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border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/32-11.htm" title="Genesis 32:11">◄</a> Genesis 32:12 <a href="/genesis/32-13.htm" title="Genesis 32:13">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/32.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/32.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But you have said, &#8216I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/32.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/32.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/32.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/32.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/32.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/32.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For You said, ‘I will assuredly make you prosper and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be counted.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/32.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220For You said, &#8216I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/32.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“For Thou didst say, ‘I will surely prosper you, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/32.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/32.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And You [LORD] said, ‘I will certainly make you prosper and make your descendants as [numerous as] the sand of the sea, which is too great to be counted.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/32.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You have said, ‘I will cause you to prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to be counted.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/32.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You have said, &#8216I will cause you to prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.&#8217&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/32.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/32.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But you have promised that I would be a success and that someday it will be as hard to count my descendants as it is to count the grains of sand along the seashore. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/32.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/32.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But you did say, 'I will make sure that you are prosperous and that your descendants will be as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one will be able to count them because there are so many.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/32.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Remember that you promised to make everything go well for me and to give me more descendants than anyone could count, as many as the grains of sand along the seashore." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/32.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now, you promised me that 'I'm certainly going to cause things to go well with you, and I'm going to make your offspring as numerous as the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/32.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But You have said, ?I will surely make you prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to count.??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/32.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But you said, 'I will certainly make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand on the seashore, too numerous to count.'" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/32.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />You said, 'I will surely do you good and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which can?t be counted because there are so many.'"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/32.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/32.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />You said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which can’t be counted because there are so many.’” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/32.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and You have said, I certainly do good with you, and have set your seed as the sand of the sea, which is not numbered because of the multitude.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/32.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Thou -- Thou hast said, I certainly do good with thee, and have set thy seed as the sand of the sea, which is not numbered because of the multitude.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/32.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And thou saidst, Doing well I will do well with thee, and I set thy seed as the sand of the sea, which shall not be counted for multitude.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/32.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Thou didst say that thou wouldst do well by me, and multiply my seed like the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for the multitude. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/32.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You did say that you would do well by me, and that you would expand my offspring like the sand of the sea, which, because of its multitude, cannot be numbered.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/32.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You yourself said, ‘I will be very good to you, and I will make your descendants like the sands of the sea, which are too numerous to count.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/32.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Yet you have said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted because of their number.’”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/32.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And thou didst say, I will surely do you good, and make your descendants numerous as the sand of the sea which cannot be numbered for multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/32.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And you have said, ‘To do good, I shall do good to you, and I shall make your seed as the sand of the sea that is innumerable by its multitude.’”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/32.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/32.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But thou saidst, I will do thee good, and will make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which shall not be numbered for multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/32-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=8141" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/32.htm">Jacob's Fear of Esau</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid that he may come and attack me and the mothers and children with me. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: wə·’at·tāh (Conj-w:: Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">But You</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mar·tā (V-Qal-Perf-2ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">have said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3190.htm" title="3190: hê·ṭêḇ (V-Hifil-InfAbs) -- To be good, well, glad, or pleasing. A primitive root; to be make well, literally or figuratively.">‘I will surely</a> <a href="/hebrew/3190.htm" title="3190: ’ê·ṭîḇ (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs) -- To be good, well, glad, or pleasing. A primitive root; to be make well, literally or figuratively.">make you prosper,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im·māḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: wə·śam·tî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cs) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">and I will make</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2233.htm" title="2233: zar·‘ă·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- A sowing, seed, offspring. From zara'; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity.">your offspring</a> <a href="/hebrew/2344.htm" title="2344: kə·ḥō·wl (Prep-k:: N-msc) -- Sand. From chuwl; sand.">like the sand</a> <a href="/hebrew/3220.htm" title="3220: hay·yām (Art:: N-ms) -- A sea or large body of water; specifically, the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river.">of the sea,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7230.htm" title="7230: mê·rōḇ (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- Multitude, abundance, greatness. From rabab; abundance.">too numerous</a> <a href="/hebrew/5608.htm" title="5608: yis·sā·p̄êr (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- To count, recount, relate. ">to count.’”</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/28-13.htm">Genesis 28:13-15</a></span><br />And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. / Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2-3</a></span><br />I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a></span><br />I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-4.htm">Genesis 26:4</a></span><br />I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-13.htm">Exodus 32:13</a></span><br />Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-12.htm">Hebrews 11:12</a></span><br />And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-8</a></span><br />Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-16.htm">Galatians 3:16</a></span><br />The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a></span><br />And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-4.htm">Genesis 17:4-6</a></span><br />“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. / No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. / I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Genesis 35:11-12</a></span><br />And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. / The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-10.htm">Deuteronomy 1:10</a></span><br />The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-13.htm">Deuteronomy 7:13</a></span><br />He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/4-20.htm">1 Kings 4:20</a></span><br />The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-23.htm">Nehemiah 9:23</a></span><br />You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And you said, I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.</p><p class="hdg">thou.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/32-6.htm">Genesis 32:6</a></b></br> And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-13.htm">Exodus 32:13</a></b></br> 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 <i>it</i> for ever.