希伯来书 11:12

Chinese NCV (Simplified)

所以從一個好像已死的人，竟然生出許多子孫來，仿佛天上的星那麼眾多，海邊的沙那麼無數。

Parallel Translations

Chinese Union (Simplified)
所 以 从 一 个 彷 佛 已 死 的 人 就 生 出 子 孙 ， 如 同 天 上 的 星 那 样 众 多 ， 海 边 的 沙 那 样 无 数 。

Contextual Overview

⁴ It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking. ⁵ It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven so he would not die. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, the Scripture says that he was a man who truly pleased God. ⁶ Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. ⁷ It was by faith that Noah heard God's warnings about things he could not yet see. He obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family. By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith. ⁸ It was by faith Abraham obeyed God's call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. ⁹ It was by faith that he lived like a foreigner in the country God promised to give him. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had received that same promise from God. ¹⁰ Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations—the city planned and built by God. ¹¹ He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised. ¹² This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted. ¹³ All these great people died in faith. They did not get the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future and were glad. They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

and him: Romans 4:19

as the stars: Genesis 15:5, Genesis 22:17, Genesis 26:4, Exodus 32:13, Deuteronomy 1:10, Deuteronomy 28:62, 1 Chronicles 27:23, Nehemiah 9:23, Romans 4:17

as the sand: Genesis 22:17, Genesis 32:12, Joshua 11:4, Judges 7:12, 1 Samuel 12:5, 2 Samuel 17:11, 1 Kings 4:20, Isaiah 10:22, Isaiah 48:19, Jeremiah 33:22, Hosea 1:10, Habakkuk 1:9, Romans 4:18, Romans 9:27, Revelation 20:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:16 - General Genesis 18:11 - old Genesis 18:12 - laughed Numbers 1:46 - General Deuteronomy 10:22 - as the stars Psalms 105:12 - and strangers Psalms 105:24 - And he Isaiah 54:1 - for more Romans 9:9 - Sarah Hebrews 11:19 - from the Hebrews 13:14 - General Revelation 7:9 - no man

Cross-References

Luke 3:36
Shelah was the son of Cainan. Cainan was the son of Arphaxad. Arphaxad was the son of Shem. Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one,.... That is, Abraham: the Arabic version has here a strange interpolation;

"this faith Isaac and Rebecca conceived in mind, and so there were born of one, Esau and Jacob.''

And him as good as dead; being an hundred years of age;

:-. The Ethiopic version reads, "the bodies of both were like a dead carcass"; both of Abraham and Sarah:

so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable; as was promised to Abraham,

Genesis 15:5 which has been fulfilled, Isaiah 10:22 and will still have a further fulfilment, Hosea 1:10.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore sprang there even of one - From a single individual. What is observed here by the apostle as worthy of remark, is, that the whole Jewish people sprang from one man, and that, as the reward of his strong faith he was made the father and founder of a nation.

And him as good as dead - So far as the subject under discussion is concerned, To human appearance there was no more probability, that he would have a son at that period of life, than that the dead would have.

So many as the stars in the sky ... - An innumerable multitude. This was agreeable to the promise; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17. The phrases used here are often employed to denote a vast multitude, as nothing appears more numerous than the stars of heaven, or than the sands that lie on the shores of the ocean. The strength of faith in this case was, that there was simple confidence in God in the fulfillment of a promise where all human probabilities were against it. This is, therefore, an illustration of the nature of faith. It does not depend on human reasoning; on analogy; on philosophical probabilities; on the foreseen operation of natural laws; but on the mere assurance of God - no matter what may be the difficulties to human view, or the improbabilities against it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 11:12. Him as good as dead — According to nature, long past the time of the procreation of children. The birth of Isaac, the circumstances of the father and mother considered, was entirely supernatural; and the people who proceeded from this birth were a supernatural people; and were and are most strikingly singular through every period of their history to the present day.