Genesis 13:16
◄  Genesis 13:16  ►
New International Version (©2011)
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.

New Living Translation (©2007)
And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!

English Standard Version (©2001)
I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

International Standard Version (©2012)
I'll make your descendants as plentiful as the specks of dust of the earth, so that if one could count the specks of dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.

NET Bible (©2006)
And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your descendants also be numbered.

American King James Version
And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered.

American Standard Version
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: if any man be able to number the dust of the earth, he shall be able to number thy seed also.

Darby Bible Translation
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if any one can number the dust of the earth, thy seed also will be numbered.

English Revised Version
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

World English Bible
I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your seed may also be numbered.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have set thy seed as dust of the earth, so that, if one is able to number the dust of the earth, even thy seed is numbered;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:14-18 Those are best prepared for the visits of Divine grace, whose spirits are calm, and not ruffled with passion. God will abundantly make up in spiritual peace, what we lose for preserving neighbourly peace. When our relations are separated from us, yet God is not. Observe also the promises with which God now comforted and enriched Abram. Of two things he assures him; a good land, and a numerous issue to enjoy it. The prospects seen by faith are more rich and beautiful than those we see around us. God bade him walk through the land, not to think of fixing in it, but expect to be always unsettled, and walking through it to a better Canaan. He built an altar, in token of his thankfulness to God. When God meets us with gracious promises, he expects that we should attend him with humble praises. In outward difficulties, it is very profitable for the true believer to mediate on the glorious inheritance which the Lord has for him at the last.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth. "As the land shall be great for thy people, thy posterity, so thy people shall be great or innumerable for the land" (Lunge). Afterwards the seed of Abram is likened to the stars of heaven for multitude (Genesis 15:5). So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth,.... An hyperbolical expression denoting the great multitude of Abram's posterity, as they were in the days of Solomon, and as they will be in the latter day; and especially as this may respect all the spiritual seed of Abram, Jews and Gentiles, and as they will be in the spiritual reign of Christ, see Hosea 1:10,

so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed be numbered; but as it is impossible to do the one, so the other is not practicable, see Numbers 23:10.

Genesis 13:16 Parallel Commentaries

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God Renews the Promise to Abram
14And the LORD said to Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever. 16And I will make your seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered.

Genesis 16:10 The angel added, "I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count."
Genesis 17:2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers."
Genesis 28:14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
Numbers 23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!"
2 Kings 13:23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.
2 Chronicles 1:9 Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth.