Romeinen 4:10

10 Hoe is het hem dan toegerekend? Als hij in de besnijdenis was, of in de voorhuid? Niet in de besnijdenis, maar in de voorhuid.

Romeinen 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 4:10

How was it then reckoned?
&c.] The Arabic version adds, "and when"; and the Ethiopic version reads it, "when was Abraham justified?" expressing the sense, not the words of the original text, with which agree the following questions:

when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?
that is, was he justified, or his faith reckoned to him for righteousness, when he was a circumcised, or an uncircumcised person?

not in circumcision;
or when he was circumcised; for when it was said of him, that "he believed in the Lord", and "he counted it to him for righteousness", ( Genesis 15:6 ) , he was then uncircumcised, and remained so many years after: for this was before the birth of Ishmael, and Ishmael was "thirteen" years of age when he and his father Abraham were circumcised; so that it must be "fourteen" years, or thereabout, before his circumcision, that this declaration of his being a justified person was made; wherefore the apostle rightly adds,

but in uncircumcision;
or whilst an uncircumcised person: hence it clearly appears that circumcision could not be the cause of his justification, since it followed it; and if Abraham when uncircumcised was a justified person, as it is certain he was, why may not uncircumcised Gentiles be justified also? and especially when it is observed, that the covenant made with Abraham when uncircumcised, included the Gentiles; see ( Genesis 12:3 ) ( 17:4-6 ) .

Romeinen 4:10 In-Context

8 Zalig is de man, welken de Heere de zonden niet toerekent.
9 Deze zaligspreking dan, is die alleen over de besnijdenis, of ook over de voorhuid? Want wij zeggen, dat Abraham het geloof gerekend is tot rechtvaardigheid.
10 Hoe is het hem dan toegerekend? Als hij in de besnijdenis was, of in de voorhuid? Niet in de besnijdenis, maar in de voorhuid.
11 En hij heeft het teken der besnijdenis ontvangen tot een zegel der rechtvaardigheid des geloofs, die hem in de voorhuid was toegerekend; opdat hij zou zijn een vader van allen, die geloven in de voorhuid zijnde, ten einde ook hun de rechtvaardigheid toegerekend worde;
12 En een vader der besnijdenis, dengenen namelijk, die niet alleen uit de besnijdenis zijn, maar die ook wandelen in de voetstappen des geloofs van onzen vader Abraham, hetwelk in de voorhuid was.
The Dutch Staten Vertaling translation is in the public domain.