Tree of Life Version
Psalms 105:12
12When they were but few in number, few indeed, and foreigners 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,
- 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
10and confirmed to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11saying, “To you I give the land of Canaan, the portion of your inheritance.” When they were but few in number, few indeed, and foreigners in it, 13wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 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 34:30But Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You’ve brought trouble on me, making me a stench among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am but a few men—they’ll gather against me and strike me—then I’ll be destroyed, my household and I.”
- Deuteronomy 7:7“It is not because you are more numerous than all the peoples that Adonai set His love on you and chose you—for you are the least of all peoples.
- Deuteronomy 26:5“Then you are to respond before Adonai your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and lived there as an outsider, few in number. But there he became a great nation—mighty and numerous.
- Isaiah 51:2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you. For when I called him, he was but one, then I blessed him and multiplied him.”
- Ezekiel 33:24“Son of man, the inhabitants of these ruins in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one, yet he inherited the land. Since we are many, the land is given to us as a possession.’
- Genesis 17:8I will give to you and to your seed after you the land where you are an outsider —the whole land of Canaan—as an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
- Genesis 23:4“I am an outsider and a sojourner among you. Give me a gravesite among you so that I may bury my dead from before my presence.”
- Acts 7:5He gave him no inheritance in it—not even a foothold—yet He promised ‘to give it to him as a possession to him and to his descendants after him,’ even though he had no child.
- Hebrews 11:9By faith he migrated to the land of promise as if it were foreign, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob—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
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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