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/23-19.htm">Numbers 23:19</a></b></br> God <i>is</i> not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do <i>it</i>? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?</p><p class="hdg">I will.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/28-13.htm">Genesis 28:13-15</a></b></br> And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I <i>am</i> the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/46-3.htm">Genesis 46:3,4</a></b></br> And he said, I <i>am</i> God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/31-15.htm">Counted</a> <a href="/genesis/32-9.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/genesis/28-14.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/genesis/32-9.htm">Good</a> <a href="/genesis/32-7.htm">Great</a> <a href="/genesis/30-30.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/genesis/16-10.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/genesis/32-9.htm">Prosper</a> <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Sand</a> <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/genesis/28-14.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/genesis/31-42.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/genesis/30-29.htm">Thou</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/30-12.htm">Counted</a> <a href="/genesis/34-31.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/genesis/35-12.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/genesis/33-11.htm">Good</a> <a href="/genesis/34-12.htm">Great</a> <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/genesis/46-15.htm">Numbered</a> <a href="/genesis/39-3.htm">Prosper</a> <a href="/genesis/41-49.htm">Sand</a> <a href="/genesis/41-49.htm">Sea</a> <a href="/genesis/35-12.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/genesis/37-33.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/genesis/41-40.htm">Thou</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 32</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/32-1.htm">Jacob's vision at Mahanaim.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/32-3.htm">His message to Esau.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/32-6.htm">He is afraid of Esau's coming.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/32-9.htm">He prays for deliverance.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/32-13.htm">He sends a present to Esau, and passes the brook Jabbok.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/32-24.htm">He wrestles with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/32-31.htm">He halts.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/32.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/32.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But You have said</b><br>This phrase indicates a direct appeal to God's promise, highlighting the importance of God's word and His faithfulness. It reflects the practice of reminding God of His promises, a common theme in biblical prayers (e.g., <a href="/exodus/32-13.htm">Exodus 32:13</a>, <a href="/2_samuel/7-25.htm">2 Samuel 7:25</a>). It underscores the relationship between God and His people, where His spoken word is a covenantal assurance.<p><b>‘I will surely make you prosper</b><br>This promise of prosperity is rooted in the Abrahamic covenant (<a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2-3</a>), where God assured Abraham of blessings and a great nation. The Hebrew word for "prosper" can also mean to do well or succeed, indicating not just material wealth but overall well-being and fulfillment of God's purposes. This reflects God's intention to bless His chosen people as part of His redemptive plan.<p><b>and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea</b><br>This metaphor of innumerable descendants is a reiteration of God's promise to Abraham (<a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a>) and Isaac (<a href="/genesis/26-4.htm">Genesis 26:4</a>). It signifies not only numerical growth but also the enduring legacy and impact of the covenant people. The imagery of sand suggests vastness and continuity, emphasizing the eternal nature of God's promises.<p><b>too numerous to count.’”</b><br>The phrase emphasizes the fulfillment of God's promise beyond human comprehension, pointing to the divine nature of His covenant. It connects to the promise of a multitude of nations and the spiritual descendants through faith (<a href="/galatians/3-29.htm">Galatians 3:29</a>). This innumerability also foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into God's family, expanding the scope of the promise to all who believe in Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jacob is returning to his homeland after years of living with his uncle Laban. He is fearful of meeting his brother Esau, whom he had wronged years earlier.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The promise-maker, God had previously assured Jacob of His protection and blessing, which Jacob is now recalling in his prayer.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/esau.htm">Esau</a></b><br>Jacob's brother, whom Jacob fears due to their past conflict over the birthright and blessing.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land to which Jacob is returning, representing the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_promise.htm">The Promise</a></b><br>Refers to God's covenantal promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob about making their descendants numerous and giving them the land of Canaan.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness.htm">God's Faithfulness</a></b><br>God's promises are reliable and enduring. Jacob's reminder of God's words shows the importance of holding onto divine promises during times of fear and uncertainty.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/prayer_and_remembrance.htm">Prayer and Remembrance</a></b><br>In times of distress, recalling God's past promises and faithfulness can strengthen our faith and provide comfort.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/facing_fear_with_faith.htm">Facing Fear with Faith</a></b><br>Jacob's approach to his fear of Esau by turning to God in prayer is a model for confronting our fears with faith and reliance on God's promises.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenantal_relationship.htm">Covenantal Relationship</a></b><br>Understanding our relationship with God as covenantal helps us to trust in His promises, knowing they are part of a larger divine plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/legacy_of_faith.htm">Legacy of Faith</a></b><br>The promise of numerous descendants points to the importance of faith and obedience in leaving a spiritual legacy for future generations.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_32.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 32</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_keturah_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Keturah in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_are_the_israelites.htm">What is the identity of the Israelites?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_lot_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Lot in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_conflict_after_jacob-esau_meet.htm">What explains the absence of any further conflict between Jacob and Esau after their dramatic meeting in Genesis 33?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/32-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But You</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַתָּ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have said,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָמַ֔רְתָּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mar·tā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘I will surely</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵיטֵ֥ב</span> <span class="translit">(hê·ṭêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3190.htm">Strong's 3190: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be good, well, glad, or pleasing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">make you prosper,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵיטִ֖יב</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·ṭîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3190.htm">Strong's 3190: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be good, well, glad, or pleasing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and I will make</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·śam·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7760.htm">Strong's 7760: </a> </span><span class="str2">Put -- to put, place, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your offspring</span><br /><span class="heb">זַרְעֲךָ֙</span> <span class="translit">(zar·‘ă·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2233.htm">Strong's 2233: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like the sand</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּח֣וֹל</span> <span class="translit">(kə·ḥō·wl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2344.htm">Strong's 2344: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the sea,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַיָּ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(hay·yām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3220.htm">Strong's 3220: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">too numerous</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵרֹֽב׃</span> <span class="translit">(mê·rōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7230.htm">Strong's 7230: </a> </span><span class="str2">Multitude, abundance, greatness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to count.’”</span><br /><span class="heb">יִסָּפֵ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(yis·sā·p̄êr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5608.htm">Strong's 5608: </a> </span><span class="str2">To count, recount, relate</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/32-12.htm">Genesis 32:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/32-12.htm">OT Law: Genesis 32:12 You said 'I will surely do you (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/32-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 32:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 32:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/32-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 32:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 32:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>