Romans 4:7

KJV

[Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

KJV (with Strong's)

Saying, Blessed {G3107} are they whose {G3739} iniquities {G458} are forgiven {G863}, and {G2532} whose {G3739} sins {G266} are covered {G1943}.

Complete Jewish Bible

“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered over;

Berean Standard Bible

“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

American Standard Version

saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 4:7 articulates a profound truth concerning the blessedness that comes from divine forgiveness, quoting King David from Psalm 32 to underscore the apostle Paul's argument for justification by faith. This verse highlights that true spiritual well-being and happiness are not found in perfect adherence to the law or human merit, but in God's gracious act of pardoning our lawless deeds and covering our sins, thereby removing the burden of guilt and the condemnation of divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 4 is pivotal in Paul's exposition of justification by faith, demonstrating that both Jews and Gentiles are declared righteous before God not by works of the Law but by trusting in God's promise. Having established Abraham as the prime example of this truth—whose faith was "counted to him as righteousness" ([Romans 4:3](/romans/4-3 "Romans 4:3 - Abraham's Faith Accounted as Righteousness"))—Paul transitions to King David, another revered figure in Jewish tradition. By quoting [Psalm 32:1-2](/psalms/32-1-2 "Psalm 32:1-2 - David's Confession and Forgiveness"), Paul provides a second, equally compelling witness from the Old Testament, proving that the blessedness David experienced was a result of God's forgiveness of sins, not his own sinless performance. This reinforces the universal principle that righteousness is imputed, not achieved.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Judaism, there was a strong emphasis on the Mosaic Law as the pathway to righteousness and a right standing with God. Observance of the commandments, ritual purity, and good deeds were often seen as prerequisites for divine favor. Paul's argument in Romans directly challenges this prevailing understanding, asserting that humanity's fallen state makes perfect obedience impossible. By referencing David, a king who famously sinned (e.g., in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah, as detailed in [2 Samuel 11](/2_samuel/11 "2 Samuel 11 - David's Sin with Bathsheba")), Paul illustrates that even the most esteemed figures in Israel's history relied on God's mercy and forgiveness for their blessedness, rather than their own faultless record. This context underscores the radical nature of Paul's gospel message of grace.
* **Key Themes:** Romans 4:7 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Romans. The most prominent is **Justification by Faith**, as the verse explicitly links blessedness to God's act of forgiving and covering sins, rather than human works. This directly supports Paul's argument that righteousness is a gift received through faith, echoing the principle seen in [Romans 3:21-26](/romans/3-21-26 "Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness Through Faith"). Another key theme is **Divine Forgiveness**, emphasizing God's sovereign prerogative and gracious character in pardoning human transgression. The comprehensive nature of this forgiveness, encompassing both "iniquities" and "sins," highlights the thoroughness of God's cleansing. Finally, the theme of **True Blessedness** is central, defining it not as material prosperity or earthly success, but as the spiritual peace and favor that comes from being reconciled to God through the removal of guilt. This blessedness is a state of profound spiritual well-being, independent of human performance, and is a foundational aspect of the new life in Christ described throughout [Romans 5-8](/romans/5 "Romans 5 - Peace with God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Blessed (Greek, _makários'_):** This term signifies a state of supreme happiness, fortunate well-being, or spiritual prosperity. It describes the deep, abiding joy and favor that comes from God, rather than from external circumstances or human achievement. In this context, it is a divinely conferred state of grace.
* **Iniquities (Greek, _anomía'_):** Derived from "without law," this word denotes lawlessness, wickedness, or the violation of God's divine standard. It refers to a disregard for God's revealed will, not merely isolated acts but a deeper rebellion against His righteous order.
* **Covered (Greek, _epikalýptō'_):** This word literally means "to cover over" or "to conceal." In a figurative theological sense, it implies that sin is hidden from God's sight, not in the sense of being ignored, but being dealt with in such a way that it no longer stands as a barrier between God and the sinner. It speaks to the removal of guilt and the blotting out of the record of sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Saying, Blessed are they":** Paul introduces the quotation from Psalm 32, immediately drawing attention to the state of happiness or divine favor. The "they" refers to individuals who experience the condition described in the subsequent clauses, emphasizing that this blessedness is a specific outcome of God's action.
* **"whose iniquities are forgiven":** This clause specifies the first condition for blessedness: the complete pardon of lawless deeds. The term "forgiven" (Greek, _aphíēmi_) means "to send away," "release," or "remit," indicating a total cancellation of the debt of sin and a liberation from its penalty. It speaks to God's active removal of the guilt associated with our rebellion against His law.
* **"and whose sins are covered":** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first, using a different but complementary metaphor. "Sins" (Greek, _hamartía_) refers to "missing the mark" or falling short of God's standard. The act of "covering" implies that the record of these transgressions is hidden from God's judgmental gaze, not merely overlooked but effectively dealt with, so they no longer accuse the individual. Together, "forgiven" and "covered" convey the comprehensive nature of God's pardon.

