BIBLE GREEK WORD STUDY
Logizomai — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Logizomai is a Greek verb meaning to reckon, count, or take account of, used both for human reasoning and for God's crediting of righteousness.
Meaning of the word
The Greek verb λογίζομαι (logizomai) literally means to take an inventory, count, or estimate something. It describes an act of calculation or accounting in which something is assessed and assigned a value.
In a figurative sense, the word moves beyond mere arithmetic to mean reckoning in the sense of reasoning, concluding, or considering something to be a certain way. The user arrives at a settled judgment through the act of reckoning.
Theologically, logizomai is the vocabulary of imputation: when God reckons something to a person, He credits or charges an item to their account — whether that be righteousness credited to the believer (Romans 4) or sin not charged against them (Romans 4:8).
Usage in Scripture
Logizomai appears most densely in Paul's epistle to the Romans, especially chapter 4. Here Paul argues from the example of Abraham that righteousness is reckoned to a person on the basis of faith, not works. Romans 4:5 states that 'his faith is reckoned for righteousness,' and Romans 4:22 repeats that 'it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.'
Beyond Abraham's case, Paul uses the verb to clarify justification itself. Romans 3:28 concludes that 'a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.' Romans 4:4 contrasts this by noting that wages earned by work are reckoned as a debt, not a gift. Romans 4:8 then applies the same vocabulary to sin: the Lord will not reckon sin against the blessed person.
In Romans 2 the verb is used for human reasoning: Paul asks whether the judging man 'reckons' (logizomai) that he will escape God's judgment (2:3), and whether Gentile obedience will be 'reckoned' as circumcision (2:26). The term thus covers both the divine act of crediting righteousness and the human act of calculating or concluding.
The word in detail
- G3049 Logizomai (λογίζομαι) is defined as 'to take an inventory, i.e. estimate.' It lies behind the theological vocabulary of imputation (reckoning, crediting) in Romans 4, where faith is credited as righteousness and sin is not credited against the believer.
Example verses
- Romans 3:28 Paul's conclusion that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Logizomai here frames justification as a reckoning by God rather than a wage earned by human effort.
- Romans 4:5 The faith of the ungodly is reckoned for righteousness. This is the clearest statement of imputed righteousness, where God credits faith as righteousness in the believer's account.
- Romans 4:8 The counterpart to 4:5: just as righteousness is credited to the believer, sin is not reckoned against them. Logizomai governs both sides of the divine ledger.
- Romans 2:26 Logizomai applied to human evaluation: Gentile obedience is reckoned as circumcision. The same verb shows that reckoning can refer to how a status is assessed or credited.
Common questions
What is the basic meaning of logizomai?
Logizomai means to reckon, count, estimate, or take account of. It can describe human reasoning and calculation, and it can describe God's act of crediting or charging something to a person's account.
Why is logizomai important in Romans 4?
Romans 4 uses logizomai repeatedly to argue that Abraham's righteousness was credited to him by God on the basis of faith, not works. The verb carries Paul's doctrine of justification by faith and the idea that righteousness is imputed, not earned.
Is logizomai only a theological word?
No. It is a general Greek verb for reckoning and reasoning, as seen in Romans 2:3 and 2:26 where Paul asks how a person reckons or evaluates something. Its theological weight comes from how Paul applies it to justification, not from the word itself being inherently religious.