Genesis 13:16

16 And I shall make thy seed as the dust of the earth; if any man may number the dust of the earth, also he shall be able to number thy seed (and only if anyone can count all the dust on the earth, then shall they be able to count all thy 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 And the Lord said to Abram, after that Lot was parted from him (And after that Lot had left, the Lord said to Abram), Raise [up] thine eyes forthright, and see from the place in which thou art now, to the north and south, (and) to the east and west;

15 I shall give all the land which thou seest to thee, and to thy seed (and to thy descendants), till into without end.

16 And I shall make thy seed as the dust of the earth; if any man may number the dust of the earth, also he shall be able to number thy seed (and only if anyone can count all the dust on the earth, then shall they be able to count all thy descendants).

17 Therefore rise thou, and pass through the land in his length and breadth, for I shall give it to thee. (And so rise thou up, and go through the land in its length and breadth, for I shall give it all to thee.)

18 Therefore Abram, moving his tabernacle, came and dwelled beside the valley of Mamre, which is in Hebron; and he builded there an altar to the Lord. (And so Abram, moving his tent, came and lived beside the terebinths of Mamre, which be at Hebron; and he built there an altar to the Lord.)