#### Literary Devices
Romans 4:7 employs several powerful literary devices. The most obvious is **Quotation**, as Paul directly cites [Psalm 32:1](/psalms/32-1 "Psalm 32:1 - The Blessedness of Forgiveness") to bolster his theological argument, demonstrating continuity between the Old and New Testaments regarding the nature of salvation. **Parallelism** is evident in the two clauses: "whose iniquities are forgiven" and "whose sins are covered." These phrases use synonymous terms ("iniquities" and "sins") and parallel actions ("forgiven" and "covered") to express the same comprehensive truth from slightly different angles, intensifying the message of complete pardon. There is also **Metaphor** in the concept of sins being "covered," which evokes imagery of a veil or a shield, suggesting that the sin is no longer exposed to divine judgment. Finally, the verse uses **Emphasis** through repetition and the strong declaration of "Blessed," drawing the reader's attention to the profound and desirable state that results from God's gracious act of forgiveness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 4:7 stands as a cornerstone in the biblical understanding of divine grace and forgiveness. It unequivocally declares that humanity's hope for a right standing with God lies not in our ability to perfectly obey His law, but in His merciful disposition to pardon our transgressions. This truth is foundational to the gospel message, revealing that God, in His boundless love, takes the initiative to remove the barrier of sin that separates humanity from Him. The blessedness described is not a reward for good behavior, but a gracious gift, freely given to those who acknowledge their sin and trust in His provision for its removal. This concept of imputed righteousness, where God credits us with Christ's righteousness and forgives our unrighteousness, is central to the doctrine of justification.

* [Psalm 32:1-2](/psalms/32-1-2 "Psalm 32:1-2 - David's Blessedness of Forgiveness")
* [Colossians 1:14](/colossians/1-14 "Colossians 1:14 - Redemption and Forgiveness Through Christ")
* [Acts 13:38](/acts/13-38 "Acts 13:38 - Forgiveness of Sins through Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 4:7 offers profound comfort and liberation to every believer. It dismantles the heavy burden of trying to earn God's favor through perfect performance, revealing that our blessedness and peace with Him are secured by His gracious act of forgiveness, not our own merit. This truth frees us from the cycle of guilt, shame, and striving, inviting us to rest in the finished work of Christ. Understanding that our "iniquities are forgiven" and our "sins are covered" means that the record of our failures, transgressions, and shortcomings no longer stands against us before a holy God. This assurance should cultivate deep gratitude, humility, and a profound sense of security in God's unwavering love. It empowers us to live not out of fear of punishment, but out of love and devotion for the One who has so freely pardoned us, compelling us to extend that same grace and forgiveness to others.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the truth that your "iniquities are forgiven" and "sins are covered" impact your daily walk with God?**
* **In what ways might you still be tempted to earn God's favor, and how does Romans 4:7 challenge that inclination?**
* **How does understanding God's comprehensive forgiveness empower you to forgive yourself and others?**

### FAQ

**Why does Paul quote Psalm 32 in Romans 4?**

Answer: Paul quotes [Psalm 32](/psalms/32 "Psalm 32 - The Joy of Forgiveness") to provide Old Testament scriptural support for his doctrine of justification by faith, specifically emphasizing that blessedness comes from God's forgiveness, not from human works or perfect obedience to the Law. After using Abraham as an example of faith leading to righteousness in [Romans 4:1-5](/romans/4-1-5 "Romans 4:1-5 - Abraham Justified by Faith"), Paul turns to David, Israel's beloved king, who himself experienced profound sin and subsequent divine forgiveness (as chronicled in [2 Samuel 11-12](/2_samuel/11-12 "2 Samuel 11-12 - David's Sin and Repentance")). By showing that even David's blessedness was rooted in God's mercy and pardon, Paul demonstrates that forgiveness of sin, not sinless living, is the basis of a right relationship with God, thereby reinforcing the universal principle of justification by grace through faith.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:7, though quoting an Old Testament psalm, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "forgiveness of iniquities" and the "covering of sins" that David experienced by God's grace are fully and finally accomplished through Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the full weight of humanity's lawlessness and transgressions. His shed blood is the basis for the new covenant, where God promises, "I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more" ([Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "Jeremiah 31:34 - The New Covenant Promise of Forgiveness"), quoted in [Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - God's Promise in the New Covenant")). Through faith in Christ, believers are not merely pardoned, but are fully reconciled to God, their sins not just covered but completely removed and remembered no more ([Psalm 103:12](/psalms/103-12 "Psalm 103:12 - God Removes Our Transgressions")). The blessedness spoken of in Romans 4:7 is therefore the blessedness of those who are "in Christ," having received the imputation of His righteousness and the complete forgiveness of their sins, a gift made possible by His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")).

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

Psalms 32:1

¶ [A] Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.

Psalms 32:2

Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.

Psalms 130:3

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Psalms 130:4

But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Luke 7:47

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.

Luke 7:50

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Micah 7:18

Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.