Romans 4:18 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.

English Amplified

[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. [Gen. 15:5.]

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. [Gen. 15:5.]

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

who against hope believed in hope to his becoming father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be:

English EASY 2024

Abraham continued to trust God. He hoped to receive what God had promised. He continued to hope even when he had no good reason to hope. That is why he became the ancestor of many nations. It happened just like God had said: ‘You will have very many descendants.’

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, "You will have many descendants."

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."

English GNT (Good News Translation)

Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping, and so became “the father of many nations.” Just as the scripture says, “Your descendants will be as many as the stars.”

English God's Word - GW 1995

When there was nothing left to hope for, Abraham still hoped and believed. As a result, he became a father of many nations, as he had been told: "That is how many descendants you will have."

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Against hope, with hope he believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.

English KJV 1611

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

English LSB

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your seed be.”

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Against all hope, he believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "Thus shall your descendants be."

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “ so will your descendants be.”

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

When there was no reason for hope, Abraham believed because he had hope. He became the father of many nations, exactly as God had promised. God said, "That is how many children you will have."--(Genesis 15:5)

English NIV

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

English NKJ 1982

who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

English NLT

When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God had also said, "Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars," even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible!

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be."

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it. He took God at his word, and as a result he became the father of many nations. God’s declaration over him came to pass: “Your descendants will be so many that they will be impossible to count!”

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been told, “So shall your descendants be.”

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

So, when God told Abraham that he would give him a son who would have many descendants and become a great nation, Abraham believed God even though such a promise just couldn't come to pass!

English Tyndale 1537

Which Abraham, contrary to hope, believed in hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: So shall thy seed be. (as the stars of heaven, and sand of the sea)