Psalms 105:12

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,
• English Standard Version (ESV)When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,
• New King James Version (NKJV)When they were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

Context of Psalms 105:12

10He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise, 11saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.” When they were few in number, just a very few, and resident aliens within it, 13they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another. 14He let no one oppress them; he disciplined kings for their sake,

Psalms 105:12 word by word

בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֑ר כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט וְגָרִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• a few menמַתmath · manH4962
• in numberמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• yea, very fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• and strangersגּוּרgûr · to sojournH1481

Cross-references for Psalms 105:12

• Genesis 34:30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought ruin on me by making me a foul odor among the inhabitants of the land – among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number; they will join forces against me and attack me, and both I and my family will be destroyed!”
• Deuteronomy 7:7It is not because you were more numerous than all the other peoples that the Lord favored and chose you – for in fact you were the least numerous of all peoples.
• Deuteronomy 26:5Then you must affirm before the Lord your God, “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor, and he went down to Egypt and lived there as a foreigner with a household few in number, but there he became a great, powerful, and numerous people.
• Isaiah 51:2Look at Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who gave you birth. When I summoned him, he was a lone individual, but I blessed him and gave him numerous descendants.
• Ezekiel 33:24“Son of man, the ones living in these ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land, but we are many; surely the land has been given to us for a possession.’
• Genesis 17:8I will give the whole land of Canaan – the land where you are now residing – to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession. I will be their God.”
• Genesis 23:4“I am a temporary settler among you. Grant me ownership of a burial site among you so that I may bury my dead.”
• Acts 7:5He did not give any of it to him for an inheritance, not even a foot of ground, yet God promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though Abraham as yet had no child.
• Hebrews 11:9By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs 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

• Thankfulness

In the dictionaries

• Break
• Covering
• Glory
• Hurt
• Iron
• David
• Hallel
• Jacob (1)
• Plagues of Egypt
• Providence

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