Romans 4:8

KJV

Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

KJV (with Strong's)

Blessed {G3107} is the man {G435} to whom {G3739} the Lord {G2962} will {G3049} not {G3364} impute {G3049} sin {G266}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Blessed is the man whose sin Adonai
will not reckon against his account.”

Berean Standard Bible

Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

American Standard Version

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 4:8 declares a profound truth about the nature of divine blessedness: it belongs to the individual whom the Lord graciously chooses not to hold accountable for their sins. This verse, a direct quotation from Psalm 32:2, serves as a powerful Old Testament witness to Paul's argument for justification by faith, emphasizing that true happiness and right standing with God are not achieved through human merit or adherence to legalistic requirements, but through God's sovereign act of forgiveness and non-imputation of sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 4:8 is strategically placed within Paul's robust theological argument for justification by faith, independent of works of the law. Having established in [Romans 1-3](/romans/1 "Romans 1-3 - Humanity's Sin and God's Righteousness") that all humanity is under the condemnation of sin and that God's righteousness is revealed through faith in Christ, Paul now turns to the Old Testament to demonstrate that this principle has always been God's method. He first uses Abraham in [Romans 4:1-5](/romans/4-1-5 "Romans 4:1-5 - Abraham's Faith Reckoned as Righteousness") to show that Abraham was justified by faith, not by works, quoting [Genesis 15:6](/genesis/15-6 "Genesis 15:6 - Abraham Believed the Lord"). Immediately following this, Paul introduces David as another witness, quoting [Psalm 32:1-2](/psalms/32-1-2 "Psalm 32:1-2 - The Blessedness of Forgiveness") in [Romans 4:6-8](/romans/4-6-8 "Romans 4:6-8 - David's Testimony of Forgiveness"). Verse 8 specifically highlights the core of David's blessedness: the non-imputation of sin by the Lord. This dual testimony from the Law (Abraham) and the Prophets (David) reinforces the universality and antiquity of justification by faith.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul's letter to the Romans was written to a diverse church in the heart of the Roman Empire, comprising both Jewish and Gentile believers. A significant tension existed regarding the role of the Mosaic Law and circumcision in salvation. Many Jewish Christians believed that adherence to the Law was still necessary for justification, while Gentile converts struggled with the implications of a faith that seemingly bypassed centuries of Jewish tradition. Paul systematically dismantles the notion that works of the Law lead to righteousness, appealing to figures revered by both Jewish and Gentile audiences. The concept of "imputing" or "reckoning" (Greek: _logízomai_) was a common accounting or legal term in the Greco-Roman world, easily understood as crediting or debiting an account. Paul masterfully employs this familiar concept to explain God's divine accounting of sin and righteousness, making his theological argument accessible and compelling to his original audience.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans. The primary theme is **Justification by Faith**, as it underscores that blessedness and right standing with God come through God's gracious act of forgiveness, not human performance. It directly supports the idea that God's righteousness is **Imputed**, meaning it is credited to believers, while their sin is *not* imputed to them. This highlights the theme of **Divine Grace**, as God's decision not to impute sin is an unmerited favor. Furthermore, by quoting David, Paul emphasizes the **Continuity of God's Plan of Salvation** across the Old and New Covenants, showing that the principle of salvation by grace through faith was always active, even before Christ's advent. The verse also touches on the theme of **Blessedness and True Happiness**, defining it not in terms of worldly prosperity but in the spiritual reality of a sin-forgiven life before God, echoing the beatitudes found in [Matthew 5:3-12](/matthew/5-3-12 "Matthew 5:3-12 - The Beatitudes").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Blessed (Greek, _makários_):** This word describes a state of profound spiritual well-being, happiness, and divine favor. It signifies being supremely fortunate or well-off, not in a material sense, but in one's relationship with God. The blessedness here is not earned but is a gift, a declaration of God's favor upon the one whose sin is not reckoned against them.
* **Lord (Greek, _kýrios_):** Referring to God, this term emphasizes His supreme authority and mastery. It is the Lord, the sovereign God, who possesses the power and prerogative to decide whether or not to impute sin. This highlights the divine initiative and authority in the act of forgiveness and justification.
* **Impute (Greek, _logízomai_):** This is a crucial accounting or legal term meaning "to reckon," "to credit," "to consider," or "to take into account." In this context, it refers to God's act of not holding sin against an individual, not charging it to their account. The negative "will not impute" signifies a definitive and complete cancellation of the debt of sin, a divine declaration of "no charge."
* **Sin (Greek, _hamartía_):** This term refers to "missing the mark," an offense against God's law or character. It encompasses both individual acts of transgression and the underlying state of rebellion against God. The blessedness described in the verse is specifically tied to God's decision to not count this offense against a person.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Blessed is the man":** This phrase introduces the subject of divine favor and happiness. The "man" (Greek: _anḗr_) refers to any individual, emphasizing the universal availability of this blessing. The blessedness is not a feeling, but a declared state of being, a profound spiritual reality bestowed by God. It speaks to a deep, abiding joy that transcends circumstances, rooted in a right relationship with the Creator.
* **"to whom the Lord":** This identifies the divine agent of this blessedness. It is God Himself, the sovereign Lord (_kýrios_), who initiates and performs the act of not imputing sin. This underscores that forgiveness and justification are not human achievements but divine prerogatives, flowing from God's character and will.
* **"will not impute sin":** This is the core declaration of the verse. The Greek employs a strong double negative (_ou mḗ_), meaning "never" or "by no means will not impute." This emphasizes the absolute and definitive nature of God's decision. To "not impute sin" means God does not hold the individual's transgressions against them; He does not charge their sin to their account. It is a complete and gracious cancellation of the spiritual debt, a declaration of "no liability" before His holy standard.

