New Living Translation
Psalms 105:12
12He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
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 confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant: 11“I will give you the land of Canaan as your special possession.” He said this when they were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan. 13They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on their behalf:
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 34:30Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have ruined me! You’ve made me stink among all the people of this land—among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!”
- Deuteronomy 7:7“The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!
- Deuteronomy 26:5“You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live as a foreigner in Egypt. His family arrived few in number, but in Egypt they became a large and mighty nation.
- Isaiah 51:2Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”
- Ezekiel 33:24“Son of man, the scattered remnants of Israel living among the ruined cities keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he gained possession of the entire land. We are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’
- Genesis 17:8And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”
- Genesis 23:4“Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.”
- Acts 7:5“But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet.
- Hebrews 11:9And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited 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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