Psalms 105:12

KJV

When they were [but] a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.

KJV (with Strong's)

When they were but a few men {H4962} in number {H4557}; yea, very few {H4592}, and strangers {H1481} in it.

Complete Jewish Bible

When they were but few in number, and not only few, but aliens there too,

Berean Standard Bible

When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,

American Standard Version

When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 105:12 vividly depicts the nascent stage of the nation of Israel, focusing on the patriarchal era when Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with their immediate families, were but a minuscule and vulnerable group. This verse underscores their numerical insignificance and their status as unlanded sojourners in a foreign territory, setting a profound contrast against God's grand covenant promises to multiply them into a great nation and grant them the land of Canaan. It highlights the divine paradox where God chooses the seemingly weak and few to demonstrate His immense power, unwavering faithfulness, and sovereign protection.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 105 is a magnificent historical hymn, a liturgical recounting of God's faithful dealings with His covenant people, Israel. It serves as a powerful reminder of divine providence and unwavering promises, designed to evoke praise and thanksgiving. The psalm begins by calling the people to "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!" [Psalms 105:1](/psalms/105-1 "Psalms 105:1 - Call to Worship and Remember God's Deeds"). Verses 8-11 establish the eternal nature of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising them the land of Canaan as an inheritance. Verse 12 then strategically shifts to the initial, seemingly improbable, circumstances of this covenant's fulfillment. By highlighting the patriarchs' humble beginnings as "few men" and "strangers," the psalm magnifies God's subsequent miraculous interventions—from protecting them among hostile nations to orchestrating Joseph's rise and the Exodus—making His faithfulness all the more remarkable in light of their initial vulnerability.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Psalms 105:12 is the patriarchal period, roughly 2000-1700 BC, when Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived as semi-nomadic pastoralists in the land of Canaan. In this ancient Near Eastern context, a small, unlanded family group was inherently vulnerable. They lacked the protection of a large tribe, a fortified city, or established legal rights within the territories they traversed. Their status as "strangers" (Hebrew: _gerim_) meant they were resident aliens, without hereditary land ownership or the full legal and social protections afforded to native inhabitants. This precarious existence, surrounded by various Canaanite city-states and tribal groups, made them highly susceptible to exploitation, attack, or assimilation. The fact that they not only survived but thrived and grew, as the psalm goes on to detail, points directly to an extraordinary divine intervention and protection, defying the natural order of their time.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces several foundational themes that resonate throughout the psalm and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Humble Beginnings and Divine Paradox**, where God consistently chooses the weak, the small, and the insignificant to accomplish His mighty purposes, thereby magnifying His own power rather than human strength. This is a recurring motif seen in figures like Gideon [Judges 7:2](/judges/7-2 "Judges 7:2 - God Reduces Gideon's Army") and David [1 Samuel 17:40](/1_samuel/17-40 "1 Samuel 17:40 - David's Humble Weapons"). Secondly, it highlights **God's Unwavering Covenant Faithfulness**. Despite the patriarchs' numerical insignificance and their precarious status as sojourners, God remained absolutely true to His eternal covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning a great nation and the land [Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2-3 "Genesis 12:2-3 - God's Promise to Abraham"). Their vulnerability did not deter His divine plan. Finally, the verse introduces the theme of **Divine Protection and Providence**, emphasizing that the survival and eventual multiplication of these "few men" in a foreign land were entirely due to God's sovereign hand, which suffered no one to do them wrong, as elaborated in later verses like [Psalms 105:14-15](/psalms/105-14-15 "Psalms 105:14-15 - God Protects His Anointed").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **מְתֵי מִסְפָּר (Hebrew, _mĕtê mispār'_):** This phrase, translated as "few men in number" or "very few," literally means "men of number" or "men of counting." It conveys a quantity so small that it is easily enumerated, emphasizing their numerical insignificance. This stands in stark contrast to God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth or the stars of the heavens [Genesis 13:16](/genesis/13-16 "Genesis 13:16 - Promise of Numerous Descendants"). The use of this term highlights the immense gap between the initial reality and the grand divine promise, underscoring that the fulfillment would be a miraculous act of God, not a natural demographic progression.
* **גֵּרִים (Hebrew, _gērîm'_):** Translated as "strangers" or "sojourners," this term refers to resident aliens who lived in a land without possessing hereditary rights, land ownership, or the full legal protections of native citizens. Their status was one of dependence and vulnerability, often relying on the hospitality or tolerance of the local population. In the context of the patriarchs, it emphasizes their lack of a permanent homeland and their reliance on God's direct provision and protection as they moved through Canaan, highlighting their transient and unrooted existence before the land became their inheritance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When they were [but] a few men in number; yea, very few":** This clause emphatically describes the quantitative smallness of the patriarchal family. The repetition ("few...very few") serves as an intensifier, stressing their extreme numerical insignificance. It sets the stage for the dramatic display of God's power, as their subsequent growth into a mighty nation would be clearly attributable to divine intervention rather than natural increase from an already substantial base. This initial state of weakness magnifies the glory of God's later acts.
* **"and strangers in it":** This clause describes their qualitative status and precarious position. They were not native inhabitants of the land of Canaan but transient residents, without inherent rights, land, or a secure social standing. This status of being "strangers" or "sojourners" underscores their vulnerability, their lack of a permanent home, and their complete dependence on God's protection and provision in a land that was not yet their own. It foreshadows the later experience of Israel in Egypt and even the New Testament concept of believers as spiritual sojourners.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Contrast** and **Emphasis** through **Repetition**. The **Contrast** is stark between the initial state of the patriarchs—"few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers"—and the grand, sweeping promises of God to make them a great nation and give them the land of Canaan. This juxtaposition highlights the miraculous nature of God's work, where His power is most clearly seen in overcoming human limitations. The **Repetition** of "few men in number; yea, very few" serves as an intensifier, creating **Emphasis** on their numerical insignificance. This rhetorical device ensures that the reader grasps the profound vulnerability of the patriarchs, thereby magnifying the subsequent acts of divine faithfulness and protection detailed throughout the rest of Psalm 105.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 105:12 serves as a powerful theological anchor, illustrating God's consistent pattern of working through seemingly insignificant means to achieve monumental ends. It teaches us that God's plans are not contingent upon human strength, numbers, or status, but upon His own sovereign power and unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. The initial vulnerability of the patriarchs underscores that the fulfillment of the covenant—the growth into a great nation and the inheritance of the land—was entirely a divine accomplishment. This principle resonates throughout biblical history, reminding believers that God often chooses the weak and the humble to confound the strong and the proud, ensuring that all glory redounds to Him alone. It is a profound testament to His commitment to His word, even when circumstances appear utterly contrary to its realization.

