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Hebrews 11:12

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12 Therefore from one man, and 1him as good as dead, were born descendants 2as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
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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 ) .

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Hebrews 11:12 In-Context

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Romans 4:19
  • 2. Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12; See Genesis 15:5
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.