Romans 4:6

KJV

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

KJV (with Strong's)

Even as {G2509} David {G1138} also {G2532} describeth {G3004} the blessedness {G3108} of the man {G444}, unto whom {G3739} God {G2316} imputeth {G3049} righteousness {G1343} without {G5565} works {G2041},

Complete Jewish Bible

In the same way, the blessing which David pronounces is on those whom God credits with righteousness apart from legalistic observances:

Berean Standard Bible

And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

American Standard Version

Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Romans 4:6, the Apostle Paul continues his robust theological argument for justification by faith alone, drawing upon the Old Testament witness of King David. This verse highlights the profound blessedness of the individual to whom God graciously credits righteousness, not on the basis of any human performance or meritorious deeds, but as a free gift. Paul uses David's testimony from Psalm 32 to underscore that this divine imputation of righteousness, apart from works, is the very foundation of true spiritual favor and peace with God, thereby demonstrating the consistent nature of God's saving grace across all dispensations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 4:6 is strategically placed within Paul's intricate theological exposition on justification by faith, which spans [Romans 3](/romans/3 "Romans 3 - Righteousness Through Faith") and [Romans 4](/romans/4 "Romans 4 - Abraham Justified by Faith"). Having established in [Romans 3:21-26](/romans/3-21-26 "Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness Apart from the Law") that God's righteousness is revealed apart from the Law and received through faith in Christ, Paul then turns to Old Testament figures to prove this principle's antiquity and universality. He first presents Abraham in [Romans 4:1-5](/romans/4-1-5 "Romans 4:1-5 - Abraham's Faith Credited as Righteousness"), showing that Abraham's faith, not his works, was "counted for righteousness" ([Romans 4:3](/romans/4-3 "Romans 4:3 - Abraham Believed God")). Romans 4:6 serves as a powerful reinforcement of this truth, introducing David as a second, equally significant witness. By quoting from [Psalm 32](/psalms/32 "Psalm 32 - Blessed is the One Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven"), a figure under the Mosaic Law, Paul demonstrates that even within the covenant of law, the pathway to blessedness and right standing with God was always through God's gracious imputation, not human achievement. This dual witness from Abraham (pre-Law) and David (under Law) comprehensively dismantles any notion of salvation by human merit.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's audience in Rome included both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, and his argument directly addresses a pervasive Jewish understanding of righteousness. For many Jews of Paul's day, righteousness was inextricably linked to meticulous observance of the Mosaic Law, including circumcision, dietary laws, and other ritual practices. There was a strong emphasis on "works of the Law" as the means to attain and maintain a covenant relationship with God. Paul's radical assertion that righteousness comes "without works" would have been deeply counter-cultural and potentially offensive to those who prided themselves on their adherence to the Law. By invoking David, Israel's most revered king and a man "after God's own heart," Paul chooses a figure whose authority and piety could not be disputed within Jewish tradition. David, despite his own profound moral failures (e.g., Bathsheba, Uriah), was known as one who experienced God's forgiveness and blessing. Paul leverages David's own words from [Psalm 32](/psalms/32 "Psalm 32 - The Joy of Forgiveness") to demonstrate that even for this paragon of Israelite kingship, blessedness derived from God's gracious covering of sin and imputation of righteousness, not from his perfect obedience. This historical and cultural context highlights the revolutionary nature of Paul's gospel message.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme in [Romans 4:6](/romans/4-6 "Romans 4:6 - David on Imputed Righteousness") is **Imputed Righteousness**, a concept where God credits or assigns righteousness to individuals, rather than it being an inherent quality or earned status. This is not a righteousness that originates from within humanity but is a divine declaration, an "accounting" term signifying a transfer of status. Closely intertwined is the theme of **Righteousness Without Works**, which directly challenges any system that relies on human effort, merit, or adherence to legal codes for salvation. Paul consistently argues that salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast" ([Ephesians 2:9](/ephesians/2-9 "Ephesians 2:9 - Not of Works")). This principle underscores God's sovereign grace as the sole basis for a right standing with Him, aligning with the broader Pauline emphasis on grace as the foundational principle of the New Covenant. Finally, the verse speaks of **Blessedness** (Greek: _makarismós_), referring to the state of profound spiritual favor and happiness that results from having one's sins forgiven and righteousness divinely credited. This blessedness is not contingent on human perfection but on God's merciful declaration, leading to peace with God and freedom from the condemnation of sin, as explored further in [Romans 5:1](/romans/5-1 "Romans 5:1 - Peace with God Through Justification").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **describeth (Greek, _légō_):** This verb, often translated as "to say" or "to speak," here carries the nuance of "to declare" or "to pronounce." In this context, it signifies David's authoritative declaration or articulation of the nature of blessedness. It's not merely a casual remark but a formal statement, consistent with the prophetic and didactic nature of the Psalms.
* **imputeth (Greek, _logízomai_):** This is a crucial term in Paul's argument, an accounting or legal term meaning "to count," "to reckon," "to credit," or "to put to one's account." It signifies a transaction where something is attributed or assigned to someone, even if it wasn't inherently theirs. In this verse, God is the one doing the imputing, crediting righteousness to a person's spiritual account. This is distinct from making someone righteous; it is declaring them righteous in a legal sense, based on a divine act.
* **righteousness (Greek, _dikaiosýnē_):** Derived from the word for "just" or "right," this term refers to the quality of being right or just, whether in character or action. In a theological sense, especially in Paul's writings, it denotes a right standing before God. When God "imputes" _dikaiosýnē_, He grants a status of being declared just or acquitted in His sight, which is the very essence of justification.
* **works (Greek, _érgon_):** This word refers to toil, effort, or an act. In Paul's theology, "works" (especially "works of the Law") denote human efforts or performance intended to earn favor or merit with God. The phrase "without works" is therefore a direct contrast, emphasizing that the righteousness God imputes is entirely independent of human achievement or religious performance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man,"**: Paul introduces David as a second, powerful witness to the doctrine of justification by faith. The phrase "Even as" (Greek: _katháper_) indicates a direct parallel and confirmation of the principle just illustrated with Abraham. David, in [Psalm 32:1-2](/psalms/32-1-2 "Psalm 32:1-2 - Blessedness of Forgiveness"), describes the supreme happiness or spiritual favor (_makarismós_) of a particular kind of person. This blessedness is not found in human perfection or achievement, but in God's gracious action.
* **"unto whom God imputeth righteousness"**: This clause reveals the source and nature of the blessedness David speaks of. It is God Himself who "imputes" or "reckons" righteousness. This is a divine act of crediting a right standing to an individual. It signifies a legal declaration by God, where a person is declared righteous in His sight, not because they have perfectly fulfilled the Law, but because God has graciously assigned this status to them. This is the core of Paul's argument for justification.
* **"without works,"**: This crucial phrase clarifies the condition upon which God imputes righteousness. It is "without works" (Greek: _chōrís érgōn_), meaning entirely apart from, independent of, or not conditioned upon human effort, merit, or obedience to the Law. This directly contrasts with the idea that one could earn or achieve righteousness through their own performance. It underscores that this righteousness is a gift of grace, received by faith, and not a wage earned through labor.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several literary devices in [Romans 4:6](/romans/4-6 "Romans 4:6 - David on Imputed Righteousness") to strengthen his argument. First, he uses **Allusion** and **Quotation** by referencing King David's words, specifically from [Psalm 32](/psalms/32 "Psalm 32 - Blessed is the One Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven"). This serves as an **Argument from Scripture**, demonstrating that the principle of imputed righteousness without works is not a novel invention of Paul's but is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, thereby lending immense authority and historical precedent to his claims for his Jewish audience. Second, there is a clear **Contrast** established between "righteousness" and "works." By explicitly stating that righteousness is imputed "without works," Paul highlights the fundamental difference between a system of merit-based salvation and a system of grace-based salvation. This antithesis is central to his entire theological framework in Romans. Lastly, the use of **Parallelism** with the preceding example of Abraham in [Romans 4:1-5](/romans/4-1-5 "Romans 4:1-5 - Abraham Justified by Faith") reinforces the consistency of God's method of justification across different historical periods, showing that both pre-Law (Abraham) and under-Law (David) figures were justified by the same principle of faith.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 4:6 powerfully articulates the doctrine of forensic justification, where God declares a sinner righteous based on an external righteousness credited to their account, rather than an inherent righteousness achieved through their own efforts. This concept of "imputed righteousness" is foundational to Pauline theology and distinguishes Christianity from all other religions that propose a path to God based on human performance. It underscores God's unmerited favor (grace) as the sole basis for salvation, revealing His character as both just (in requiring righteousness) and merciful (in providing it). This divine imputation frees believers from the impossible burden of earning their salvation and establishes their peace with God on a secure, objective foundation—God's own declaration.

