Rom 4:7–8: Ps 32:1–2 (LXX 31:1–2) and the verb shared with Gen 15:6

Says Rom 4:7–8 quotes Ps 32:1–2. The MT reads אַשְׁרֵי נְשׂוּי־פֶּשַׁע כְּסוּי חֲטָאָה (ashre nesuy-pesha' kesuy khata'ah, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered," BSB) and אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם לֹא יַחְשֹׁב יְהוָה לוֹ עָוֺן (ashre adam lo' yakhshov YHWH lo 'avon, "Blessed is the man whose iniquity the Lord does not count against him"). Verse 1 uses two singular passive participles (literal: "lifted of transgression, covered of sin"); verse 2 has the Qal imperfect of the verb in Gen 15:6.

Says Swete's LXX (31:1–2) has Μακάριοι ὧν ἀφέθησαν αἱ ἀνομίαι, καὶ ὧν ἐπεκαλύφθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι and μακάριος ἀνὴρ οὗ οὐ μὴ λογίσηται Κύριος ἁμαρτίαν: plural relative clauses with aorist passives, ἀνήρ for "man," and ἁμαρτίαν for "iniquity." Paul's words match the LXX, without the psalm title.

At 31:2 Swete's apparatus gives ᾧ for οὗ in ℵc.a and R*.

Implies Paul joins the psalm to Gen 15:6 through the shared verb (חָשַׁב, λογίζομαι): the man to whom the Lord does not count sin is the one ᾧ ὁ θεὸς λογίζεται δικαιοσύνην χωρὶς ἔργων (4:6). Not counting sin and crediting righteousness belong to one verdict.

Uncertain Whether Paul is consciously using the later rabbinic rule of linking texts by a shared word (gezerah shavah) cannot be shown; the verbal link itself is in the text.