Genesis 32:12

12 And thou hast said, I will surely do thee good and make thy seed 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 mercies and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy slave; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands.

11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him lest he come and smite me and the mother with the children.

12 And thou hast said, I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

13 And he lodged there that same night and took of that which came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:

14 two hundred she goats and twenty he goats, two hundred sheep and twenty rams,