#### Literary Devices
Paul's quotation of [Psalm 32:2](/psalms/32-2 "Psalm 32:2 - The Blessedness of Forgiveness") in Romans 4:8 is a powerful example of **Allusion** and **Quotation**, demonstrating the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament into the New. The use of the term "impute" (_logízomai_) functions as a central **Metaphor**, specifically an **Accounting or Legal Metaphor**. It portrays sin as a debt or a charge against an individual's account before God, and God's act of "not imputing" as a gracious cancellation of that debt. This metaphor effectively communicates the concept of divine forgiveness and justification in terms that were understandable to ancient audiences. Furthermore, the phrase "will not impute sin" employs a **Double Negative** in the original Greek (_ou mḗ_), which functions as an **Intensification** or **Emphasis**. This grammatical construction powerfully underscores the absolute and unreserved nature of God's forgiveness, signifying that He will *never*, under any circumstances, count that sin against the blessed individual.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 4:8 profoundly articulates the essence of God's grace in salvation, revealing that true blessedness is found not in human performance or the absence of sin, but in God's sovereign decision to not hold sin against an individual. This non-imputation is the heart of justification, where God declares a sinner righteous, not by overlooking sin, but by graciously choosing not to reckon it to their account. This divine act of forgiveness is foundational to the believer's peace with God and assurance of salvation, demonstrating that our standing before a holy God is entirely dependent on His unmerited favor and not on our flawed obedience.

* [Psalm 32:1](/psalms/32-1 "Psalm 32:1 - The Blessedness of Forgiveness")
* [Romans 3:24](/romans/3-24 "Romans 3:24 - Justified Freely by His Grace")
* [2 Corinthians 5:19](/2_corinthians/5-19 "2 Corinthians 5:19 - God Reconciling the World to Himself")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The truth of Romans 4:8 offers immense comfort, profound peace, and liberating freedom to every believer. To know that the Lord, the supreme authority, will not impute our sins against us, means that the heavy burden of guilt, shame, and condemnation is lifted. Our past failures, present struggles, and future temptations do not define our standing before God; rather, it is His gracious declaration of "no charge" that establishes our blessedness. This understanding should cultivate a deep sense of gratitude, leading us not to complacency, but to a life of joyful obedience and fervent love for the One who has so freely forgiven us. It empowers us to approach God with confidence, knowing that our acceptance is secured by His unchangeable grace, not our fluctuating performance. This blessedness frees us to serve Him out of love, not fear, and to extend the same grace and forgiveness to others that we have so abundantly received.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God "not imputing sin" impact your understanding of His character and your relationship with Him?**
* **In what ways does this verse free you from the burden of guilt or the pressure to earn God's favor?**
* **How might living in the reality of this "blessedness" transform your daily walk, your interactions with others, or your approach to service?**
* **If God does not impute your sin, how should that truth shape your response to your own failures and the failures of others?**

### FAQ

**What exactly does "impute" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Romans 4:8, "impute" (from the Greek _logízomai_) is an accounting or legal term. It means to reckon, to credit, to count, or to take into account. When the verse says the Lord "will not impute sin," it means God will not charge or credit a person's sin to their account. He chooses not to hold their transgressions against them. It's a divine declaration of "no debt" or "no liability" for sin. This is the opposite of how sin is normally counted against us, leading to condemnation, as seen in [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned").

**Does this mean that once I am blessed, I can sin freely without consequences?**

Answer: Absolutely not. The non-imputation of sin described in Romans 4:8 is a declaration of justification, a change in our legal standing before God, not a license for moral recklessness. Paul directly addresses this concern in [Romans 6:1-2](/romans/6-1-2 "Romans 6:1-2 - Shall We Continue in Sin?"). True faith, which leads to this blessedness, always results in a transformed life. While our sins are not imputed for condemnation, the Holy Spirit works within believers to sanctify them, leading them to desire righteousness and to grow in holiness. The freedom from the *penalty* of sin does not mean freedom to *practice* sin, but freedom to live in newness of life, serving God rather than sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:8, by declaring the blessedness of the one to whom the Lord will not impute sin, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The reason God can graciously choose not to impute sin to believers is because that sin was fully and perfectly imputed to His Son, Jesus, on the cross. As [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us") powerfully states, "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." Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, bore the full weight and penalty of our sin, allowing God's justice to be satisfied while His mercy is extended to us. Through Christ's atoning sacrifice, our vast spiritual debt was paid in full, and the record of charges against us was canceled, as [Colossians 2:13-14](/colossians/2-13-14 "Colossians 2:13-14 - Forgiveness and the Blotting Out of the Handwriting of Ordinances") affirms. Therefore, the blessedness of non-imputation is not a mere legal fiction but a profound reality made possible by the substitutionary death of Christ, through whom His perfect righteousness is then imputed to all who believe, as Paul explains in [Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Righteousness Through One Man's Obedience"). This is the heart of the Gospel: our sin imputed to Christ, and His righteousness imputed to 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 32:2

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

1 Peter 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

2 Corinthians 5:19

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

1 Peter 3:18

¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Isaiah 53:10

¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.