or aligned.

δικαιόω

This verb expresses the act of establishing or recognizing right standing.

THE PATTERN

Reliance on God is counted as alignment, and that relation becomes the ground on which a life is recognized.

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

Genesis 15:6 · KJVThe source sentence joins Abraham’s trust to God’s reckoning of it as alignment.

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 · KJVLife is linked to trust, while uprightness is named as the condition that marks the way.

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

James 2:23 · KJVThe same reckoning of Abraham’s trust is shown as a relationship in which he is called God’s friend.

THE THREAD

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

Genesis 15:6 · KJV

The Greek wording of Genesis repeats the same roots: ⁨πιστεύω⁩ (pisteuō, trust), ⁨λογίζομαι⁩ (logizomai, reckon), and ⁨δικαιοσύνη⁩ (dikaiosynē, alignment). Romans carries that same movement forward: trust is reckoned as alignment.

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