Romans 4:7 Meaning and Explanation
“Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul quotes David: blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered over.
What Does Romans 4:7 Mean?
This is the first half of Paul's quotation from Psalm 32, where David celebrates the relief of forgiveness. The psalm was written out of David's own experience of sin and the mercy that met him afterward.
Two pictures of grace appear together. Iniquities are forgiven, lifted off and carried away; sins are covered, hidden from view so they no longer stand between the sinner and God. To be 'blessed' here is to be set free from the crushing weight of guilt. This is the happiness of the forgiven, and it points forward to the One whose sacrifice would cover sin fully and forever, so that the burden need never be carried again.
Romans 4:7 in the Original Language
aphiemi (ἀφίημι), 'forgiven' -- to send away, release, let go of a debt.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 4:7
What does Romans 4:7 mean?
Paul quotes David: blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered over.