Genesis 16:10

Genesis 16:10

And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

a. NLT: Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

b. NIV: The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”

c. YLT: and the messenger of Jehovah saith to her, 'Multiplying I multiply thy seed, and it is not numbered from multitude;'

d. Amplified Bible: Also the Angel of the Lord said to her, I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be numbered for multitude.

e. Septuagint: And the angel of the Lord said to her, I will surely multiply thy seed, and it shall not be numbered for multitude.

f. Stone edition Chumash: And an angel of HASHEM said to her, “I will greatly increase your offspring, and they will not be counted because of abundance.”

1. “And the angel of the LORD said unto her,

a. the angel [4397 * mal’ak] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher):--ambassador, angel, king, messenger.]

b. of the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

1). No one but the LORD God could say these words, this to me is convincing proof that this was no angel, but God himself.

c. said unto her [559 * ‘amar] [Strong: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

2. “…I will multiply thy seed exceedingly…”

a. I will multiply [7235 * rabah] [Strong: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect):--(bring in) abundance (X -antly), + archer (by mistake for 7232), be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, X -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), X process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.]

b. thy seed [2233 * zera’] [Strong: from 2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity:--X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing- time.]

c. exceedingly [7235 * rabah] See “I will multiply” above.

1). Henry Morris, The Genesis Record: “It had not been God’s will for this union between Abram and Harar to take place; but now that it had, He would make a gracious promise to their descendents.

2). The number of Arab nations are many. There has been of course innumerable intermarriages between these nations over thousands of years. Included in these groups is Abraham’s marriage to Keturah and the sons and daughters that came from that union.

a). Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordon, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Muritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yeman. [This list is Arab nations not Islamic.]

3). Aside from the land given to Israel, the Lord has spread the Arab nations out over a wide area in the Middle East.

a). Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.

4). He also made many of them rich. It is not a coincidence that much of the oil deposits in the earth are under Arab lands. I personally believe it is part of the promise that God spoke twice, once to Hagar and again to Abraham.

a). Genesis 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee [Abraham]: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

b). Genesis 21:18 Arise [Hagar], lift the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

3. “…that it shall not be numbered for multitude.”

a. it shall not be numbered [5608 * caphar] [Strong: a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate:--commune, (ac-)count; declare, number, + penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer.]

b. for multitude [7230 * rob] [Strong:  from 7231; abundance (in any respect):--abundance(- antly), all, X common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), X very (age).]