Paul: Our articles

Discussion of Genesis 15:6

From http://www.riversofrevelation.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=185&st=20

Back to the drawing board...I am backtracking from the translation in my last post after comparing the grammar of the other Hebrew examples. The Hebrew verb translated as took, counted, imputed etc. (H2803) often has a "to (unto, for, against) something" associated with it, as "to him" in Genesis 15:6. Compare Genesis 50:20 where "... ye thought (H2803) against me evil... but Elohim meant (H2803) it (suffering imposed on Joseph) for good." Compare also Leviticus 27:18 with "reckon (H2803) unto him the money" or "reckon the money unto him."

Genesis 15:6 And he [Abram] trusted in YHWH; and he [YHWH] counted it [Abram's trust] to him [Abram] (as) righteousness (justice of character and conduct).

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.

Lev 27:18 But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation.


The Septuagint version quoted by Paul and James is different from the Hebrew, but seems to have the same meaning (less the Name and with the change in the grammar).

And he [Abram] trusted God and it [Abram's trust] was reckoned to himself [Abram] as righteousness.

The important point that Doug brings out is that Abraham's conduct is being commended in this verse, as James implies in James chapter 2.

Paul, on the other hand, says that it was not Abraham's conduct (works), but his belief (mental assent) that was critical. (Remember James asserting that the demons believe and tremble...)
Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.

Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Rom 4:7 [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Rom 4:8 Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Paul goes on to quote from Psalm 32, but he conveniently stops before getting to the works part in verse 5. One following YHWH's commands would be concerned about confessing transgressions of the commands.

Psa 32:1 <[A Psalm] of David, Maschil.> Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.

Psa 32:2 Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.

Psa 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

Psa 32:4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.


As we study Messiah's and James' words, we see the lies of Paul.

Hi Tom,

I've read through the posts on this thread and I still feel the need to offer an alternative explanation.

I suggested more than one construction over the past several days.

1. Most recent:

He [Abram] trusted in YHWH; and he [YHWH] reckoned it [Abram's trust] to Abram (as) righteousness.

2. Previous, on your evidence:

He [Abram] trusted in YHWH; and he [Abram] reckoned it [YHWH's promise] to YHWH (as) righteousness.

Here is how I see the first part of Genesis 15

Verse 1: YHWH introduces himself for first order of business
Verses 2, 3: Abram voices concern
Verses 4, 5: YHWH responds with promise
Verse 6: Narrator notes that Abram responds correctly to that promise and that YHWH commends him for his right response (justice of character and conduct, see Davidson, The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, Zondervan, 1981, page 640, 2nd column, 13 lines down).
Verse 7: YHWH introduces next order of business.

I can see both constructions making sense. Having Abram being the subject twice in verse 6 seems to make the verse easier to diagram, but having YHWH as the subject in the second half gives the verse the feel of a summary of the first order of business. That YHWH is righteous is a given; the righteous response by Abram to YHWH is what is noted and is the reason they can proceed to the next order of business.

This is where I am. I don't see a problem with number 1.

Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before YHWH our God, as he hath commanded us.

Carl