Genesis 13:16

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.

And I will make {H7760} thy seed {H2233} as the dust {H6083} of the earth {H776}: so that {H834} if a man {H376} can {H3201} number {H4487} the dust {H6083} of the earth {H776}, then shall thy seed {H2233} also be numbered {H4487}.

and I will make your descendants as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth - so that if a person can count the specks of dust on the earth, then your descendants can be counted.

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

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.

Commentary

Genesis 13:16 is a profound reiteration of God’s covenant promise to Abram (later Abraham), emphasizing the immense and uncountable number of his future descendants.

Context

This verse comes immediately after a significant event in Abram’s life: the separation from his nephew Lot. Due to the growing size of their herds and the limited grazing land, strife arose between their herdsmen. Abram, demonstrating generosity and a desire for peace, allowed Lot to choose the land he desired. Lot chose the well-watered plain of Jordan, near Sodom. After Lot departed, the Lord spoke to Abram, reaffirming and expanding upon the promises He had previously made. This divine assurance served as a comfort and a renewed sign of God's faithfulness to Abram in a time of relational transition. It underscores that God's plan for Abram was not dependent on Lot's presence or choices, but solely on His divine will.

Key Themes

  • Divine Promise and Covenant Faithfulness: God initiated the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12. Here, He reaffirms His commitment, showing His steadfast love and unwavering purpose for Abram and his lineage.
  • Innumerable Descendants: The central promise of this verse is the vast multitude of Abram’s offspring. The imagery of "the dust of the earth" powerfully conveys an uncountable number, a promise reiterated later with the imagery of stars of heaven and sand on the seashore. This was a significant blessing in ancient cultures, signifying strength, legacy, and divine favor.
  • God's Sovereignty: Even amidst human choices and separations (like Abram and Lot), God's overarching plan for Abram's prosperity and lineage remains intact and is even reinforced.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "seed" is zera (זֶרַע), which literally means "sowing" or "sperm," but in this context refers to offspring or descendants. The phrase "dust of the earth" (עֲפַר הָאָרֶץ - aphar ha'aretz) is a vivid hyperbole, chosen specifically to emphasize the impossibility of enumeration, thereby underscoring the absolute certainty and vastness of God's promise.

Practical Application

Genesis 13:16 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Trust in God's Promises: Just as God faithfully kept His promise to Abraham, we can trust that His promises to us, revealed in His Word, are equally reliable. Our circumstances may change, but God’s faithfulness does not.
  • God's Plans Exceed Our Imagination: The magnitude of God's plan for Abraham's descendants (which ultimately includes all who have faith in Christ, as discussed in Galatians 3:29) far surpassed what Abram could have conceived. Similarly, God's purposes for our lives and for His kingdom are often grander than we can imagine.
  • Faithfulness in Separation: When Abram made a selfless choice to separate from Lot for peace, God immediately stepped in to reassure him and confirm His blessings, showing that obedience and right living can lead to renewed divine favor.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 28:14 (6 votes)

    And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

  • Numbers 23:10 (6 votes)

    Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth [part] of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

  • Genesis 32:12 (5 votes)

    And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

  • Romans 4:16 (4 votes)

    Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

  • Romans 4:18 (4 votes)

    Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

  • 1 Kings 3:8 (4 votes)

    And thy servant [is] in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

  • Exodus 32:13 (4 votes)

    Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever.