Hebrews 11:12

12 And therefore from one man-in fact, from one as good as dead-came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven^[a] and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore.

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 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11 By faith even Sarah herself, when she was barren, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful.

12 And therefore from one man-in fact, from one as good as dead-came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 15:5