New International Version
Psalms 105:12
12When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers 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.
- 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.
- 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
10He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: 11“To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.” When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, 13they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
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 obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
- Deuteronomy 7:7The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
- Deuteronomy 26:5Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous.
- Isaiah 51:2look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.
- Ezekiel 33:24“Son of man, the people living in those 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 as our possession.’
- Genesis 17:8The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
- Genesis 23:4“I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
- Acts 7:5He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.
- Hebrews 11:9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were 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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