When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,
Parallel translations
- WEB when you were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners were in it.
- KJV When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.
- NKJV When you were few in number, Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
- NASB When they were only a few in number, Very few, and strangers in it,
- NLT He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
This promise came when they were few in number and strangers in the land. God's covenant rested on grace, not Israel's size or strength.
Overview
The psalm recalls that God chose the patriarchs when they were a small, vulnerable band of sojourners. The promise depended entirely on God's faithfulness, not human power or status. This pattern of God exalting the lowly runs through Scripture and finds its fullest expression in the humble means by which He saves in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Deut 7:7The 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.
- Gen 34:30Then 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.”
- Heb 11:13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
- Acts 7:5He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 16:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.