I will make them like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your family can be counted.

我也要使你的后裔如同地上的尘沙那样多，人若能数算地上的尘沙才能数算你的后裔。

我要使你的后裔好像地上的尘沙，人若能数地上的尘沙，才能数你的后裔。

我要使你的后裔好像地上的尘沙，人若能数地上的尘沙，才能数你的后裔。

我要使你的后代多如地上的尘土，人若能数算地上的尘土，才能数算你的后代。

我要使你的后裔好像地上灰尘那么多；若能数算地上的灰尘，才能数算你的后裔。

我也要使你的后裔如同地上的尘沙那样多——如果人能数算地上的尘沙，才能数算你的后裔。

我也要使你的後裔如同地上的塵沙那樣多，人若能數算地上的塵沙才能數算你的後裔。

我要使你的後裔好像地上的塵沙，人若能數地上的塵沙，才能數你的後裔。

我要使你的後裔好像地上的塵沙，人若能數地上的塵沙，才能數你的後裔。

我要使你的後代多如地上的塵土，人若能數算地上的塵土，才能數算你的後代。

我要使你的後裔好像地上灰塵那麼多；若能數算地上的灰塵，才能數算你的後裔。

我要使你的後裔像地上的塵沙那麼多；若有人能數得清地上的塵沙，你的後裔也就能數得清。

我也要使你的後裔如同地上的塵沙那樣多——如果人能數算地上的塵沙，才能數算你的後裔。

使爾苗裔如塵埃然、有能核塵埃之數者、則爾苗裔、亦可計矣、

我必使爾苗裔、如塵沙然、若有能核塵沙之數者、則爾苗裔、亦可計矣。

我必使爾後裔多如地之塵沙然、若人能核數地之塵沙、則爾之後裔亦可核數、

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.

I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

I will make your descendants as plentiful as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.

And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered.

I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth,[ then] shall thy seed also be numbered.

And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted.

I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.

They will be like the dust of the earth that can’t be counted. They will spread out to the west and to the east. They will spread out to the north and to the south. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you and your children after you.

Jacob’s people are like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? Who can count even a fourth of the Israelites? Let me die as godly people die. Let my death be like theirs!”

But you have said,‘ I will surely give you success. I will make your children as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. People will not be able to count them.’ ”

So I will certainly bless you. I will make the children born into your family as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They will take over the cities of their enemies.

I’m here among the people you have chosen. They are a great nation. They are more than anyone can count.

The Lord took Abram outside and said,“ Look up at the sky. Count the stars, if you can.” Then he said to him,“ That’s how many children will be born into your family.”

Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel. You made a promise to them in your own name. You said,‘ I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will give them all this land I promised them. It will belong to them forever.’ ”

Abraham had married another woman. Her name was Keturah.She had Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah by Abraham.Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All of them were members of Keturah’s family line.Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east.Abraham lived a total of 175 years.He took his last breath and died when he was very old. He had lived a very long time. Then he joined the members of his family who had already died.Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him. They put his body in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite.Abraham had bought the field from the Hittites. He was buried there with his wife Sarah.After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. At that time Isaac was living near Beer Lahai Roi.Here is the story of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael by Abraham. Hagar was Sarah’s slave from Egypt.Here are the names of the sons of Ishmael. They are listed in the order they were born. Nebaioth was Ishmael’s oldest son. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,Mishma, Dumah, Massa,Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.All of them were Ishmael’s sons. They were rulers of 12 tribes. They all lived in their own settlements and camps.Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined the members of his family who had already died.His children settled in the area between Havilah and Shur. It was near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Ashur. Ishmael’s children weren’t friendly toward any of the tribes related to them.Here is the story of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham was the father of Isaac.Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the Aramean from Paddan Aram. She was also the sister of Laban, the Aramean.Rebekah couldn’t have children. So Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. And the Lord answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant.The babies struggled with each other inside her. She said,“ Why is this happening to me?” So she went to ask the Lord what she should do.The Lord said to her,“ Two nations are in your body. Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated. One nation will be stronger than the other. The older son will serve the younger one.”The time came for Rebekah to have her babies. There were twin boys in her body.The first one to come out was red. His whole body was covered with hair. So they named him Esau.Then his brother came out. His hand was holding onto Esau’s heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah had them.The boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter. He liked the open country. But Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.Isaac liked the meat of wild animals. So Esau was his favorite son. But Rebekah’s favorite was Jacob.One day Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau came in from the open country. He was very hungry.He said to Jacob,“ Quick! I’m very hungry! Let me have some of that red stew!” That’s why he was also named Edom.Jacob replied,“ First sell me the rights that belong to you as the oldest son in the family.”“ Look, I’m dying of hunger,” Esau said.“ What good are those rights to me?”But Jacob said,“ First promise to sell me your rights.” So Esau promised to do it. He sold Jacob all the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. Then he got up and left. So Esau didn’t value the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.

He will certainly become a great and powerful nation. All nations on earth will be blessed because of him.

There were many people in Judah and Israel. In fact, they were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate, drank and were happy.

After this I looked, and there in front of me was a huge crowd of people. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. There were so many that no one could count them. They came from every nation, tribe and people. That’s true no matter what language they spoke. They were wearing white robes. In their hands they were holding palm branches.

The Lord your God has caused there to be many of you. Today you are as many as the stars in the sky.

“ I am God. I am the God of your father,” he said.“ Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. There I will make you into a great nation.

I have heard what you said about Ishmael. I will surely bless him. I will make his family very large. He will be the father of 12 rulers. And I will make him into a great nation.

