Genesis 16:10

KJV1611 – Modern English

And the angel of the LORD said to her, I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה הַרְבָּ֥ה אַרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־זַרְעֵ֑ךְ וְלֹ֥א יִסָּפֵ֖ר מֵרֹֽב׃

Transliteration

And-yomer to-her mal'akh YHWH harbah 'arbeh 'et-zar'ek and-not yissafer from-rov.

Grammar Details

• *yomer*: verb, Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular with waw consecutive - and he said
• *lah*: preposition with 3rd feminine singular suffix - to her
• *mal'akh*: noun, masculine singular construct - messenger/angel of
• *YHWH*: proper noun, divine name - LORD
• *harbah*: verb, Hiphil infinitive absolute - to greatly/multiply
• *'arbeh*: verb, Hiphil imperfect 1st person singular - I will multiply
• *'et*: direct object marker
• *zar'ek*: noun, masculine singular with 2nd feminine singular suffix - your seed/offspring
• *velo*: conjunction + negative particle - and not
• *yissafer*: verb, Niphal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - it will be counted/numbered
• *merov*: preposition + noun, masculine singular - from multitude

Word Meanings

• *harbah 'arbeh*: Hebrew emphatic construction: I will surely multiply/I will greatly increase
• *zar'ek*: seed/offspring/descendants
• *merov*: from multitude/from abundance/due to greatness

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  The angel of the LORD also said, "I will greatly multiply your offspring so that they cannot be counted because of their great numbers."

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

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

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the angel{H4397} of Jehovah{H3068} said{H559} unto her, I will greatly{H7235} multiply{H7235} thy seed,{H2233} that it shall not be numbered{H5608} for multitude.{H7230}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the angel{H4397} of the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto her, I will multiply{H7235}{(H8686)} thy seed{H2233} exceedingly{H7235}{(H8687)}, that it shall not be numbered{H5608}{(H8735)} for multitude{H7230}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And the angell of ye LORde sayde vnto her: I will so encrease thy seed that it shall not be numbred for multitude.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And the angel of the LORDE sayde vnto her: Beholde, I wil so encreace yi sede, that it shall not be nombred for multitude.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Againe the Angel of the Lorde saide vnto her, I will so greatly increase thy seede, that it shal not be numbred for multitude.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And agayne the angell of the Lord sayde vnto her: I wyll multiplie thy seede in such sort, that it shal not be numbred for multitude.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The angel of Yahweh said to her, "I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the angel of the Lord said, Your seed will be greatly increased so that it may not be numbered.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The angel of Yahweh said to her, "I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the LORD’s angel added,“so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Referenced Verses

• Gen 17:20 : 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes he shall beget, and I will make him a great nation.
• Gen 21:13 : 13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is your seed.
• Gen 22:15-18 : 15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies; 18 And in your descendants shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.
• Gen 25:12-18 : 12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bore to Abraham: 13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations. 17 These are the years of the life of Ishmael: a hundred and thirty-seven years. He gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah to Shur, which is before Egypt, as you go toward Assyria; and he died in the presence of all his brothers.
• Gen 31:11-13 : 11 And the angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here I am. 12 And he said, Lift up now your eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are streaked, speckled, and spotted: for I have seen all that Laban does to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get out of this land, and return unto the land of your kindred.
• Gen 32:24-30 : 24 And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he did not prevail against him, he touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks. But he said, I will not let you go, unless you bless me. 27 And he said to him, What is your name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince you have power with God and with men, and have prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray, your name. And he said, Why is it that you ask about my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
• Gen 48:15-16 : 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long unto this day, 16 The Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
• Exod 3:2-6 : 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here I am. 5 And he said, Do not draw near here; take off your shoes from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
• Judg 2:1-3 : 1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, I brought you up out of Egypt and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. 2 And you shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this? 3 Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.
• Judg 6:11 : 11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
• Judg 6:16 : 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man.
• Judg 6:21-24 : 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. 22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto you; fear not: you shall not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
• Judg 13:16-22 : 16 And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, Though you detain me, I will not eat your bread: but if you will offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD. For Manoah did not know that he was an angel of the LORD. 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, What is your name, that when your words come to pass we may honor you? 18 And the angel of the LORD said to him, Why do you ask my name, seeing it is secret? 19 So Manoah took a young goat with a grain offering, and offered it on a rock to the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it happened, when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife watched it and fell on their faces to the ground. 21 But the angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
• Ps 83:6-7 : 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
• Isa 63:9 : 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old.
• Hos 12:3-5 : 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 4 Yes, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept and made supplication to him; he found him in Bethel, and there He spoke with us; 5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is His memorial.
• Zech 2:8-9 : 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: After the glory has He sent me to the nations which plundered you: for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. 9 For, behold, I will wave My hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them: and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me.
• Mal 3:1 : 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts.
• John 1:18 : 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
• Acts 7:30-38 : 30 And when forty years were complete, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 32 Saying, I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt. 35 This Moses, whom they refused, saying, Who made you a ruler and a judge? the same God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after he showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up for you from your brethren, like me; him you shall hear. 38 This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; who received the living oracles to give to us:
• 1 Tim 6:16 : 16 Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see: to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
• Gen 21:16 : 16 And she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about a bowshot away; for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. So she sat opposite him and lifted up her voice, and wept.
• Gen 21:18 : 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.