Genesis 13:16

16 I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants.

Genesis 13:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 13:16

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth
An hyperbolical expression denoting the great multitude of Abram's posterity, as they were in the days of Solomon, and as they will be in the latter day; and especially as this may respect all the spiritual seed of Abram, Jews and Gentiles, and as they will be in the spiritual reign of Christ, see ( Hosea 1:10 Hosea 1:11 ) ; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, [then] shall thy
seed be numbered;
but as it is impossible to do the one, so the other is not practicable, see ( Numbers 23:10 ) .

Genesis 13:16 In-Context

14 After Lot left, the LORD said to Abram, "Look north, south, east, and west of where you are.

15 I will give all the land you see to you and to your descendants for an indefinite period of time.

16 I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants.

17 Go! Walk back and forth across the entire land because I will give it to you."

18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live by the oak trees belonging to Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar for the LORD.