* [Romans 3:28](/romans/3-28 "Justification by Faith Apart from the Law")
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Saved by Grace Through Faith")
* [Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Righteousness from God by Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 4:6 offers profound comfort and liberation to the believer. It reassures us that our standing before a holy God is not precarious, dependent on our fluctuating performance or good deeds, but is securely established by God's gracious declaration. This truth cultivates genuine humility, as we recognize that our blessedness is entirely a gift, leaving no room for boasting in ourselves. It fosters deep gratitude for God's boundless grace and mercy, which provides righteousness where we had none. Practically, this means we can approach God with confidence, not fear, knowing that our sins are covered and Christ's righteousness is ours. This understanding also fuels authentic obedience, not as a means to earn salvation, but as a joyful response of love and gratitude for the salvation already received. It frees us from the exhausting treadmill of trying to prove ourselves to God and allows us to live from a place of secure identity in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding "imputed righteousness without works" change your perspective on your daily walk with God?**
* **In what ways might you still be subtly relying on your own "works" for your sense of acceptance or blessedness before God?**
* **How can the truth of Romans 4:6 empower you to share the Gospel with others who are striving to earn their way to God?**

### FAQ
**Does "without works" mean that good deeds are unimportant for a Christian?**

Answer: No, "without works" in [Romans 4:6](/romans/4-6 "David on Imputed Righteousness") and other Pauline passages refers specifically to works as a *means of justification* or earning a right standing with God. Paul is clear that salvation is by grace through faith, apart from legalistic works ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Saved by Grace Through Faith")). However, once a person is justified by faith, good works become the *natural and necessary outflow* of that saving faith. They are the evidence of a transformed life, not the cause of salvation. As [James 2:17](/james/2-17 "Faith Without Works is Dead") states, "faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." So, works are crucial as a demonstration of true faith and for living a life that honors God, but they play no role in meriting justification.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:6 finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "righteousness" that God imputes is not an abstract concept but the very righteousness of Christ Himself. We, who are inherently unrighteous and incapable of earning God's favor through our own "works," are declared righteous because Christ, the perfect and sinless one, perfectly fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf. He became sin for us, "that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). The blessedness David describes is fully realized in those who are united with Christ by faith, for it is through Him that our sins are truly covered and forgiven, and His perfect obedience is credited to our account ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Righteousness Through One Man's Obedience")). Therefore, Romans 4:6 not only highlights the method of justification but implicitly points to the Person who makes such justification possible: Jesus Christ, our substitute and the source of our imputed righteousness.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Timothy 1:9

Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

1 Corinthians 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Philippians 3:9

¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Ephesians 2:8

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

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 5:18

Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life.