Genesis 15:6
New International Version
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

New Living Translation
And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.

English Standard Version
And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Berean Standard Bible
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

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

New King James Version
And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

New American Standard Bible
Then he believed in the LORD; and He credited it to him as righteousness.

NASB 1995
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

NASB 1977
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he believed in Yahweh; and He counted it to him as righteousness.

Amplified Bible
Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the LORD; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man).

Christian Standard Bible
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

American Standard Version
And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.

Contemporary English Version
Abram believed the LORD, so the LORD was pleased with him and accepted him.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD regarded that faith to be his approval of Abram.

Good News Translation
Abram put his trust in the LORD, and because of this the LORD was pleased with him and accepted him.

International Standard Version
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Majority Standard Bible
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

NET Bible
Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.

New Heart English Bible
And he believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

World English Bible
He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he has believed in YHWH, and He reckons it to him—righteousness.

Young's Literal Translation
And he hath believed in Jehovah, and He reckoneth it to him -- righteousness.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he believed in Jehovah; and it shall be reckoned to him justice.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.

New American Bible
Abram put his faith in the LORD, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness.

New Revised Standard Version
And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Abram believed in the LORD; and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abram believed in God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Covenant with Abram
5And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 7The LORD also told him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”…

Cross References
Romans 4:3
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Galatians 3:6
So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

Hebrews 11:8-12
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. ...

Romans 4:22
This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Galatians 3:7-9
Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” / So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Romans 4:5
However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Romans 4:9-11
Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. / In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before. / And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Romans 4:20-24
Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, / being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. / This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ...

Hebrews 11:17-19
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, / even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Psalm 106:31
It was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.

Habakkuk 2:4
Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—

Isaiah 53:11
After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Romans 1:17
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11
Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

he believed.

Romans 4:3-6,9,20-25
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness…

Galatians 3:6-14
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness…

Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

he counted.

Psalm 106:31
And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.

Romans 4:11,22
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: …

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.

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Abram Account Believed Counted Credited Faith Reckoned Reckoneth Righteousness
Genesis 15
1. God encourages Abram, who asks for an heir.
4. God promises him a son, and a multiplying of his seed.
6. Abram is justified by faith.
7. Canaan is promised again,
9. and confirmed by a sign, and a vision,
18. prophetic of the condition of his posterity till brought out of Egypt.














Abram believed
The Hebrew word for "believed" is "אָמַן" (aman), which conveys a sense of firmness, certainty, and trust. This word is foundational in understanding the nature of faith in the biblical context. Abram's belief was not a mere intellectual assent but a deep, personal trust in God's promises. This act of faith is pivotal, as it sets a precedent for the concept of faith throughout Scripture. Abram's belief is a model of faith that is active and reliant on God's character and promises, rather than on visible evidence or human reasoning.

the LORD
The term "LORD" here is the tetragrammaton "יהוה" (YHWH), the personal name of God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. This name signifies God's eternal, self-existent nature and His covenantal faithfulness. Abram's faith was directed towards YHWH, the covenant-keeping God, who had called him out of Ur and promised him descendants and land. This highlights the personal relationship between Abram and God, emphasizing that faith is relational and rooted in the knowledge of God's character and His revealed will.

and it was credited
The Hebrew word "חָשַׁב" (chashab) means to reckon, account, or consider. This term is significant in theological discussions about justification by faith. The act of crediting implies a legal or accounting transaction, where something is counted or regarded in a particular way. In this context, Abram's faith is accounted to him as righteousness, illustrating the principle that righteousness before God is not earned by works but is granted through faith.

to him
This phrase personalizes the transaction, indicating that the crediting of righteousness was specific to Abram. It underscores the individual nature of faith and righteousness. Each person's relationship with God is personal and unique, and God's dealings with Abram serve as a template for how He interacts with individuals who place their trust in Him.

as righteousness
The Hebrew word for "righteousness" is "צְדָקָה" (tsedaqah), which refers to a state of being right or just. In the biblical context, righteousness is often associated with living in accordance with God's standards and being in right relationship with Him. Here, righteousness is not something Abram achieved through his own efforts but was imputed to him because of his faith. This concept is foundational to the doctrine of justification by faith, later expounded by the Apostle Paul in Romans and Galatians, where he uses Abram's example to illustrate that righteousness comes through faith, not works. This verse encapsulates the essence of the gospel message: that faith in God's promises, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, is what makes one righteous before God.

(6) He believed in the Lord (in Jehovah) . . . --We have here the germ of the doctrine of free justification. Abram was both a holy man and one who proved his faith by his works; but nevertheless the inspired narrator inserts this reflection, not after the history of the offering of Isaac, but in the account of this vision, where all that Abram did was to believe, and for that belief's sake was accounted righteous before God. For the definite conclusions deduced from this verse by St. Paul see Romans 4. The quotation there is from the LXX., and gives the general sense, but the correct rendering of the Hebrew is that given in our version.

Verse 6. - And he believed in the Lord. The hiphil of the verb aman, to prop or stay, signifies to build upon, hence to rest one's faith upon; and this describes exactly the mental act of the patriarch, who reposed his confidence in the Divine character, and based his hope of a future seed on the Divine word. And he counted it to him. Ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ (LXX.), which is followed by nearly all the ancient versions, and by Paul in Romans 4:3; but the suffix ך (a feminine for a neuter, as in Job 5:9; Psalm 12:4; Psalm 27:4; vide Glass, ' Phil,' lib. 3. cp. 1:19), clearly indicates the object of the action expressed by the verb הָשַׁב, to think, to meditate, and then to impute (λογίζομαι), followed by לְ of pers. and acc. of the thing (cf. 2 Samuel 19:20; Psalm 32:2). The thing in this case was his faith in the Divine promise. For righteousness. צְדְקְהְ - εἰς δίκαιοσύνην (LXX.); neither for merit and justice (Rabbi Solomon, Jarchi, Ealiseh), nor as a proof of his probity (Gesenius, Rosenmüller); but unto and with a view to justification (Romans 4:3), so that God treated him as a righteous person (A Lapide), not, however, in the sense that he was now "correspondent to the will of God both in character and conduct" (Keil), but in the sense that he was now before God accepted and forgiven' (Luther, Calvin, Murphy, Candlish), which "passive righteousness, however, ultimately wrought in him an "active righteousness of complete conformity to the Divine will" ('Speaker's Commentary').

CHAPTER 15:7-21

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Abram believed
וְהֶאֱמִ֖ן (wə·he·’ĕ·min)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 539: To confirm, support

the LORD,
בַּֽיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and it was credited
וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ (way·yaḥ·šə·ḇe·hā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2803: To think, account

to him
לּ֖וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

as righteousness.
צְדָקָֽה׃ (ṣə·ḏā·qāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively


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OT Law: Genesis 15:6 He believed in Yahweh (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 15:5
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