Psalms 105 · Verse 12

Psalms 105:12

When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
Psalms 105:12, King James Version

Psalms 105:12 in other translations

BSBWhen they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,
WEBwhen they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
ASVWhen they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.
YLTIn their being few in number, But a few, and sojourners in it.
DARBYWhen they were a few men in number, of small account, and strangers in it.
BBEWhen they were still small in number, and strange in the land;
WebsterWhen they were a few men in number; yes, very few, and strangers in it.

What does Psalms 105:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 105:12-15
12-15. 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).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 But 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 105:8-23

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…

Read the full comment on Psalms 105:8-23 →

Psalms 105:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָםBih.yo.tomwhen were theyH1961
מְתֵ֣יme.Teimen ofH4962
מִסְפָּ֑רmis.ParnumberH4557
כִּ֝מְעַ֗טkim.'Atlike a littleH4592
וְגָרִ֥יםve.ga.Rimand sojournersH1481
בָּֽהּ\׃Bahin it

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 105:12

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • 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:

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 33:24-33

    Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance. Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land? Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour’s wife: and shall ye possess the land? Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence. …

  • Hebrews 11:12

    Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

  • 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.

  • Genesis 17:8

    And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
a few.
Ge 34:30; De 7:7; 26:5; Isa 51:2; Eze 33:24-33
and strangers.
Ge 17:8; 23:4; Ac 7:5; Heb 11:9,12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 105:11

    Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:

  • Psalms 105:12

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

  • Psalms 105:13

    When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;

Read all of Psalms 105

Psalms 105:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Esto siendo ellos pocos hombres en número, y extranjeros en ella.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Quand ils étaient un petit nombre d’hommes, peu de chose, et étrangers dans le pays,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als sie ein zählbares Häuflein waren, gar wenige und Fremdlinge darin;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et crediderunt verbis ejus, et laudaverunt laudem ejus.