NT Text: Romans 3:4
OT Source(s):
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type: Direct Quotation
Connection Method(s): Analogy + Longitudinal Theme
Significance: Paul quotes Psalm 51:4 (LXX 50:6) in Romans 3:4 to demonstrate that God's righteousness remains unimpeachable even when human unfaithfulness is exposed. David's confession after his sin with Bathsheba acknowledged that God is fully justified (dikaiothēs) in His verdict against sin. Paul deploys this quotation to counter the objection that Israel's unfaithfulness nullifies God's faithfulness — if even David, the greatest king, could confess God's justice in judging sin, then no human unfaithfulness can undermine God's truthfulness. The verbal correspondence follows the LXX closely: "that you may be justified in your words and prevail when you judge" (hopōs an dikaiōthēs en tois logois sou). This grounds Paul's larger argument in Romans 3:1-8 that God's covenant faithfulness does not depend on human performance but on His own righteous character.