4:3

Jehovah: In this quote from Ge 15:6, the divine name, represented by four Hebrew consonants (transliterated YHWH), occurs in the original Hebrew text. (See App. C.) Existing Greek manuscripts have the word The·osʹ (God) here, perhaps reflecting the term used at Ge 15:6 in copies of the Septuagint. This usage may explain why most translations use “God” here. However, the original Hebrew text from which this quotation is taken contains the Tetragrammaton, and therefore the divine name is used in the main text. The whole phrase taken from Ge 15:6 is also quoted at Ga 3:6 and Jas 2:23.

counted: Or “credited.” In Romans chapter 4, the Greek word lo·giʹzo·mai is ten times rendered “counted” or “counts” (vss. 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24) and one time rendered “take into account” (vs. 8). This Greek verb was used in ancient times for numerical calculations, such as in accounting. It could refer to calculations entered on either the debit or the credit side. Abraham’s faith combined with works “was counted [credited, or attributed] to him as righteousness.” (Ro 4:20-22) This does not mean that he and other faithful men and women of pre-Christian times were free of sin. However, God took into account their faith in his promise and their efforts to follow his commands. (Ge 3:15; Ps 119:2, 3) Thus, God accounted them guiltless, as compared with the rest of mankind, who had no standing with him. (Ps 32:1, 2; Eph 2:12) Of course, faithful ones like Abraham recognized their need for redemption from sin and were awaiting God’s due time to provide it. (Ps 49:7-9; Heb 9:26) Meanwhile, because of their faith, Jehovah could have dealings with such imperfect humans and bless them without compromising his own perfect standards of justice.​—Ps 36:10.