* [Deuteronomy 7:7](/deuteronomy/7-7 "Deuteronomy 7:7 - God Did Not Choose Israel Because of Their Numbers")
* [Isaiah 51:2](/isaiah/51-2 "Isaiah 51:2 - Look to Abraham, Your Father, and Sarah, Who Bore You")
* [1 Corinthians 1:27-29](/1_corinthians/1-27-29 "1 Corinthians 1:27-29 - God Chooses the Foolish and Weak to Shame the Strong")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 105:12 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating their own journeys of faith, whether individually or collectively. It reminds us that God's capacity to fulfill His purposes is not limited by our perceived smallness, lack of resources, or the daunting nature of our circumstances. When we feel like "a few" or "strangers" in a world often hostile to faith, this verse calls us to remember the patriarchs and the God who protected and multiplied them against all odds. It urges us to place our trust not in human strength or strategic planning, but in the faithful, covenant-keeping God who delights in demonstrating His power through our weakness. Embracing our identity as spiritual sojourners in this world, we are called to lean fully on His providence, knowing that our true inheritance and ultimate security rest in His hands, not in earthly possessions or status.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or ministry do you currently feel "very few" or like a "stranger," and how can this verse encourage your reliance on God's power rather than your own?**
* **How does remembering God's faithfulness to the patriarchs, despite their humble beginnings, strengthen your faith in His ability to fulfill His promises in your life today?**
* **What "small beginnings" in your past can you now look back on and clearly see God's sovereign hand at work, defying human expectations?**

### FAQ

**Why does the psalm emphasize their small number and status as "strangers"?**

Answer: The psalm emphasizes the patriarchs' small number and status as "strangers" to highlight the magnitude of God's power and faithfulness. By portraying their initial state as utterly vulnerable and insignificant, the psalm magnifies the divine intervention that followed. It underscores that the fulfillment of God's grand covenant promises—to make them a great nation and give them the land of Canaan—was entirely due to His miraculous work, not their inherent strength, numbers, or strategic prowess. This serves to glorify God alone, demonstrating that His plans are not dependent on human capability but are accomplished by His sovereign will, as further elaborated in [Psalms 105:13-15](/psalms/105-13-15 "Psalms 105:13-15 - God's Protection of the Patriarchs").

**How does this verse relate to God's covenant with Abraham?**

Answer: This verse directly sets the historical context for the initial stages of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It serves as a stark reminder of the seemingly impossible conditions under which God began to fulfill His promises. God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation and that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan ([Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2-3 "God's Call and Promise to Abraham")). Yet, at the time described in Psalms 105:12, Abraham's lineage was "very few" and they were "strangers" in the promised land, possessing no territory. This verse highlights the vast disparity between the humble, vulnerable beginnings and the magnificent destiny promised by God, showcasing His unwavering commitment to His eternal covenant, which is explicitly mentioned in [Psalms 105:8-11](/psalms/105-8-11 "Psalms 105:8-11 - God's Eternal Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 105:12, with its depiction of humble beginnings and God's faithfulness to a "few" and "strangers," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Just as God began His covenant nation with a numerically insignificant and vulnerable family, so too did His ultimate redemptive plan unfold through seemingly humble and unlikely means. Jesus, the promised Messiah and the true "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - Christ, the Seed of Abraham")), did not come as a conquering king but was born in a lowly manger ([Luke 2:7](/luke/2-7 "Luke 2:7 - Jesus' Humble Birth")), beginning His earthly ministry with a small band of ordinary disciples. His kingdom, like the mustard seed, started small but was destined to grow into the largest of all ([Matthew 13:31-32](/matthew/13-31-32 "Matthew 13:31-32 - The Parable of the Mustard Seed")). Furthermore, the patriarchs' status as "strangers" or sojourners in a land not yet their own foreshadows the identity of believers in Christ. We, the spiritual Israel, are called to live as "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" ([1 Peter 2:11](/1_peter/2-11 "1 Peter 2:11 - Believers as Sojourners and Pilgrims")), awaiting our true, heavenly inheritance. God's unwavering covenant faithfulness, so evident in preserving the patriarchs, culminates in Christ's atoning work, through which the new covenant is established ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Christ, Mediator of a Better Covenant")) and all nations are blessed, demonstrating God's power perfected in weakness ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross, Power of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 7:7

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people:

Genesis 34:30

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

Hebrews 11:9

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

Genesis 23:4

I [am] a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

Deuteronomy 26:5

And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish [was] my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

Acts 7:5

And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not [so much as] to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when [as yet] he had no child.

Isaiah 51:2

Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.