Psalms 105:12 — Word Study
WLCבִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֑ר כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט וְגָרִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃
BSAWhen they werehâyâh [but a few men in number, very few] fewmath in numbermiçpâr [a small quantity, a little] few indeedmᵉʻaṭ [yes, very few] and strangersgûwr [sojourners, living as, foreigners, aliens]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם | when were they | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| מְתֵ֣י | men of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| מִסְפָּ֑ר | number | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט | like a little | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְגָרִ֥ים | and sojourners | Conjunction, verb qal participle (active) masculine plural |
| בָּֽהּ׃ | in it | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land, |
| KJV | When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. |
| ASV | When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it. |
| YLT | In their being few in number, But a few, and sojourners in it. |
| WEB | when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it. |
| BBE | When they were still small in number, and strange in the land; |
Where they part company is in the rendering of מְתֵי — see How Translations Differ.
One main clause with two phrases providing additional detail about Israel's condition.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 105:12
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The History of Israel's Beginningsgenerated
Psalms 105:12 recounts the early days of Israel when they were few in number and living as strangers in a foreign land. This reflects God's providence and the humble beginnings of His chosen people, who later became a great nation. The context emphasizes God's protection and guidance throughout their journey, as seen in the following verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 34:30 | Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.” |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 7:7 | The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 26:5 | and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous. |
| 4 | Isaiah 51:2 | Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 33:24–33 | “Son of man, those living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’ |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם, Bih.yo.tomgenerated
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) means to exist or to come into being. In this verse, it describes the state of Israel when they were few in number, emphasizing their vulnerability and the significance of their existence in a foreign land.
The parsing indicates that this word is in the infinitive construct form, suggesting an ongoing state of being. It sets the stage for the narrative of Israel's history and God's faithfulness despite their small beginnings.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which translates it as When they were few in number.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb הְיוֹתָ, were, governs the main clause, with several phrases providing additional context: a noun phrase indicating their number, a prepositional phrase describing their state, and another prepositional phrase detailing their location.
The structure emphasizes the condition of Israel as a small group of sojourners, highlighting their status in the land they inhabited.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the Greek word ἐν (en), meaning in, to translate the Hebrew בָּהּ (bah). This choice indicates a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on their existence in the land.
The translation choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew text, preserving the original meaning without significant alteration.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 105:12 tells us that Israel was once very few in number and living as strangers in a foreign land. This verse highlights their humble beginnings and God's protection over them during their early history.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates that Israel started as a small group, emphasizing their vulnerability and dependence on God.
This highlights their status as outsiders and the challenges they faced while living in a foreign country.
It reflects God's faithfulness to His people despite their small beginnings and sets the stage for their growth into a great nation.
It underscores the idea that God chose to protect and guide His people even when they were few and vulnerable.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I recognize God's provision in my own life, especially during times of uncertainty?
- What does it mean to be a sojourner in today's world, and how can I navigate that experience?
- In what ways can I support those who feel like strangers or outsiders in my community?
- How does understanding Israel's humble beginnings affect my view of God's faithfulness?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The verse is referenced by Augustine of Hippo, who discusses Israel's history and their small beginnings as part of God's plan.
He next follows out the history well known in the truth of the holy Scriptures. "When they were in small numbers, very few, and they strangers in the land" [Psalms 105:12];Early Church Fathers on Psalms 105 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 105:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhen they were but a few men in number,.... Or "men of number" (d), that might easily be numbered; see Genesis 34:30, when this covenant, promise, and oath, were first made to Abraham, he was alone,
Read John Gill on Psalms 105 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. - He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded - or 'ordained' as an unalterable "law" (Psalms 105:10): cf.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 105 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleA few men in number, Heb. men of number, i.e. few, who could easily be numbered, very few, as the next words explain it.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 105 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 105:12 When they were [but] a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.Ver. 12. When they were but a few men in number] Seventy souls at their going down into Egypt, which yet (say the Hebrews truly) were more worth than the seventy nations of the whole world besides. Howbeit, God chose them not for their worth or number, but loved them merely because he loved them, Deuteronomy 6:7-8.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 105 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 12. But a few men] When all appearances were against them, and nothing but the arm of God could have brought them through their difficulties, and given them a settlement in the promised land.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 105 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. The Psalmist emphasises the marvellousness of the Divine promise by pointing out that it was made when the patriarchs were but an insignificant clan of protected aliens, and it seemed utterly improbable that they would ever become the owners of the land. but a few men in number] Lit. men of number: a handful of men, easily counted. Jacob uses the same phrase of his family in Genesis 34:30. yea, very few] The word may mean few in number, or little worth; here probably the former. Cp. Deuteronomy 7:7; Deuteronomy 26:5. strangers] sojourners, foreigners under the protection of the owners of the country, without rights of citizenship. Cp. Genesis 21:23; Genesis 23:4.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 105 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhen they were but a few men in number - literally, “In their being people of number, very little.” That is, They could then be easily numbered, and they were so few that they could not take possession of it themselves.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 105 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible12. In Psalms 105:12-24, the psalmist touches the salient points of Hebrew history from the patriarchs to Moses.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 105 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,
when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,
When they were few in number, just a very few, and resident aliens within it,
Tyndale line
When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.
When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and sojourners in it;
When they were a few men in number; yes, very few, and strangers in it.
Albeit they were fewe in nomber, yea, very fewe, and strangers in the land,
Strictly literal
When they were a few men in number, of small account, and strangers in it.
In their being few in number, But a few, and sojourners in it.
In their being few in number, || But a few, and sojourners in it.
