Genesis 32:12

12 But 1you said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'"

Genesis 32:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 32:12

And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good
All kind of good, most certainly and constantly; so Jacob rightly interpreted the promise, "I will be with thee", ( Genesis 31:3 ) ; for the promise of God's presence includes and secures all needful good to his people; and from this general promise Jacob draws an argument for a special and particular good, the preservation of him and his family, he was now pleading for; and the rather he might hope to succeed, since the following promise was also made him: and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for
multitude;
which could not be fulfilled, if he and his family were cut off at once, as he feared; but God is faithful who has promised.

Genesis 32:12 In-Context

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.
11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children.
12 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.'"
13 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau,
14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

Cross References 1

  • 1. Genesis 28:13-15
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.