Hebrews 11:12

12 This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.

Hebrews 11:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one
That is, Abraham: the Arabic version has here a strange interpolation;

``this faith Isaac and Rebecca conceived in mind, and so there were born of one, Esau and Jacob.''

And him as good as dead;
being an hundred years of age; (See Gill on Romans 4:19). The Ethiopic version reads, "the bodies of both were like a dead carcass"; both of Abraham and Sarah:

so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which
is by the sea shore innumerable;
as was promised to Abraham, ( Genesis 15:5 ) ( 22:17 ) which has been fulfilled, ( Isaiah 10:22 ) and will still have a further fulfilment, ( Hosea 1:10 ) .

Hebrews 11:12 In-Context

10 Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations -- the city planned and built by God.
11 He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised.
12 This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.
13 All these great people died in faith. They did not get the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future and were glad. They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth.
14 When people say such things, they show they are looking for a country that will be their own.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.