When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it;
He said this when they were only few in number, so very few, and were strangers in the land.
From the Latin
And they believed his words: and they sang his praises.
Simplified
He said this when they were only a few, just a small group of foreigners in the land.
When they were still small in number, and strange in the land;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all six words matched. This indicates a consistent transmission of the text across these traditions.
בִּֽ֭הְיוֹתָם מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֑ר כִּ֝מְעַ֗ט וְגָרִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 105:12
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vqcc/Sp3mp
מַת (mat) refers to a male or man, often used in both prose and poetry. The term emphasizes adult males and can imply a group of men, sometimes with less focus on gender. It is derived from a related word, but its usage is primarily in the plural form.
[מַת] n.m. male, man
males, men
usu. less emphasis on sex
elsewhere only poet.
base
H4962 [מַת] male, man
4962 math math
from the same as 4970; properly, an adult (as of full
length); by implication, a man (only in the plural):--+ few,
X friends, men, persons, X small.
see HEBREW for 04970
מַת (mat) — man.
1) male, man
1a) males, men
1b) few men (in prose)
1b1) less emphasis on sex
1c) men (poetic)
1c1) less emphasis on sex
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
מִסְפָּר (mispar) means 'number' or 'tale.' It can refer to definite or indefinite quantities, ranging from large to small. The word also encompasses concepts of narration and recounting. The entries consistently highlight its numerical and narrative aspects without significant disagreement.
מִסְפָּר 133 n.m. number, tale
base
H4557 מִסְפָּר number, tale
4557 micpar mis-pawr'
from 5608; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite
(large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly)
narration:--+ abundance, account, X all, X few, (in-)finite,
(certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, + time.
see HEBREW for 05608
מִסְפָּר (mis.par) — number.
1) number, tale
1a) number
1a1) number
1a2) innumerable (with negative)
1a3) few, numerable (alone)
1a4) by count, in number, according to number (with prep)
1b) recounting, relation
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
num'-ber:
I. NUMBER AND ARITHMETIC
II. NOTATION OF NUMBERS
1. By Words
2. By Signs
3. By Letters
III. NUMBERS IN OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
IV. ROUND NUMBERS
V. SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
1. Seven and Its Multiples
(1) Ritual Use of Seven
(2) Historical Use of Seven
(3) Didactic or Literary Use of Seven
(4) Apocalyptic Use of Seven
2. The Number Three
3. The Number Four
4. The Number Ten
5. The Number Twelve
6. Other Significant Numbers
VI. GEMATRIA
LITERATURE
I. Number and Arithmetic.
The system of counting followed by the Hebrews and the Semites generally was the decimal system, which seems to have been suggested by the use of the ten fingers. Hebrew had separate words only for the first nine units and for ten and its multiples. Of the sexagesimal system, which seems to have been introduced into Babylonia by the Sumerians and which, through its development there, has influenced the measurement of time and space in the…
Like most Oriental nations, it is probable that the Hebrews in their written calculations made use of the letters of the alphabet. That they did so in post-Babylonian times we have conclusive evidence in the Maccabaean coins; and it is highly probable that this was the ease also in earlier times. But though, on the one hand, it is certain that in all existing MSS of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the numerical expressions are written at length, yet, on the other, the variations in the several versions between themselves and from the Hebrew text, added to the evident inconsistencies in numerical statement between certain passages of that text itself seems to prove that some shorter mode of writing was originally in vogue, liable to be misunderstood, and in fact misunderstood by copyists and translators. These variations appear to have proceeded from the alphabetic method of writing…
Isa 65:11. See GAD 3.
מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.
מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few
base
H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few
4592 m`at meh-at'
or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often
adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),
lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,
soon, X very.
see HEBREW for 04591
מְעַט (me.at) — little.
1) littleness, few, a little, fewness
1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little
1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
גּוּר (gur) is a Hebrew verb with a range of meanings including to sojourn, abide, and seek hospitality, as well as to stir up strife or quarrel, and to dread or fear. It is built from a primitive root that conveys the idea of turning aside from a path, often for lodging. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both positive and negative interactions, such as hospitality and conflict.
גּוּר vb. sojourn
Qal
sojourn
abide
Hithpol. seek hospitality with
base
[גּוּר] vb. stir up strife, quarrel
Qal.
stir up strife
quarrel
Hithpol. they excite themselves, but unlikely
base
[גּוּר] vb. dread
Qal
be afraid of
stand in awe of
base
H1481a גּוּר sojourn .. sojourn
. abide
. seek hospitality with
H1481b גּוּר stir up strife, quarrel H1481c גּוּר dread
1481 guwr goor
a primitive root; properly, to turn aside from the road (for
a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest);
also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather
for hostility (as afraid):--abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell,
fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in
awe, (be) stranger, X surely.
גּוּר (gur) — to sojourn.
1) to sojourn, abide, dwell in, dwell with, remain, inhabit, be a stranger, be continuing, surely
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sojourn, dwell for a time
1a2) to abide, stay, temporarily dwell
1b) (Hithpolel)
1b1) to seek hospitality with
1b2) to assemble oneself
גּוּר (gur) — to quarrel.
1) to stir up trouble, strife, quarrel, gather together
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to stir up strife
1a2) to quarrel
1b) (Hithpolel) to excite oneself
גּוּר (gur) — to dread.
1) to dread, fear, stand in awe, be afraid
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fear, be afraid
1a2) to be in awe, stand in awe
Conj | V-Qal — Conjunction · verb qal participle (active) masculine pluralHC/Vqrmpa
הָ (ha) — her.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person feminine singular
HR/Sp3fs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3fs