English Standard Version
Psalms 105:12
12When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,
Psalms 105:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
- New International Version (NIV)When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,
- New King James Version (NKJV)When they were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
Context of Psalms 105:12
10which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, 13wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 14he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,
Read all of Psalms 105Psalms 105:12 word by word
בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֑ר כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט וְגָרִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 105:12
- Genesis 34:30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household."
- Deuteronomy 7:7It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
- Deuteronomy 26:5"And you shall make response before the Lord your God, 'A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.
- Isaiah 51:2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.
- Ezekiel 33:24"Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.'
- Genesis 17:8And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God."
- Genesis 23:4"I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
- Acts 7:5Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.
- Hebrews 11:9By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
Commentaries on Psalms 105:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12But a few men - When all appearances were against them, and nothing but the arm of God could have brought them through their difficulties, and given them a settlement in the promised land.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12When they were but a few men in number - literally, “In their being people of number, very little.” That is, They could then be easily numbered, and they were so few that they could not take possession of it themselves. This is in contrast with the promise then made to them that they should be in number as the stars, and as the sand on the sea shore. And strangers in it - Foreigners. They were mere sojourners. They did not become incorporated with the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-23Verses 8-23 Let us remember the Redeemer's marvellous works, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. Though true Christians are few number, strangers and pilgrims upon earth, yet a far better inheritance than Canaan is made sure to them by the covenant of God; and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, none can do us any harm. Afflictions are among our mercies. They prove our faith and love, they humble our pride, they wean us from the world…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-15The Lord protected Israel’s patriarchs, the early fathers of the nation.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1512-15. few ... in number--alluding to Jacob's words (Ge 34:30), "I being few in number." yea, very few--literally, "as a few," that is, like fewness itself (compare Is 1:9). strangers--sojourners in the land of their future inheritance, as in a strange country (He 11:9).Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 105:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 105
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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