Romans 4:18

ὃς παρ' ἐλπίδα ἐπ' ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸν πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον· Οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου
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.
Word Reference
Original Word Definitions
ὃς
G3739
hos
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
  • who, which, what, that
παρ'
G3844
para
properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of)
  • from, of at, by, besides, near
ἐλπίδα
G1680 N-ASF
elpis
expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence
  • expectation of evil, fear
    • "expectation of good, hope
    • in the Christian sense
      • joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
    on hope, in hope, having hope
    • the author of hope, or he who is its foundation
      • "the thing hoped for
ἐπ'
G1909
epi
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc
  • upon, on, at, by, before
    • "of position, on, at, by, over, against"to, over, on, at, across, against
ἐλπίδι
G1680 N-DSF
elpis
expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence
  • expectation of evil, fear
    • "expectation of good, hope
    • in the Christian sense
      • joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
    on hope, in hope, having hope
    • the author of hope, or he who is its foundation
      • "the thing hoped for
ἐπίστευσεν
G4100 V-AAI-3S
pisteuō
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)
  • to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
    • of the thing believed
      • to credit, have confidence
      in a moral or religious reference
      • used in the New Testament of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
        • "to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith
    to entrust a thing to one, i.e., his fidelity
    • to be entrusted with a thing
εἰς
G1519 PREP
eis
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
  • into, unto, to, towards, for, among
τὸ
G3588 T-ASN
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
γενέσθαι
G1096 V-2ADN
ginomai
to cause to be (___%___gen___%___-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
  • to become, i.e., to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
    • "to become, i.e., to come to pass, happen
    • of events
    to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage
    • of men appearing in public
    to be made, finished
    • of miracles, to be performed, wrought
    to become, be made
αὐτὸν
G846 P-ASM
autos
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
  • himself, herself, themselves, itself
    • "he, she, it"the same
πατέρα
G3962 N-ASM
patēr
a ___%___father___%___ (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
  • generator or male ancestor
    • either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents
      • "a more remote ancestor, the founder of a race or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David
      • fathers i.e., ancestors, forefathers, founders of a race
      one advanced in years, a senior
    metaphorically
    • the originator and transmitter of anything
      • the authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself
        • "one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds
      one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way"a title of honor
      • teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received
        • "the members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom and experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others
    God is called the Father
    • of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler
      • "of all rational and intelligent beings, whether angels or men, because he is their creator, preserver, guardian and protector
      • of spiritual beings and of all men
      of Christians, as those who through Christ have been exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and who no longer dread him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere him as their reconciled and loving Father"the Father of Jesus Christ, as one whom God has united to himself in the closest bond of love and intimacy, made acquainted with his purposes, appointed to explain and carry out...
πολλῶν
G4183 A-GPN
polys
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
  • many, much, large
ἐθνῶν
G1484 N-GPN
ethnos
a race (as of the same habit), i.e., a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)
  • a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
    • a company, troop, swarm
    a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
    • the human race
    a race, nation, people group"in the Old Testament, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles"Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians
κατὰ
G2596 PREP
kata
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
  • down from, through out
    • "according to, toward, along
τὸ
G3588 T-ASN
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
εἰρημένον·
G2046
ereō
an alternate for G2036 in certain tenses; to utter, i.e., speak or say
  • to utter, speak, say
Οὕτως
G3779
houtō
in this way (referring to what precedes or follows)
  • in this manner, thus, so
ἔσται
G2071
esomai
will be
  • future first person singular of ___%___to be___%___
τὸ
G3588 T-NSN
ho
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
  • this, that, these, etc. Only significant renderings other than ___%___the___%___ counted
σπέρμα
G4690 N-NSN
sperma
something sown, i.e., seed (including the male ___%___sperm___%___); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting)
  • from which a plant germinates
    • the seed i.e., the grain or kernel which contains within itself the germ of the future plants
      • of the grains or kernels sown
      metaphorically a seed i.e., a residue, or a few survivors reserved as the germ of a new race (just as seed is kept from the harvest for the sowing)
    the semen virile
    • the product of this semen, seed, children, offspring, progeny
      • "family, race, posterity"whatever possesses vital force or life giving power
      • of divine energy of the Holy Spirit operating within the soul by which we are regenerated
σου
G4675
sou
of thee, thy
  • thy, thee

ὃς παρ' ἐλπίδα ἐπ' ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν εἰς τὸ γενέσθαι αὐτὸν πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον· Οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου
18
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.
Cross References

Romans 8:24

τῇ γὰρ ἐλπίδι ἐσώθημεν· ἐλπὶς δὲ βλεπομένη οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλπίς· ὃ γὰρ βλέπει τίς τί καί ἐλπίζει
24
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Genesis 15:5

וַיּוֹצֵא אֹתוֹ הַחוּצָה וַיֹּאמֶר הַבֶּט-נָא הַשָּׁמַיְמָה וּסְפֹר הַכּוֹכָבִים אִם-תּוּכַל לִסְפֹּר אֹתָם וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כֹּה יִֽהְיֶה זַרְעֶֽךָ׃
5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Romans 5:5

ἡ δὲ ἐλπὶς οὐ καταισχύνει ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ ἐκκέχυται ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου τοῦ δοθέντος ἡμῖν
5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Acts 27:25

διὸ εὐθυμεῖτε ἄνδρες· πιστεύω γὰρ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι οὕτως ἔσται καθ' ὃν τρόπον λελάληταί μοι
25
Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Mark 5:35

Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἔρχονται ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου λέγοντες ὅτι Ἡ θυγάτηρ σου ἀπέθανεν· τί ἔτι σκύλλεις τὸν διδάσκαλον
35
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

Proverbs 13:12

תּוֹחֶלֶת מְמֻשָּׁכָה מַחֲלָה-לֵב וְעֵץ חַיִּים תַּאֲוָה בָאָֽה׃
12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Ezekiel 37:11

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי בֶּן-אָדָם הָעֲצָמוֹת הָאֵלֶּה כָּל-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵמָּה הִנֵּה אֹמְרִים יָבְשׁוּ עַצְמוֹתֵינוּ וְאָבְדָה תִקְוָתֵנוּ נִגְזַרְנוּ לָֽנוּ׃
11
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

Romans 4:17

καθὼς γέγραπται ὅτι Πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ τοῦ ζῳοποιοῦντος τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα·
17
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Ruth 1:11

וַתֹּאמֶר נָֽעֳמִי שֹׁבְנָה בְנֹתַי לָמָּה תֵלַכְנָה עִמִּי הַעֽוֹד-לִי בָנִים בְּֽמֵעַי וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לַֽאֲנָשִֽׁים׃
11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

Luke 1:18

Καὶ εἶπεν Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον Κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς
18
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Romans 4:19

καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει οὐ κατενόησεν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον ἑκατονταετής που ὑπάρχων καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάῤῥας·
19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
Romans 4:17
Read Romans 4
Romans 4:19