Romans 4:7

“Saying, blessed are they, etc..] These words are cited from (<193201>Psalm 32:1), and contain the proof of the happiness of justified persons. In this citation the singular number is changed into the plural, to take in all sorts of men, Jews and Gentiles, and very agreeably to the sense of the original; for the word yrça may be rendered “blessed are they”, or, “O the blessednesses”; that is, of everyone of them, whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered: such whom God justifies by imputing the righteousness of his Son to them, he removes their iniquities from them, which is meant by their being “forgiven”, and that “as far as the east is from the west”, (<19A312>Psalm…”

“Saying, Blessed, &c.-- (Psa 32:1-2). David here sings in express terms only of "transgression forgiven, sin covered, iniquity not imputed"; but as the negative blessing necessarily includes the positive, the passage is strictly in point.”

“Blessed - Happy are they: they are highly favored; see the note at Matthew 5:3. Whose sins are covered - Are concealed; or hidden from the view. On which God will no more look, and which he will no more remember. “By these words,” says Calvin (in loco), “we are taught that justification with Paul is nothing else but pardon of sin.” The word “cover” here has no reference to the atonement, but is expressive of hiding, or concealing that is, of forgiving sin. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Happy are they whose sins are covered - With the veil of divine mercy. If there be indeed such a thing as happiness on earth, it is the portion of that man whose iniquities are forgiven, and who enjoys the manifestation of that pardon. Well may he endure all the afflictions of life with cheerfulness, and look upon death with comfort. O let us not contend against it, but earnestly pray that this happiness may be ours! Psa 32:1-2. Romans 4:9”

“4:7-8 This quotation from Ps 32:1-2 follows the Jewish custom of supporting a reference to the Law with a reference in the Prophets or the Writings. Paul also uses a Jewish exegetical technique of linking unrelated quotations with a key word. Here, record . . . has cleared translates the same Greek word as “counted” in Rom 4:3.”

“Psa 32:1, Psa 32:2, Psa 51:8, Psa 51:9, Psa 85:2, Psa 130:3, Psa 130:4; Isa 40:1, Isa 40:2; Jer 33:8, Jer 33:9; Mic 7:18-20; Mat 9:2; Luk 7:47-50 Romans 4:8”