Genesis 13:16

16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the eretz, so that if a man can number the dust of the eretz, then your seed may also be numbered.

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 The LORD said to Avram, after Lot was separated from him, "Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,

15 for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever.

16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the eretz, so that if a man can number the dust of the eretz, then your seed may also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you."

18 Avram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hevron, and built an altar there to the LORD.