May the Mighty God bless you. May he give you children. May he make your family larger until you become a community of nations.

Here is a list of them, family by family. From Judah there were commanders of groups of 1,000. One of them was Adnah. He commanded 300,000 fighting men.Another was Jehohanan. He commanded 280,000.Another was Amasiah, the son of Zikri. Amasiah commanded 200,000. He had offered to serve the Lord.From Benjamin there were also commanders. One of them was Eliada. He was a brave soldier. He commanded 200,000 men. They were armed with bows and shields.Another was Jehozabad. He commanded 180,000 men. They were prepared for battle.

Abraham was past the time when he could have children. But many children came from that one man. They were as many as the stars in the sky. They were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one could count them.

“ I will make you into a great nation. And I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing to others.I will bless those who bless you. I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you.”

The Midianites came up with their livestock and tents. They came like huge numbers of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels. They came into the land to destroy it.

I will also make the son of your slave into a nation. I will do it because he is your child.”

David didn’t count the men who were 20 years old or less. That’s because the Lord had promised to make the people of Israel as many as the stars in the sky.

I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. And I will give them all these lands. All nations on earth will be blessed because of your children.

God said to him,“ I am the Mighty God. Have children so that there will be many of you. You will become the father of a nation and a community of nations. Your later family will include kings.

Here is the story of the family line of Esau. Esau was also called Edom.Esau got his wives from among the women of Canaan. He married Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. He also married Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite.And he married Basemath, the daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebaioth.Adah had Eliphaz by Esau. Basemath had Reuel.Oholibamah had Jeush, Jalam and Korah. All of them were Esau’s sons. They were born in Canaan.Esau moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob. Esau took with him his wives, his sons and daughters, and all the people who lived with him. He also took his livestock and all his other animals. He took everything he had acquired in Canaan.Jacob and Esau owned so much that they couldn’t remain together. There wasn’t enough land for both of them. They had too much livestock.So Esau made his home in the hill country of Seir. Esau was also called Edom.Here is the story of the family line of Esau. He’s the father of the people of Edom. They live in the hill country of Seir.Here are the names of Esau’s sons. They are Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna. She had Amalek by Eliphaz. They were grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.Esau’s wife Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon. She had Jeush, Jalam and Korah by Esau.Here are the chiefs among Esau’s sons. Eliphaz was Esau’s oldest son. The sons of Eliphaz were Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,Korah, Gatam and Amalek. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Eliphaz. They were Adah’s grandsons.The sons of Esau’s son Reuel were Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Reuel. They were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah were Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. They were the chiefs who were sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah. She was Anah’s daughter.That was the family line of Esau. And these were the chiefs. Esau was also called Edom.Seir, the Horite, had sons living in the same area. They were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. He was the Anah who discovered the hot springs of water in the desert. He found them while he was taking care of the donkeys that belonged to his father Zibeon.The children of Anah were Dishon and Oholibamah. Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah.The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.The Horite chiefs were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. They were the Horite chiefs in the land of Seir. They are listed tribe by tribe.Before Israel had a king, there were kings who ruled in Edom.Bela became the king of Edom. Bela was the son of Beor. Bela’s city was called Dinhabah.When Bela died, Jobab became the next king. Jobab was the son of Zerah from Bozrah.When Jobab died, Husham became the next king. Husham was from the land of the Temanites.When Husham died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad was the son of Bedad. Hadad had won the battle over Midian in the country of Moab. Hadad’s city was called Avith.When Hadad died, Samlah became the next king. Samlah was from Masrekah.When Samlah died, Shaul became the next king. Shaul was from Rehoboth on the river.When Shaul died, Baal- Hanan became the next king. Baal- Hanan was the son of Akbor.When Baal- Hanan died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad’s city was called Pau. His wife’s name was Mehetabel. She was Matred’s daughter. Matred was the daughter of Me- Zahab.Here are the chiefs in the family line of Esau. They are listed by name as chiefs in charge of their tribes and territories. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,Magdiel and Iram. They were the chiefs of Edom. They ruled over their settlements in the land where they lived. That’s the end of the story of the family line of Esau. He was the father of the people of Edom.

Joab reported to David how many fighting men he had counted. In the whole land of Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could use their swords well. That included 470,000 men in Judah.

Here is what I will do for my servant David. And here is what I will do for the Levites who serve me. I will make their children after them as many as the stars in the sky. And I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. It will be impossible to count them.”

I will give her my blessing. You can be sure that I will give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of nations will come from her.”

I wish you would pay attention to my commands. If you did, peace would flow over you like a river. Godliness would sweep over you like the waves of the ocean.Your family would be like the sand. Your children after you would be as many as the grains of sand by the sea. It would be impossible to count them. I would always accept the members of your family line. They would never disappear or be destroyed.”

Each year the people planted their crops. When they did, the Midianites came into the country and attacked it. So did the Amalekites and other tribes from the east.

The promise is based on God’s grace. The promise comes by faith. All of Abraham’s children will certainly receive the promise. And it is not only for those who are ruled by the law. Those who have the same faith that Abraham had are also included. He is the father of us all.It is written,“ I have made you a father of many nations.”( Genesis 17:5) God considers Abraham to be our father. The God that Abraham believed in gives life to the dead. Abraham’s God also creates things that did not exist before.When there was no reason for hope, Abraham believed because he had hope. He became the father of many nations, exactly as God had promised. God said,“ That is how many children you will have.”( Genesis 15:5)

The people of Israel had many children. The number of them greatly increased. There were so many of them that they filled the land.

I will greatly increase the number of your children after you. Nations and kings will come from you.